k 
PUEBLO OF ISLETA. 51 
low as at Albuquerque. But the diluvial spur that limits the left bank of the arroyo, or ravine, 
stretches towards the southwest, forming a bluff bank that abuts upon the river opposite Isleta, 
an Indian pueblo about thirteen miles south from Albuquerque. The pueblo stands upon a 
gravel ridge that also terminates in a bluff twenty-one feet above the water’s edge. These 
name of Spain, and to establish colonies, missions, and presidios, (forts.) They found a great many indian tmbes and settle- 
ments, which they succeeded in christianizing in the usual Spanish way, with sword in hand, and made them their slaves. The 
villages of the christianized Indians were called pueblos, in opposition to the wild 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, in 1680, a general insurrection of all the Indian tribes broke out against 
the Spanish yoke. The Indians massacred every white male, and the then governor of New Mexico, Don Antonio de Otermin, 
after a hard fight, had to retreat with his men from Santa Fé, and marched as far south as Paso del Norte, where they met with 
some friendly Indians, and laid the foundation of the present town of that name. It lasted ten years, until Spain recovered the 
hole province of New Mexico again. Several other insurrections took place after that, but none so disastrous as the first. 
However, the deep rancor of the Indian race against the white has continued to the present time, and in all the frequent and 
y revolutions of later years in New Mexico the sëch generally acted a conspicuous and cruel part. There 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 stash. and are generally poor, frugal, and sober. Their different tribes, of which about twenty yet exist, are reduced 
to about ten thousand souls. They speak different Indian dialects; sometimes, too, broken Spanish. All of them know the old 
tradition of Montezuma, mentioned already in the account of the old Pecos village; but none have carried the veneration of their 
ex Saviour so far as this faithful tribe. For the regulation of their communities they select a chief or cacique, and a coun- 
cil, and in war a captain. Their religious rites are a mixture of Catholicism and Indian paganism; the Spanish priests them- 
selves favored this combination, from policy. Their eng are built with great regularity ; sometimes they have but one large 
house, with several stories, and a great many small rooms, in y the uin village is quartered. Instead of doors in front, 
they use trap-doors on the roofs of their houses, to Maes they climb up n a ladder, which is withdrawn in the night for greater 
security. Their dress consists of moccasins, short breeches, and a ia) Ty or blanket; they generally wear their hair long. 
Bows and arrows and a lance, and sometimes a g” constitute their wea 
“The whole population of New Mexico was in 1793, according to a Ge 30,953; in 1833 it was calculated to amount to 
52,360, and that number to consist of sie tesi Gapuchines, (native Spaniards,) four-twentieths Creoles, five-twentieths Mes- 
tizes of all grades, and Gen mpm of e: mcos In 1842, the À pme 2 estimated at oi 026, and at Fr. at "m. 
0,000 
* The caravan started on the usual road, by iem for the Rio del Norte. But being anxious myself to examine the cele- 
brated gold mines of New Mexico, the old and new Placers, in a range of mountains southwest from Santa Fé, I intended to make 
first from here this out of the way excursion, and to join the caravan afterwards on the Rio del Norte, near VIN CEA M I 
parun, therefore, in this direction, riding alone, and ioc nothing along but my arms and a pair of saddle-ba 
* The distance from bere to old Placer is about 25 miles; from Santa Fé, 27. In a southern direction, I ro through the 
valley that separates the mountains east of Santa Fé from the chain of the Placers. This valley is about 25 miles broad, very 
sandy and sterile, covered with artemisia, and nearer the foot t of th Placer mountains with dwarfish cedars. ete. along 
a low chain of hills that form an outward wall to the ‘mountains of old Placer, I passed by two springs, on the first of which I 
found sienite; on the other a fresh-water limestone. to the hills, I met everywhere with a red and brown 
dstone, Gage or more compact, and with large masses of C Td From here the ascent to the mountains is rather 
rapid, till a plain is gained, from which a fine retrospective view is enjoyed towards Santa Fé, and over the whole valley. Pine 
and cedar cover the mountains all around. Slightly ascending from the plain for some md eise a narrow ravine, between high 
valley. This solitary place is el Real de Dolores, or, as it is commonly called, old Places, eid live here. The 
first one I saw was Mr. Watrous, a New Englander, but for many yea a resident of this country. He received me very hos- 
pitably, and invited me to his dwelling. 
ratl 
first Pg stirring with the hand, the R p a and then, by well balanced ` 
| Occasionally they discover a larger piece of gold in the sand ; but generally the gold is so 
Sve Dat a whole day work wil amount, on an average, t not more than a quarter or half à dollar. Every evening they - 
sell their small gains to the storekeepers, and take provisions or goods in exchange, or receive. cash for it, at the tate of sr. 
