Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians - Part 25
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Part 25

71. CAPTAIN Sc.r.a.pER.

72. BINGO.

4. MOQUIS.

A tribe of semi-civilized Indians living in seven villages on the plateau between the San Juan and Little Colorado Rivers. They were among the Pueblos visited by the expedition under Coronado in 1540, who named the region inhabited by them the Province of Tusayan. The Franciscans established missions among them, but in the general uprising of 1680 all were expelled or killed. Numerous attempts were afterward made to reduce them, but without success, and they have remained independent to this day. They have the reputation of being an extremely kind-hearted and hospitable people; are exclusively agricultural, raising maize, squashes, pumpkins, and peaches. They also have many sheep and goats.

Have suffered much by depredations from the Apaches and Navajos. Their villages are perched upon the summits of mesas, from 400 to 600 feet in height. Their houses are built of stone laid in adobe-mortar, in terrace form, seldom exceeding three stories in height, and reached only by ladders. The women knit, spin, and weave, making fine blankets, women's robes, and other like articles, which they trade to the neighboring tribes.

When they first came under the jurisdiction of the United States, were estimated to number 8,000. Were almost destroyed by small-pox in 1855 and 1857, and lost many more by the famine in 1867. On both occasions their villages were abandoned and the people scattered among the mountains, or took refuge among the kindred Zunis, and other pueblos.

Are now estimated at 1,500 souls. They use no intoxicating drink; are industrious and virtuous. The men adopt the usual Mexican dress, while the women wear a woven tunic and a small blanket tacked over the shoulders. Before marriage the hair of the women is worn in two large rosettes upon each side of the head, and after marriage, is worn loose down the back or rolled up back of the head.

Being entirely self-supporting, they have had but few agents and very little a.s.sistance from the General Government. Their remote and nearly inaccessible location has also removed them beyond the reach of most missionary enterprises. Within the last two or three years some efforts have been made to establish schools among them, supported mainly by Presbyterian enterprise.

_List of ill.u.s.trations._

416. DELEGATION TO BRIGHAM YOUNG.

Copy of a photograph of three Moqui Indians from the Pueblo of Oraybi, delegated to visit the Mormon president for the purpose of encouraging trade.

983. NUM-PAYU. _Harmless Snake._

A comely young maiden of the pueblo of Tewa. The peculiar style in which the hair is worn, as shown in this picture, is a sign of maidenhood. After marriage the hair is allowed to hang down the back, or is gathered in a small knot at the back of the head. The Moquis dress themselves entirely in woolen goods of their own manufacture, in which they are quite expert, their women's dress and blankets forming their princ.i.p.al stock in trade.

1019. TeWA.

1020. HOUSE OF THE CAPITAN OF TeWA.

986. STREET VIEW IN TeWA.

1021, 988. GUALPI or O-PEE-KI.

1024. SHE-Mo-PA-VE.

1023. MOO-SHA-NA-VE.

1022, 991. SHE-PAu-LA-VAY.

1025. HOUSE OF THE CAPITAN OF SHE-MO-PA-VE.

The above are four of seven towns which are collectively generally known as the Moquis Pueblos. By a census taken in the spring of 1877, they were found to contain a population of 492 men, 440 women and 672 children, 1,604 in all; of which Tewa has 132, Gualpi 234, She-mo-pa-ve 189, and She-pau-la-vay 198. With the exception of Oraybi, all these villages are built upon the summits of sandstone mesas, 600 feet above the valleys below them, and from which has to be brought their water, wood, and everything they raise. They possess considerable flocks of goats and sheep, which are secured every night in pens along the sides and upon the summits of the mesa, as shown in No. 987. Although there is no running water within many miles, and consequently they cannot irrigate, yet they are quite successful in cultivating corn, melons, &c., usually raising much more than they consume.

