THE PUEBLO INDIANS. 177 



Possessed of little moral restra'nt, and interested in nothing but the de- 

 mands of present want, they abandon themselves to vice, and prey upon 

 one another and those around them. 



Acting upon the principle, that " necessity knows no law," they know no 

 law for necessity, and help themselves without compunction to whatever 

 chance throws in their way. 



To this we may also look for a reason why the entire country is so in- 

 fested with banded robbers, that scour it continually in quest of plunder. 

 Mankind are naturally vicious ; and, when necessity drives them to wrong 

 for the procurement of a bare subsistence, they are not slow to become 

 adepts in the practice of evil. 



A few miles to the southeast of Taos, is a large village of Pueblos, or 

 civilized Indians. Tliese are far superior to their neighbors in circum- 

 stances, morals, civil regulations, character, and all the other distinguishing 

 traits of civilization. 



This race are of the genuine Mexican stock, and retain many of their 

 ancient customs, though nominally Catholic in their religion. 



Cherishing a deep-rooted animosity towards their conquerors, they only 

 await a favorable opportunity to re-assert their liberty. 



They live in houses built of stone and earth, and cultivate the ground for 

 a subsistence, — own large herds of cattle, horses, and sheep, — wliile their 

 women spin and weave, with no small pretentions to skill. 



Among their peculiarities is the belief, still entertained by many of them, 

 that Montezuma, their former emperor, will yet return from the Spirit Land, 

 and, placing liimself at the head of his people, enable them to overcome 

 the despoiiers of his ancient dominions. 



In this strange faith a fire was kept burning without intermission, from 

 the death of Montezuma till within ten years past, (a period of nearly three 

 centuries,) as a beacon-light to mark the place for his appearing. 



This fire was sustained by an ancient order of priests ministering at a 

 temple of unknown age, the ruins of which, it is said, are yet to be seen 

 two miles back from St. Miguel, in a very good state of preservation. By 

 verbal descriptions received from those who have visited them, I am led to 

 infer that they afford many curious and interesting evidences of Mexican 

 grandeur and tend to shed much light upon their former history and reli- 

 gion. 



The sculpture is said to represent men and animals of different kinds, 

 in many strange varieties of shape and posture ; among them are beasts, 

 birds, and reptiles, some of which are of unknown species. 



The workmanship is rather rude and without much regard to uniformity 

 or proportion of parts, yet possessing a wild beauty and harmony peculiar 

 to itself alone, that at once strikes the beholder with feelins^s ot pleasinsf 

 wonder. 



I had cherished the intention of visiting personally these strange relics 

 of the past, but was induced to defer it for a more convenient oppoitunity 

 than the present ; and. finally, from my subsequent connection with the 

 Texans, I abandoned it altocrether. 



The Pueblos number a population of several thousand, and are scattered 

 over a considerable extent of territory. They bestow much attention to the 



