OCR Text |
Show - - INDIANS OF NEW MEHCO. 176 D appear to be quite healthy end vigorous, and the number of children I swarming around was astonishing. On the outside, but near at hand, were several estufas, or places where their sacred fire is kept burning. These are deep, circular pits, dug in the ground about ten feet deep, and the same in diameter, and cov-ered with earth at the top, with the exception of a small circular hole in the centre, sufficiently large to admit aman descending b~ a ladder. Kidwah, the governor of this pueblo, informed me that this was the remains of the fire left to his people by Montezuma, and that it must be kept burning until his return ; heuce two or three men are detailed each week, whose duty it is to get wood, feed the fire, and keep it burning. There is also a Catholic church at this, as there is at most of the* pueblos, and almost the entire pueblo popnlation worship God accord- ( ing to the forms of this church, though intermixed with their own an-cient superstitions forms and ceremonies; and although it is believed that many of the Pueblo Indians are looking forward with hope and confidence to the time of meeting the Redeemer and Saviour of tha world, yet it is to be feared that still a larse portion are looking for the return of Monteznma with the aame hope and confidence. It is confidently believed that the several bands of Utahs, Apaches, and Navajoes, and the Pueblo Indians herein noticed, embrace all those having permanent residences within this Teryitory, and which come properly within the jurisdiction of this auperlnten$ncg. But the Comanches, Kiowas, Cheyennes, and Arrapahoes claim huntiug-grounds, and often extend their predatory incursions, within our bor-ders, and inflict serious injuries upon our citizens. Indeed, the Chey-ennes during the last s ring visited the white settlements of &n Kiguel county, drove o % a large amount of stock, and captured eleven herder boys who had charge of the same, whom they still hold in captivity. It is believed that my former estimate of the number of Indians residing within this Territory is too large; better inform* tion induces me to number them at from thirty-five to forty thousand souls, including Utahs, Apaches, Navajoes, and Pueblos. The district court of the United State having decided that there ia lio Indian country within the Territory of New Mexico, the several acts of Congress regulating trade and intercourse with the Indians are without any binding force here. I would therefore respectfully sug-gest that Congreas should pass an act prescribing what is and what is not to be considered as Inhsn country within the Territory, or that stipulations to thesame purport be inserted in the several treaties recommended to be made. This is deemed to be an important mat-ter, as the act of Congress referred to only imposes fines for offencea committed in the Indian cuuntry; heuce if there be no Indian country, no offence is committed under the lam, even though whiskey may be sold, or trade may be carried on without license. Should I presume to indicate a policy which, in my estimation, it would be proper to pursue towards the Indians of New Mexico, it would be but to reiterate many of the recommendations of last year; but as some of these were hastily written, and not fully understood, I |