5. PUEBLOS.

A general name applied by the Spaniards to several tribes of semi-civilized Indians in what is now New Mexico. The term _pueblo_, in Spanish, literally means the _people_ and their _towns_. They were first visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1537, who conveyed the first authentic account of their villages to Mexico, which resulted, in 1540, in the expedition of Coronado. As nearly as can be ascertained at the present time, he visited and subdued the Pueblos in the neighborhood of Zuni, along the Rio Grande, and the Moqui of the province of Tusayan; but only occupied the country two years. Were finally subdued in 1586, and the Spanish retained uninterrupted control, with the exception of the period of the insurrection of 1680, until the cession of the territory to the United States in 1847. At the time of Coronado's visit they were as advanced as now, raising grain, vegetables, and cotton, and manufacturing fine blankets. Their houses are sometimes built of stone, but generally of adobe; are several stories in height--three to five usually--each one receding from the one below, leaving a terrace or walk. The general plan is a hollow square, although in some cases they are built in a solid ma.s.s, like a pyramid, six or eight stories in height. In each pueblo there are large rooms, sometimes under ground, for religious observances or councils, called in Spanish, _estufas_. The towns are sometimes built upon the summits of high terraces or _mesas_, extremely difficult of approach.

The Pueblos const.i.tute several tribes, with different languages; some are now extinct; but those existing are the Zunis; Toltos in Taos, with whom are cla.s.sed the people of Picuris, the Sandia, and Isleta; the Tiguas in San Juan, Santa Clara, Nambe, San Ildefonso, Pojuaque, and Tesuque; (the Moquis of pueblo of Te'-wa are said to speak this language); the Queres in Cochite, San Domingo, San Filipe, Santa Ana, Zia, Laguna, and Acoma; the Jemez, in the pueblo of the same name. In the 19 pueblos named there are now estimated to be 8,400 people, the most populous being Zuni, with some 1,500 souls, and the least, Pojuaque, numbering only some 30 or 40 persons. Were recognized as citizens under Mexican rule, but since the admission of New Mexico the matter has been left in doubt. In 1858, Government confirmed to them the old Spanish grants of the land the Pueblos cultivate, averaging about twelve square leagues to each pueblo. They retain their own form of government, each village electing a governor, and a council consisting of three old men. Have been under Catholic influence since the Spanish conquest; but in the division of the tribes among the religious denominations, the Pueblos were first a.s.signed to the Baptists, and afterward to the Presbyterians, who are now actively engaged in establishing schools among them.

_List of ill.u.s.trations._

1015. NA-NA-aN-YE. _A al Metor de la Sierra._

Spanish name, Antonio Jose Atencio. Head chief of all the Pueblos.

Can read and write Spanish. Age, 70; height, 5.4-1/2.

1016. TSE-WA-aN-YE. _Tail of the Eagle Fluttering._

Spanish name, Antonio al Churleta. Governor of the pueblo of San Juan, and is the bearer of a cane, the badge of his office, which is marked "A. Lincoln, a San Juan, 1863." Can read and write in the Spanish language. Age, 64; height, 5.6-1/2.

1017. WA-So-TO-Ya-MIN. _Small Feathers of the Eagle._

Spanish name, Juan Jesus Leo. Governor of the pueblo of Taos; which position is retained but for one year. Is the bearer of a cane marked "A. Lincol a Taos." Age, 45; height, 5.7-1/2.

643. AMBROSIA ABEITA.

644. ALEJANDRO PADILLO.

645-6. GROUPS with ABEITA and PADILLO.

992. GROUP OF ANTONIO JOSe ATENCIO, ANTONIA AL CHURLETA, and JUAN JESUS LEO.

15-17. THE HERDER.

One of the former governors of the pueblo of Taos.

20. GROUP OF CORRIDORES.

Young men who are selected to run foot-races during the "feasts" or religious holidays.

618, 623. YOUNG MAIDEN.

A very good-looking young woman of the pueblo of Taos, with her hair gathered over the ears, signifying her single state. This custom also obtains among the Moquis.

614-617; 620, 626-7. YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN OF THE PUEBLO OF TAOS.

19, 613, 625, 619, 621-2. VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS belonging to the pueblo of Taos.

628-642. VIEWS OF THE PUEBLO OF TAOS.

6. TAWACANIES.

A small tribe in the Indian Territory a.s.sociated with the Caddos, Kiowas, and others on the Wichita agency. They are well advanced toward civilization.

738-739. DAVE.

740-741. CAW-LAC-ITS-CA. _Son of Dave._