338 EUINS ASB PUEBLOS 



Mexico had a much greater Indian population formerly than now — a fact 

 clear to any one on viewing the numerous ruins. If asked how this reduc- 

 tion was brought about, we can give but three reasons, viz : First, the 

 change of climate that prompted emigration from certain parts of the 

 -country; second, the wars with the Spaniards, whereby wholesale slaughter 

 was often ordered by the Spanish generals ; and, third, a gradual mixture of 

 Spanish and Indian blood, whereby the Indians lost their customs and lan- 

 guage ; Abiquiu, for instance, is such a town, where the characteristic 

 Indian type still prevails, although they call themselves Mexicans. Such 

 Mexicanized towns often received the name of a saint. The names of other 

 pueblos, in which the inhabitants were not a mixed people, were, in a num- 

 ber of cases, also abolished, and those of saints substituted through the pious 

 zeal of Spanish priests. 



Looking over the names of towns mentioned in the Spanish reports, 

 we found ourselves in many cases unable to locate them, not even ruins 

 were found where, from the description, we would suppose they existed. 

 Not only was this the case with the towns, but we often encountered the 

 same difficulty with the provinces, as the name of each town in a province 

 seems to have been used to designate the latter ; often the province is 

 named after valleys or after mountains. The truth is, the pueblos had no 

 provinces, each town having its own government ; the maire being elected 

 every year. But if we would distinguish provinces, the language alone 

 should be used as a criterion. 



Marata, Acus, Totonteal, Acha, Tdbasas, Sumas, Jumanes, C'onchos, Pas- 

 saguates, Jerez, Piros, are names of provinces, the jjositions of which are 

 difficult to determine ; most of them were in Southern New Mexico. At 

 present there is no pueblo existing - there, except, perhaps, Isleta, below El 

 Paso, which now belongs to Texas. But ruins are found here and there on 

 the Kio Grande, Rio Gila, Rio Francisco, Rio Blanco, Rio Bonito, &c. 



Hubates and Tanos, comprise the region of the Placer and Zandia Mount- 

 ains and a portion of the Rio Grande Valley below Albuquerque. Ruins 

 are quite numerous in these regions ; for instance, those of Shi-na-na, San 

 Lazaro, Guika, San Marcos, San Jose\ Los Tanques, Guia, and of some 

 buildings in the canon of the Rio de Santa Fe' near Cieneguilla. 



