PUEBLO GOVERNMENTS. 2 To 



the eastern horizon, or leaning against a wall 

 or a fence, listlessly gazing at the passing 



^^^ , while 



to be seen in any direction, and the sepulchral 

 silence of the place was only disturbed by the 

 occasional barking of a dog, or the cackJing 

 of hens. 



No other Pueblo appears to have adopted 

 this extraordinary superstition: hke Pecos, 

 however, they have all held Montezuma to be 

 their perpetual sovereign. It 



asserted 



;hip the 



the face towards the east at sunrise. They 

 profess the Catholic faith, hoAvever, of which, 

 nevertheless, they cannot be expected to un- 

 derstand anything beyond the formalities ; as 

 but very few of their Mexican neighbors and 

 teachers can boast of more. 



Although nominally under the jurisdiction 

 of the federal government, as Mexican citi- 

 zens, many features of their ancient customs 

 are still retained, as well in their civil rule as 

 in then rehgion. Each Pueblo is under the 

 control of a cacique or gobernadorcillo, chosen 

 from among their own sages, and commis- 

 sioned by the governor of New Mexico. The 

 cacique, when any pubMc business is to be 

 transacted, collects together the principal 

 chiefs of the Pueblo in an estufa, or cell, usu- 

 ally under ground, and there lays before them 

 the subjects of debate, which are generally set- 

 tled by the opinion of the majority. No Mexi- 

 can is admitted to these councils, nor do the 



