USA > Arizona > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 17
USA > New Mexico > The marvellous country : or, Three years in Arizona and New Mexico, the Apaches' home > Part 17
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317
THE PUEBLO.
to any body of cavalry, as well as greatly impede the move- ments of infantry.
Upon returning from our visit to the pits, the cacique rejoined his attendants, who had been most patiently await- ing his coming at a short distance from our camp; and again urging us to visit the town on the morrow, he returned to the pueblo.
The town itself is much larger than either Laguna or Acoma, though its situation is not so favorable for defen- sive operations. The houses are of stone, well constructed, and covered with a kind of stucco made of mud and gravel. They are terraced in the usual manner, some of them being five stories high. The ascent is accomplished by means of ladders, as there are neither doors nor windows in the lower stories.
Many of these people have light hair and blue eyes, and it is extremely difficult to convince one's self that they have Indian blood in their veins. Very few of them are familiar with the Spanish language, and we found it exceedingly difficult to communicate intelligibly with them.
In this connection, Don Rafael proved a most valuable assistant, not only as an interpreter, but also in the capac- ity of major-domo; for we found the Zunis close and very sharp traders, although it was rarely that Don Rafael did not prove their equal in his bargains with them. A sheep that a Zuni would . unblushingly ask me cinco pesos (five
818
THE WOMEN OF ZUNI.
dollars) for, Don Rafael would purchase for seventy-five cents; and all other articles at proportionately low prices. ' As a tribe, the Zunis are a finely-formed and intelligent race. They wear their hair knotted behind, and bound with gay ribbons or braid. In front it is cut square across, so as to completely cover the forehead,- a custom common to all the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, and one which easily distinguishes them from the wild Indians who law- lessly roam through the country. The only covering that they wear upon their heads is a handkerchief, tied like a band from the forehead to the back of the head; this is sometimes decorated with feathers.
The Zunis claim to have inhabited their country since the world was made, and that as it grew, they became separated from the other tribes, and have ever since main- tained a distinct organization.
Many of their women are really handsome,- so good- looking, in fact, that I soon began to fear the effect their charms might produce upon the too susceptible heart of Jimmy; and had I not placed great faith in the fear which my stories of their cruel and inhuman treatment towards their prisoners had aroused in his breast, I should have felt very certain that negotiations for another "matrimo- nial alliance" would have been immediately commenced, - negotiations which we feared might result in a most disas- trous manner to our present plans. Deeming it judicious
319
EAGLES.
to keep an eye on him, I requested Don Rafael to inform me of the first intimation of a return of Jimmy's weakness, for I was determined to nip it in the bud.
The Zunis have a regard, amounting almost to veneration, for the eagle, which they catch in the mountains when young, and successfully domesticate. I have scen as many as fifty at one time on the terraces, basking in the bright sunshine, and lazily flapping their great wings, or circling high in air over the town, and uttering their shrill cries. They serve the purpose of scavengers, keeping the alleys and plaza very clean, and completely ridding the town of vermin of every description.
During the day our camp was visited by many of the people, including not a few of the women, to whom we made presents of cheap and showy jewelry, which we had provided ourselves with, before leaving Mesilla.
In less than an hour from the time our visitors first came into camp, I detected in the hands of one of them, a bright, fair-haired maiden of some thirty summers, a rosary and cross that I had frequently seen on Jimmy's neck, and which I had often heard him say he valued more than all others of his earthly possessions, because it had been "blissd by the Pope." Supposing she had either found or stolen it, I called Jimmy's attention to the fact. His reply somewhat disconcerted me, I must confess, for he said :-
320
JIMMY MAKES A PRESENT.
"Shure, sur, the poor craythur axed me for it, and I wouldn't be afther refusin' her the thriflin' thing."
"But, Jimmy, you were not to speak to a female while we remained here," I said.
"Indade, sur, I wouldn't be a, gintleman, sure, if I didn't answer when she spake to me."
Knowing very well that Jimmy could not speak a word of Spanish, much less understand the Zuni tongue, I asked. him what she said. He replied :-
"Indade, sur, when a lady spakes to a gintleman, you wouldn't have him bring disrespict upon his ashociates by refusin' to answer her, would yez?"
"No, Jimmy; but you were to run away if one spoke to you."
"Shure, sur, I didn't know ov thim pits, thin."
