Fractional days are indicated by corresponding shorter limbs. If his direction is first S. and then E., this would be a top view of the bent twig, assuming that he travels two days S. and three days W.:—
The connection between this expedient and sign-language, knowing that, as Dr. W. J. Hoffmann, of Washington City, has informed me, the sign for "lodge" is an imitation of the tent,—that is, holding both hands up and the tips of the fingers together at a steep angle,—becomes very apparent. Through it pictography is easily reached.
[127] Sr. E. Vigil has just informed me that the notion is current that all the Indians of the New Mexican pueblos buried their dead in this manner. Among the Mexicans and the Christianized Indians it is the rule to bury the dead around the church or in sight of it.
[128] There is still another ruin much farther down the railroad, near to a place called "El Pueblo." I was informed of its existence, but have not as yet been able to visit it.
[129] Or rather towards the pueblo of San Cristóval. The latter was the chief place of the Tanos Indians, of which stock there are still a few left at the town of Galisteo.
[130] The following is an approximate sketch of these structures. This sketch is made without reference to size or plan, merely in order to show the relative position of the graves (a, a, a, a). It will be seen that the analogy with the grave of mound V, building A, is very striking; also with the grave discovered by Mr. Walters, and the wall above the corrugated pottery west of the Arroyo de Pecos.
[131] To judge from the report of General Simpson (p. 68), these early traditions must be very meagre. His informant, the celebrated "Hoosta-Nazlé," is now dead. Of the Pecos adults then living at Santo Domingo, a daughter is still alive, and married to an Indian of the latter pueblo. General (then lieutenant) Simpson was at Jemez in 1849.
[132] Memoria del Descubrimiento, etc., p. 238. "Tienen mucha loza de los colorados y pintadas y negras, platos, caxetes, saleros, almoficos, xicaras muy galanas, alguna de la loza esta vidriada."