Ex. Doc. No. 41. 471 



"blasts have heaped up the sand, so as to form a practical ascent for 

 some distance; the rest of the way is through) solid rock. At one 

 place a singular opening, or narrow way^is formed between a huge 

 square tower of rock and the pHrpendicular face of the cliff. Then 

 the road winds round like a spiral stair way, and the Indians have, 

 in some way, fixed logs of wood in the rock, radiating from a ver- 

 tical axis, like steps: these afford foothold to man and beast in 

 J clambering up. 



We were constantly meeting and passing Indians, who had their 

 "burros" laden with peaches. At last we reached the top of the 

 rock, which was nearly level, and contains about 60 acres. Here 

 wfe saw a large church, and several continuous blocks of buildings, 

 containing 60 or 70 houses in each block, (the wall at the side that 

 faced outwards was unbroken, and had no windows until near the 

 top: the houses were three stories high). In front each story re- 

 treated back as it ascended, so as to leave a platform along the 

 whole front of the story: these platforms are guarded by parapet 



walls about three feet high. In order to gain admittance, you 

 ascend to the second story by means of ladders; the next story is 

 gained by the same means, but to reach the " azotia,'' or roof, the 

 partition walls on the platform that separates the quarters of dif- 

 ferent families, have been formed into steps. This makes quite a 

 narrow stair-case, as the walls are not more than one foot in width. 

 Lieutenant Peck and myself ascended to the azoteas, and saw there 

 great quantities of peaches, that had been cut in half and spread 

 out to dry in the sun. 



We entered some of the houses, and the people received us with 

 great gladness. They brought out ciVcular baskets, nearly flat, 

 these were filled with a kind of corn bread, or " guayave." It 

 Dears a striking resemblance to a hornet's nest; it is of the same 

 color, and * ._3 thin as a wafer. The '^ guayave" they crumbled 

 ^ip between their fingers, and put into a second basket, from which 

 "We ate. Each family occupies those rooms that are situated verti- 

 cally over each other; the lowest story is used as a store room, in 

 which they put their corn, pumpkins, melons, and other eatables. 

 The fronts of their houses are covered with festoons of bright* red 

 peppers, and strings of pumpkins and musk melons, that have been 

 cut into ropes, and twisted into bunches to dry fir winter use. 



These people appeared to be well provided with all the neces- 

 saries and luxuries that New Mexico affords. They are quiet, and 

 Seem to be happy and generous. As we walked through the town, 

 ^^e saw them unloading their "burro..'' Quantities of fine large 

 clingstone peaches w^re spread out on the ground, as the owners 

 ^vere dividing the loads, so as to carry th^m up the ladders. And 

 whenever we approached, they would c.y out to us, ^^ coma! 

 coma!" — ''eat! eat!" and point to the peac es. They generally 

 wear the Navajoe blanket, marked with broaJ stripes, alternately 

 tlack and white. I'heir pantaloons are very wide and bag-like, 

 tut are confined at the knee by long woollen stockings, and some- 

 times buckskin leg^ins and moccasins- The women stuff tbeir 



leggins with wool, which makes their ancles look like the legs of 



an elephant. 



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