"But, Jimmy, you don't speak Zuni. Now how did you know that she asked you for that rosary ?"
"Indade, sur, but 'twas the eyes that wus more spakin' than the tungue."
Nor did I succeed in getting any further satisfaction from him.
The pueblo contains a population of about four thousand souls, and in the plaza, or public square, is situated a small Catholic church built of adobes, and containing, among other property, a really meritorious picture of "Our Lady of Guadaloupe," the patron saint of Mexico.
321
THE SACRED SPRING.
The governor, or cacique, who is also the chief priest of the Zunis, lives in. a large four-story house, in the lower rooms of which is situated the council chamber. The coun- cil consists of four persons, who have a general supervision over all public matters. The office is hereditary, the son succeeding the father. The youngest member is, ex officio, the war-chief; the next younger, the chief of police; the others act as councillors with the cacique.
Not quite a mile south of the pueblo a large mesa rises abruptly from the plain, at least a thousand feet in height. The top of this mesa was the site of ancient Zuni, or the former city of Cibola, the ruins of which are still plainly discernible.
In a small grotto at the foot of this elevation is the "Sa- cred Spring" before referred to. It is about ten feet in diameter, and walled around with stones neatly laid. The water of the spring is remarkably pure and clear, but neither man nor beast is ever permitted to drink of it; there is a tradition to the effect that the spirit of the spring avenges such a desecration by instant death; and so sacredly is this superstition regarded, that I do not believe a Zuni could be persuaded to drink of it, even if perishing with thirst. It is held sacred to those animals that live in the water, such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and lizards. Once in each year, during the month of August, the cacique, accompanied by the coun- cil, visits the spring and performs certain religious rites, the
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322
SUPERSTITIONS.
nature of which I could not clearly ascertain. With their own hands they thoroughly clean it out, and afterwards, with many mysterious ceremonies, place an elegantly ornamented tenaja, or water-jar, - which has been previously prepared by the hands of the high priest - inverted upon the wall
THE SACRED SPRING OF ZUNI.
surrounding the spring, as an offering to the spirit, who is supposed to make it his habitation until another one is placed there for his convenience. Many of these tenajas remain on the wall, while the ground around is strewn with frag- ments of those that have crumbled from the effects of age.
323
JIMMY TAKES A DRINK.
The cacique told me, that if a Zuni should make a vow at the spring, and fail to keep it, the spirit of the spring would send the lightning from heaven to destroy him. Thus all vows made at the spring are regarded as sacred, and are most religiously observed.
During the time that the cacique and his council are performing the sacred rites at the spring, all those resi- dents of the pueblo who have lost friends by death during the preceding year, assemble just as the rising sun gilds the top of the lofty mesa, and slowly wend their way in procession to its summit, there to spend the entire day in communication with the spirits of the departed, who are supposed on that day to revisit the earth, and hold sweet converse with their friends and relatives, who carry them offerings of flour, corn, and bright blossoms,- a custom not dissimilar to that of "All Souls' Day," of Catholic observance.
No Zuni ever approaches the spring for any purpose, without the presence of the cacique, or a member of the council, who always performs an incantation before ventur- ing near it; nor is a guard necessary, such is the veneration in which it is held.
Being aware of this custom, imagine our consternation at seeing Jimmy deliberately lie down upon its brink, and quaffing a most copious draught of its limpid coolness, exclaim, as he arose, "Bedad, but that's foine wather!"
324
CONSTERNATION.
The cacique, who had accompanied us in our visit, was apparently horrified at this wanton desecration; while the doctor and myself fairly trembled at the thought of the consequences that might ensue from this deliberate disregard of the customs and usages of the people.
As the cacique did not speak to us of Jimmy's act, we did not mention it, but waited for a more favorable opportunity to reprimand Jimmy for his temerity.
From our manner, however, Jimmy became convinced that he had done something to incur our displeasure; and making an excuse that "he thaught he'd betther be afther retarnin' to tha camp for tha purpose ov protictin' it durin' our absince, " he beat a hasty retreat, leaving the doctor and myself alone with the cacique.
Upon our return, an hour or more afterwards, we found the camp deserted, and Jimmy nowhere to be seen. After a long search, with the aid of our glasses we discovered the missing man sitting on the third-story terrace of one of the houses in the pueblo, busily engaged in sunning himself, with the fair recipient of his rosary and cross, in company with a couple of tame eagles, and apparently quite un- conscious that he had in any manner rendered himself liable to the penalty incurred by those who offend the spirit of the spring.
