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Show TOLTECCAN. 233 a State, it ought to be called the State of Pobritta (" Little Poverty.") Each of these wealthy families has from a hundred to two thousand dependents, some of whom were their peons before that system was abolished, and continue to yield obedience by nature and habit. If a State, this would be a most complete " rotten borough " the worst " carpet- bag" State in the Union. Fifteen families with ease would rule it the Chaves, Gallegos, Delgados, Senas, Garcias, Pereas, Oteros, Quintanas, and a few others. These families have three-fourths of the wealth of the Territory, and all the influence. The poor Mexicans do any thing they are told; in fact don't know how to do otherwise than as they are told. These families, in combination with half a dozen priests, and a dozen or more Americans, would di-vide the home offices between them, and send whomsoever they pleased to Congress. It is usually the aim of speculative Americans to " stand in " with one of the noble families. But many of our people have disdained such sycophancy, and yet won for themselves an honorable place in New Mexican annals. Chief among these was the noted Kit Carson, scout, trapper, and hunter ; then guide to Fre-mont, and afterwards Federal colonel, and last of all Indian Agent for the Utes, in which capacity he died at his home in Taos. The Pueblos are evidently a decaying race. Anciently they con-sisted of four nations : the Piros, Teguas, Queres and Tagnos. Ac-cording to their own account they number only one- tenth what they did before the conquest. A regular pueblo (" village ") consists of a large square, with open court in the center; the stories rise in terraces, each giving back a few feet from the one below. There are no doors on the outside, the entrance on the roof being reached by a ladder. But in the long peace they are slowly adopting the style of dwelling used by the Mexicans. They are stout and muscular, with rather pleasant countenances ; speak Spanish fluently, but learn English with diffi-culty, and never teach others their language. They dress in woolen of their own manufacture, and are very industrious, chaste, and honest. Who are they? is the puzzling question. They did not learn their civilization from the Spaniards, that is certain ; but were found by the latter almost as far advanced as to- day. Castaneda says the Pueblos came with a nation from the north- west, and their own tradition is that they are Montezumas Indians. Against this, however, Baron Humboldt contended that the Aztec language differed essen-tially from that of the Pueblos, and Castaneda further says that they were unknown to the people of Mexico until Cabeza de Vaca and his companions brought account of them. Before 1871, they |