269 "26 
‘ieeroy. of, Mexico, Count de Monterey, sent the gallant Juan de Ofiate, of 
Zacatecas; to New Mexico, to take formal possession of the country in the. 
xame of Spa in, and to establish a ihe nies, missions, and presidios, (forts.) - 
They found a great many Indian tribes and se tlements, which they ‘sue- 
ed: in christianizing in the usual Spanish way, with sword in hand, and 
nade them their slaves. The villages of the christianized Indians were 
Jalled pueblos, in opposition to the wi ild and roving tribes that refused such 
favors. Many towns, of which only ruins exist now, were established at 
that time; many mines were worked, and the occupation of the country 
seemed to be secured, when quite unexpectedly, i in 1680, a-general insur- 
ection of all the Indian tribes broke out against the Spanish yoke. The 
Indians massacred every white male, and the then Governor of New Mex- 
“ico, Don Antonio de Otermin, after a hard fight, had to retreat with his 
‘men from Santa Fe, and marched as far south a s Paso del Norte, wot 
they met with some friendly Indians, and laid the focindaen of the pres 
town of that name. It lasted ten years, until Spain recovered the wiate 
Tae of New Mexico sta oe other insurrections took place 
re 
is constantly some distance between them and the rest of the Mexicans. 
They live always isolated in their villages, cultivate the soil, and raise 
some k, and are generally poor, frugal, and sober. Their different 
_ -tnibes, of which — twenty yet exist, are reduced to about ten thousand 
souls. They speak different Indian dialects; sometimes, too, broken 
Soabich: All of “sali know the old tradition of- Montezuma, mentioned 
already in the account . the old Pecos village; but none have carried the 
veneration oftheir expeeted Saviour so far as this faithful tribe.’ ‘For the 
regulation of their ssuttapienal they select a chief or éacique, and a coun- 
ceil, and in war a capitan. heir religious rites are @' mixture of Catholi- 
eism and Indian paganism; the Span nish priests themselves favored this 
pote ne from policy. ‘Their villages are built with great regularity ; 
mhetinn they have _ one large hou use, with several storiés, and a grea 
security. Their dress consists of moccasins, , short bre shal, dats woolet 
jacket, or blanket; they generally wear their hair elaine Bows and ae 
and a-lance, and sometimes a gun, constitute their weapo 
ns. 
The-whole ao tof New Mexico was in 1798, according to a cen- 
sus, 30,953; in 1833 it was calculated to amount to 52, ,360, and ‘that num-. 
eta consist of - ie, Gapuchinés; a Spaniards,) sy Creoles » vy Mes- 
tizes‘of all grades, and 43 of pueblo Indians. In 1842, the population 
was estumated at Bu. ‘eer ‘and at me at about 70,000 souls. 
5s nnersiand customs of the New Mexicans proper are very eferflae 
to those over al Mexico, described so often by travellers to that country. 
While the higher classes conform themselves more to-American and ea 
. pean fashions. the men of ‘she lower classes are faithful to their serapes o 
colored shee and to their wide trousers with’ glittering cenit and 
WE ee isa — eines sage a chane 
ore 