We afterwards ascertained from Don Rafael, that Jimmy had betaken himself to this eyrie that he might overlook
325
JIMMY APPEARS.
the trail which led to the spring. Unfortunately for him, we had returned by another route; and Jimmy, quite un- conscious of the fact, with anxious eyes still watched for our coming until long after the shades of evening had descended, and we had partaken of the supper which Don Rafael prepared for us.
It was quite late when Jimmy was seen approaching the camp from an opposite direction to the pueblo; and his perturbation of mind was very evident, when he discovered the doctor and myself quietly enjoying our otium cum dig with our pipes, while we congratulated ourselves that we had at last "caught him."
As he approached, consternation, doubt, and Irish cunning seemed chasing one another in quick succession over his features. Not a word was spoken; the doctor and myself completely ignoring his presence.
At last Jimmy mustered sufficient courage to say, "Will I be afther gittin' some supper for yez gintlemin ?"
My reply, in a tone of the utmost astonishment, "Why, Jimmy, what do you mean! Don't you know that we ate our supper more than two hours since?" was rather too much for him, for he at once commenced to apologize, saying :-
"Bedad, sur, I jist walked out for a wee bit ov ixercise, an' I didn't think ye'd be here so soon, sur."
As we made no reply to this piece of voluntary informa-
326
HE IS UNCONCERNED.
tion, he left us, evidently disconcerted at our silence. As he passed Don Rafael, we saw his head incline to one side in a manner that seemed to indicate a desire for a private interview.
At a nod from Dr. Parker, Don Rafael arose and fol- lowed him, soon returning, however, and informing us that Jimmy was very anxious to learn if either of us were aware of his whereabouts during our absence, or mistrusted that he had visited the pueblo.
As he obtained no information from Don Rafael, he had apparently satisfied himself that we were ignorant of his visit; for he went whistling about the camp, busying him- self with some trivial occupation, to show us how entirely unconcerned he was; and at the same time by his manner endeavoring to convince us that he was utterly unconscious of having in any way given cause for displeasure.
Dr. Parker and myself had determined to say nothing to Jimmy, but for a time to allow him to rest in his fancied security, well satisfied that our silence would soon draw from him a full explanation of his actions, and of the mo- tives that had prompted them. We therefore smoked our pipes as we lay on our blankets, enjoying the beautiful moonlight, and calmly awaited the glimmer of the spark that was to fire the train that would spring the mine.
It made its appearance much sooner than I expected, and in a manner that neither of us had anticipated.
327
A SURPRISE.
While engaged in conversation relative to the peculiar manners and customs of the Zunis, the doctor remarked that he could scarcely believe the apparently well-authenticated reports of the inhumanity and cruelty with which the Zunis always treated their captives; and that he was almost in- clined to doubt the truth of the legend he had heard me relate relative to the miserable fate of the Welsh miners, especially after having been with, and seen the people themselves.
Of course I stoutly and loudly maintained the truth of the legend, repeating other apparently well-authenticated instances of their diabolical cruelty, for the especial benefit of Jimmy, who was lying on the ground a short distance off, attentively listening to our conversation, and betray- ing, by the earnest expression on his face, a very strong desire to ventilate the subject from his own stand-point, in his own peculiar manner.
The doctor and myself argued for some time, pro and con, with Don Rafael and Jimmy for attentive and inter- ested listeners, when we were unexpectedly interrupted by a howl from Jimmy that was almost enough to startle a dead man from his grave, and could have been heard at least a half mile.
We were considerably alarmed, and rushing to the spot where the unhappy youth lay, we found him with both hands grasping the leg of his pants with a grip like death,
328
THE DOCTOR ANGRY.
while yell after yell almost deafened us, quite preventing Dr. Parker from obtaining any answer to his oft-repeated inquiry as to what was the matter, until finally the doctor, becoming thoroughly exasperated, gave vent to a volley of oaths, that, in their vehemence and power, completely silenced the unfortunate victim of his displeasure, and gained this reply to the question :-
CHAPTER XXII.
