Descriptive legend of view no. 15: A view of the ancient pueblo (or town) of Zuni, New Mexico. There are about twenty tribes of these town builders scattered throughout the Territory, clustered in towns; hence their general name, Pueblo Indians. They are peaceful and hospitable, supporting themselves by cultivation of the soil and raising stock. They love to dwell upon the past glories of their race, and are bitter upon the people that reduced them. The pueblo of Zuni is of great interest; the town incloses a quadrangular area, in which stands the ruins of a church built under direction of the Jesuit missionaries. All the buildings are of "adobe," and the whole town covers not much, if any more, space than the Patent Office building at Washington. Their houses are of irregular shape, piled up together, and from one to six stories in height. The "front door" is usually on top of the house, and reached by ladders, which, when drawn up, left the people a fortification against their predatory neighbors in olden days of tribal warfare. Here live about 1,600 people (including 14 Albinos,) submitting without reserve to the unwritten laws of their race as interpreted by their chosen officials. Indeed, their form of government and obedience to authority would not compare unfavorably with some modern centers of civilization. When their city was first discovered, 300 years ago, they were a rich, prosperous, proud, and largely-civilized people. They worship the sun, and believe in the second coming of the prophet Montezuma upon the back of an eagle. Hence this bird is held sacred, and numbers are seen about the town, tamed, and carefully provided for.
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On item: War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army. Geographical Explorations and Surveys. West of the 100th Meridian. Expedition of 1873. Under Command of Lieut. Geo. M. Wheeler, Corps of Engrs.
Plate number: No. 15