THBIE INHABITANTS. 321 



tical aid to every-day life than a part of their religion. This people have 

 many traditions among them, which are of interest in reference to this 

 matter, and some one should collect them. 



Their belief is in Montezuma, who is to come to them again in the 

 morning at sunrise, and at Oraibe Mr Gibbons told me the people went 

 upon the house-top and would sit looking to the east at sunrise. This has 

 led some persons to regard the Pueblo tribes as sun-worshippers. It may 

 be that they worship the sun and the moon, " the captain of the night," and 

 the rain bringing the harvest. Mount Taylor they call " mother of the 

 rain;" and it is a sacred mountain, where, as Hosta told us, "they go to 

 pray to their gods that they may have rain and good harvests." Upon the 

 summit of Mount Taylor is a small cave, which is used as an estufa. This 

 cave is closed with large rocks when their meeting 1 is over. Near it were 

 found sticks of different patterns, ornamented with feathers, each pattern 

 indicating the tribe offering it, and the herders told us that little bows and 

 arrows, moccasins, plows, etc., were found after they had left. The Indians 

 never allowed the herders to come near them during the time, but dancing 

 and singing is believed to be the main part of the ceremony. Hosta hoped 

 we had disturbed nothing, as we would have found only a cave. This cere- 

 mony takes place about the middle of June. These "mountain places of 

 worship" seem generally to consist of an inclosure, occupying the highest 

 part of the peak, and made of rocks piled up, against which earth is some- 

 times thrown. Leading from the inclosures are one, two, or three trenches, 

 about 18 inches wide and a foot deep. The herders told me that the Indians 

 danced in the trenches. Broken pieces of pottery, beads, and pieces of marine 

 shells were found near them. I found a little bow on Mount Taylor, some 

 pretty bits df marine shells on one of the Jemez peaks, and beads on the 

 White Mountain at Camp Apache. On the mountain peaks in lower New 

 Mexico there are indications of similar ceremonies having taken place as in 

 the north, but as we do not know of such ceremonies among the Apaches 

 it may be that these places in the south were simply "lookouts." 



According to the tradition which we heard, Montezuma was born at 

 Pecos, of a poor woman, a virgin ; and as he grew up herded sheep ; and 

 an eagle came and kept him company. After awhile the eagle would place 

 21 c i 



