Year: 1879

most favorable location Tor accurate
observation and exactly what facts
they wished to note and the impor-
tance of these facts to the further
ance of their science, prepared them
selves with instruments of wonder
full contrivance and execution, for ex-
act observation and record and then
proceeded to their chosen localities
and to their important work, more
than realizing their most enthusiastic
expectations. Now let us turn to
the conduct of the Pueblo Indians at
Taos, in New Mexico.


During the first half hour of the
approaching shadow they appeared
to notice nothing unusual and to be
anxious only to avoid the burning
heat of the sun. "Then, as tie
light grew DINNER and DINNER
they became confused and frightened,
and began to run hither and thither,
and to gather in groups, speaking to
each other entirely in their own lam
guage. The darker it grew the more
excited they became. Dozens ran to
tell the governor of the village what
was occurring, and soon he was seen
to emerge from a hole in the top Of
the root-their place of entrance and
egress from their buildings-and to
look anxiously toward the sun, and
then to observe the light it cast on
objects around him. What had evi.
IDENTIFY been doubtful to him before
was now certainty, and his face be-
came proportionately as dark as the
halfhidden sun. He advanced to
the edge of the root, his somewhat
venerable and slightly dirty face
showing the most evident signs of
deep anxiety, and called out with a
strong voice, commanding the atten-
tlon OF all his subjects. Chaos was
reduced to order, and silence, except
on his own part, reigned over the vii
lage. Not common Indian uttered
a whisper. None of them seemed to
feel at liberty to breathe. He spoke
in tremulous dsa ySies telling his peo-
on them. They had great cause, he
said, for apprehending the worst, and
the chances were that the village
would soon be annihilated, and the
people of the sun +" destroyed "teeth
and toe-nails." Some one had com.
mltted a grevious sin. Who that
person was could not be known, and
not even enquircd at that time; but
their great god had been offended
and was so ashamed that he was
hiding his face from them. Their
conduct had been such that he had
refused to show his face until the
crime had been atoned for, whatever
it might be. Extraordinary steps
were necessary. By acting as they
should they might avert calamity.
Otherwise it was more than likely
that they would never again bask in
the sunshine "of the affections OF
their god and preserver. Then the
grass and every green thing would
wither. All their stock would die,
and, slow, but certain, death would
come upon all of them. This terri
BILE fate could be avoided only by
the severest penance. The women
must run naked until the anger Of
the great god shall he appeased."
This order was received and obeyed
in silent awe. The women proceed
ed to strip themselves until not a
shred of clothing remained upon
them. Both they and the men were
as solemn as the grave, and seemed
to regard the proceeding as one upon
which their lives depended. There
were about 200 Of the women, and
they soon began to do the penance of
the tribe for the crime for which it
was supposed they were being pun
ished. They ran in pairs and with
considerable lack of order, but con-
tinued to go. with few exceptions,
for half an hour. f


By this time the light had begun
to grow stronger, and it was evident
to the Indian mind that all danger
was past. The announcement to
this effect by the governor OF the
village was received with loud cheers
that resounded throughout the neigh
borhood, and whicn was full of
thanks to the King OF kings for de-
livery from His wrath; The women
were again dressed, and were each