HURE, docther, it's quite kilt I am," said Jimmy; "for I've a rattlesnake in my trousers leg." And another yell announced that Jimmy again imagined he felt the venomous serpent's DON RAFAEL teeth inserted in his flesh. An announcement like this, did not fail to carry with it a degree of terror even to us, who had escaped the terrible doom that seemed to have overtaken poor Jimmy, who loudly asserted that he "could fael the ugly crayther a-crawlin' round and round him," while he begged in pite- ous tones for us to "take the divil away from him," a task that I am frank to admit, I was far from willing to undertake.
"Does it feel cold and slimy?" asked the doctor.
"No," yelled Jimmy; "it's hotther then fire; hotther than
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330
JIMMY ATTACKED BY ANTS.
hill-fire!" And another howl attested the truth of his assertion.
After this exclamation, the doctor ventured an examina- tion of Jimmy's condition, and discovered that in lying down he had carelessly thrown himself upon a nest of small black ants, which abound in that country; and they, to revenge the destruction of their home, had formed in battle array, organized an assaulting party, 'and attacked the enemy with such energy and determination as to com- pletely rout him, much to our amusement and Jimmy's chagrin.
"For," said Jimmy, "if I'd only known ov that it wuz only thim little divils, divil an inch would I a moved for 'em, and I only regret that circumsthances are sich,-"
At this juncture a stray member of the attacking party inflicted a gentle reminder upon Jimmy's body, that caused him to bound at least four feet into the air, with a howl that would have done credit to Barnum's Royal Bengal tiger, while he exclaimed, with a frightened and agonized expres- sion on his face, "There they are agin!" at the same time executing a lively and complicated double shuffle, accompa- nied by most frantic gestures with his arms and head; nor did this performance end until he had disappeared in the darkness, going at a rate that would have distanced any Navajoe pony, while the rest of us were so convulsed with laughter that no effort was made to check his mad career.
331
ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY.
It was fully an hour before Jimmy returned from his evening tramp, looking exceedingly chagrined and chop- fallen at the unfortunate dénouement of his vaunted valor. As he came up to us, I remarked,-
"Well, Jimmy, have you returned? We thought you had probably planned and were executing an elopement, from the sudden manner in which you disappeared an hour or two since."
This remark drew from the doctor the observation that it was as clear a case of intimidar as he had ever seen.
"And what does that mane ?" said Jimmy.
His reply, "A badly-frightened man," did not tend to satisfy him in the least; and the loud laugh with which the party greeted the explanation, seemed to rouse Jimmy to that extent that, for the first time in my life, I saw him quite vexed ; and he remarked that "in a very short time he'd be able to eschape from all the unplisint and thrying sarcumstincis wid which he was thin surroundid."
Upon asking him what he meant by such insinuations, he promptly and exultingly announced his approaching nuptials. I said to him :-
"Well, Jimmy, what's the fair damsel's name ?"
"It's no matther, sur; it's no matther to you, sur."
"But it is, Jimmy, a matter of great importance to me. What is her name ?"
332
FORBIDDING THE BANS.
"Shure, sur, I couldn't tell you."
"Yes, you can, Jimmy ; don't prevaricate."
"Yis, sir," said Jimmy; "that's the name, I think. And it's engaged we've bin since yisterday." And stretch- ing out his great brown hand, on the little finger of which I recognized one of the identical brass rings that we had distributed among the women, he exclaimed,- with an air that seemed to say, "This settles it,"-"And there's my bethrothel rhing, the plidge of me affictions." -
Turning to him, I angrily exclaimed, "Now, Jimmy, I'll have no more of this nonsense! There's no such thing as an engagement. Of course you can't marry a Zuni woman, for you've drunk from the Sacred Spring."
"What the divil hez that got to do wid it?"
"Only this, that you are liable to be taken by the cacique, any moment, and executed for the crime of drinking holy water; besides, Jimmy, an engagement to a woman whose name you don't even know, is simply ridiculous."
"Shure, sir, you spoke it yoursilf." And the big tears fairly chased one another down his cheeks, until, taking pity on him, I told him to go to bed, and that we would finish the conversation another time.
After he had left us, Dr. Parker and myself concluded that it would be best for us to see the cacique, and ascertain if Jimmy's visits to the pueblo could not be prevented.
With this object in view we started for the town, and
333
HE IS TAKEN PRISONER.
were fortunate enough to obtain an interview with the gov- ernor, when matters were soon arranged to our entire satis- faction, the cacique promising to have Jimmy arrested and sent into camp, whenever he should find him in town unac- companied by one of us.
