Physically the Pueblo Indians are small in stature, but very strong, being able to walk or even run long distances, or climb steep or diffi cult mountain trails, under burdens that would tax the strongest white man. They are darker than the Plains Indians, with mild and friendly countenances, indicative of their disposition. They are not aggressive warriors, fighting usually only in self-defense, and preferring, rather to avoid trouble with the wild Apache and Navaho by building their settlements npon the tops of high cliffs, to he ascended only by narrow and easily defended trails. Hence the name 'Cliff Dwellers' frequently applied to them and more particularly to the extinct inhabitants of the northern canon ruins. Sinee the Government has interfered to restrain the predatory tribes, most of the Pueblos have come down upon the plain, but the Hopi of Arizona still have their villages upon mesas several hundred feet above the surrounding level. Their houses are solidly built communal structures of adobe or stone set in clay mortar, with square rooms and fiat roofs, through which trap-doors with ladders give access to the interior, the outer walls being frequently without door or window as a precau tion attack. Rooms are added to the original structure as needed, and a whole village frequently forms one compact building, with stories in terrace style. one above another. An important feature of each pueblo is the kira or underground chamber for the use of the various ceremonial societies.
Their dress is of buckskin or of cotton or woolen fabrics of their native weaving. In some tribes, as the Hopi, the unmarried women are distinguished by a peculiar arrangement of the hair. They are all basket-makers, each pueblo having its own method or design. In variety of pattern and beauty of decoration they have developed the pottery art to a higher stage than was found anywhere else in the United States. Their men are also skillful wood-carvers, par ticularly in the shaping of ceremonial figurines. Their main dependence is agriculture, each pueblo cultivating its fields in common, usually by aid of irrigation from an adjoining stream, and producing corn and beans in many native varie ties, with melons, squashes, and other vegetables, chile. tobacco, as we]] as peaches. introduced by the early Franciscan missionaries. The grind ing of the meal upon stone metates and the baking of the bread upon heated slabs of stone occupies a large share of the woman's indoor time. while pottery and the field occupy her
attention outside. The men, besides their field work. do the weaving and carving, besides pro curing the wood, which must generally he brought from long distances on the hacks of burros. The interval between crop seasons is given to a suc cession of elaborate and spectacular ceremonials, one of which, the snake dance (q.v.) of the Hopi, has achieved a national reputation. Most of these ceremonials are of a sacred character, being either invocations or thanksgiving for the rain and the crops. and each is in the keeping of a special secret society.
• Family life is based upon the clan system, the number of clans being very large in proportion to the population, and the woman is the ruler of the household. The marriage ceremonial is elaborate. including feasting, processions. and dances, and only one wife is allowed. The gov ernment is by villages rather than by tribes, each pueblo having a peace chief or governor, assisted by councilors, together with a war chief.
The present number of the Pueblos is about I0.000. Excluding the seven Hopi (Moki) vil lages in Arizona, with 1840 souls, and the two Mexicanized pueblos of Islets and Senecu below El Paso. the existing inhabitated pueblos num ber 18, all in New Mexico, as follows: Acoma, 650; Cochiti, 300; Islets, 1120; Jemez, ,450; Laguna, with sub-pueblos of Palmate. Paraje, Casa Blanca, and others, 1080; Nambe, 100: Picurs. 125; Sandia, 75; San Felipe, 550; San Ilclefonso, 250: San Juan, 425; Santa Ana, 230; Santa Clara, 325; Santo Domingo, 1000; Sia, 125; Taos, 425; Tesuque, I00; Zufii, 1540. They are classified by linguistic stocks as fol lows: Shoshonean: Mashongnivi. Shumopovi, Shupaulovi, Sichumovi. Walapi. Tafioan: Isleta (New Mexico), Isleta (Texas), Jemez, Nambe, Pecos (extinct), Picuris. Pojoaque (ex tinct), Sandia, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Clara, Senecti (Chihuahua. Mexico). Taos, Tesuque, Tewa or Hano (with Hopi, Arizona).
These are grouped under five cognate languages, viz.: Tano or Tigua ( Isleta. New Mexico: Isleta, Texas: Sandia) ; Taos (Taos, Pieuris) ; Jcmcz (Jemez, Pecos) ; Tetra or Tcgua (Nambe, Po joaque, San Juan, San Hdefonso. Santa Clara, Tesuque, Tewa or Hano) : Piro (Seneefi) ; Kere san (Acoma, Cochiti, Laguna, San Felipe. Santa Ana, Santo Domingo. Sia) : Zutlian (Zuni). See colored Plate of AMERICAN INDIANS, under IN DIANS; also the accompanying, plate showing a Zufii Pueblo.