OCR Text |
Show b6ring pueblos, add between them and their neighbors of the white race, relative to the boundaries of their lands, and the distribution of water for irrigation, which are often found difficult of adjustrhent; but as a general rule they live in great peace and harmony with all their neighbors. Each pueblo elects annually a governor, war cap-teiri, and various other minor officers, and the people appear to sub'- m.it quietly to the government of those chosen b themselves to rule over them. These Indians claim, andare general s y supposed,to have descended fromthe ancient Aztec race, but the fact of theirspeaking three or four different languages would tend to cast a doubt upon this point. It has been contended that the Pueblo Indians were recog-nised as citizens by the Mexican government, and hence are citizens ofthe United States under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; but.on a full investigation I am clearly of opinion that this is not the case. Having visited several of these pueblo^, or villages, and believing that these people differ in some respects from any other Indians to be found on this continent, I beg to be excused for giving a minute description of the pueblo of Taos, which I visited in the month of March last. This pueblo is situated in the valley of Taos, and about three miles from the town of San Fernandes de Taos, on a small stream which liupplies water for irrigation and other purposes, and the number of ibhabitants may be set down at something over twelve hundred. Oli my arrival I found that this Indian town contained but two dwelling-houses, situated upon opposite sides of the creek, and ewh sufficiently large to accommodate over six hundred people. They are built of adobes or sun-dried brick; each covers an area of about two acres at the foundation, and are five stories high, with but one entrance through the external walls and but one window, and both of these open into the chiefs or governor's room. After ascending to the height of one story, there is an offset in the walls, and the size of the house is les-sened around its entire circumference to the extent of the depth of the external tier of rooms, about fifteen feet, and this continues to be the mse at the top of each story, until the summit is reached. The tops of these houses are flat, and the offset in the walls at the top of the first story affords a fine terrace or walk, about fifteen feet wide, extending entirely around the building, which would make it say four hundred ya& in length; and the residents of each story have a similar prom-enade or walk, though lessened in length as ou ascend nearer to the top. The entrance to these houses is from t g e top, which is effected by ladders resting on the groundin the first instance; but after ascend-ing to the top of the first story, the ladders intended for the aacom-modation of those residing in the second story are placed upon the roof of the one below. Each family has its room or rooms partitioned off by walls, of sufficient strength and thickness to sustain the accu-mulated weight above, and through these partition walls are doors of communication with eacli room of the house, but there is no other means of ventilation except through small trapdoors in the roof. These strange buildings form perfect labyrinths ; and as the interior apthtments are quite dark, it might be d5cult fora stranger to find his way out; but notwithstanding the want of ventilation, the inmates |