JIMMY'S ARREST.
With this understanding we returned to camp, and sought our blankets, when I soon fell asleep; nor did I awake until the sun was at least two hours high.
As this was the day determined upon for our visit to old Zuni, I sprang to my feet, and the first sight that met my
334
HIS SPEEDY RELEASE.
gaze was Jimmy, standing a short distance away, firmly held in the tight grip of two stalwart Zunis, who were patiently waiting for me to awake, that they might deliver the pris- oner into my charge.
Upon inquiry, I learned that Jimmy had been arrested just at the break of day, as he was entering the pueblo, for the old cacique had given his orders with such promptness, that Jimmy, who had absented himself so quietly that we should never have known it, had been fairly caught in the trap.
At a signal from me, the Zunis released him, and I bade him go and prepare breakfast, while I rewarded the men so liberally that I felt confident that Jimmy would hereafter stand but little chance of evading their sharp eyes, should he attempt to renew his visit.
As for Jimmy, he showed so plainly his shame and mor- tification at his unsuccessful attempt to disobey orders, that I resolved not to speak of his unfortunate escapade, unless he should give further cause for complaint, by his efforts to seek an interview with the Zuni damsel.
Breakfast over, Dr. Parker and myself, accompanied by a member of the council and Don Rafael, left camp for the purpose of paying a visit to old Zuni.
Following the same trail, and going through the same gorge travelled the day before, we passed the Sacred Spring, and commenced our ascent along a steep and almost inaccessible path that led to the heights.
335
AN ELEVATED POSITION.
At the height of about two hundred and fifty feet, we came upon a broad ledge of rock, around the edge of which the ruins of an old stone wall were plainly discernible.
This wall seemed to have been used by the Zunis, not only as a protection from an attacking party, but also as a formidable engine of destruction; for by rolling portions of it down the steep and precipitous bluff, it could not fail to carry death and destruction in its path to the plain below.
We discovered no less than three of these ledges in the course of our ascent, all bearing evidence of having, many years previous, been similarly fortified; the stones, without doubt, having been used to repel attacks.
After two hours of toil and perilous ascent, we reached the top of the mesa, nearly twelve hundred feet above the level of the plain beneath.
Once fairly on the plateau, what a glorious sight burst upon our view !
To the northeast, and stretching far, far towards the south, lay the magnificent range of the Sierra Madre which we had so recently crossed, its regularly graduated peaks, seeming to rise one above the other, reaching from the earth to the. very heavens, until we finally lost sight of them in the fleecy clouds that drifted athwart the morning sky.
Far away to the southwest rose the symmetrical peaks of the Mogollon range, the dark-green verdure of their sides contrasting most beautifully with their snow-capped sum-
336
THE SITE OF OLD ZUNI.
mits, that sparkled and glistened in the sunshine like great white crystals.
Farther to the westward, the San Francisco peak stood like a mighty giant vigilantly guarding the priceless treas- ures concealed within its bosom; while its aerial summit, like a great white plume, seemed gracefully suspended in the blue ether of heaven's bright dome, and offering a most grateful relief to the eye while tracing the enormous ravines, steep mesas, deep cañons, volcanic peaks, arid deserts, and overthrown rocks of the vast country lying to the westward, and stretching into such boundless immen- sity of space that one utterly failed to comprehend its magnitude, while it required but little stretch of the imagination to fancy that beneath the far-distant horizon could be seen the bright, sparkling waters of the blue Pacific, as they gently kissed its sandy beach a thousand miles away.
Occasionally a lovely green valley could be seen peeping out from its yellowish-gray surroundings, like a beautiful emerald in a setting of topaz, or resembling an oasis in the white, sparkling sand of the desert.
Seemingly at our very feet lay the pueblo of Zuni, quietly dozing in its quaint, strange solitude, its dark-brown walls completely encircled by the sombre foliage of its mag- nificent peach orchards; while the river, looking like a thread of silver, wound around through the valley, here
ZUNI.
337
THE MONUMENTS.
flowing peacefully through green meadows, now concealed from our view by the rugged and black walls of a cañon; again losing itself in the waving corn-fields, or hiding beneath the golden-tinted branches of the apricot trees, to finally disappear in a deep gorge, dashing over its rocky bed, until its white foam was lost to our view in the great mass of lava that stretched far away to the southeast.
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