The Pueblo Indians of the Southwest were very different from those farther east and north. They were partly civilized and knew how to weave baskets and blankets and to make pottery. They are rather shorter and darker in color than other Indians, but are very strong, with great endurance. They are able to walk or run long distances or climb difficult mountain trails with burdens that would tax the strongest white man. They are not war like and often build their homes on high mesas (m´ säs) or on cliffs for the sake of security. Their homes are of adobe (å-d´b) (sun-dried brick) or stone set in clay mortar. The rooms are square with flat roofs. Sometimes as a precaution against attack their houses were made with no outside doors or windows. Then a trap door in the roof with a ladder gave access to the interior. Different families do not have separate houses, but all live in one great building to which rooms are added as needed. Sometimes a whole village will live in one compact building like this. An important feature of each pueblo is the underground chamber for the use of the various ceremonials. They are very fond of ceremonials and have one for each occasion. The snake-dance of the Hopi (h´p) Indians is an example. Each man has but one wife and the woman is the head of the house. The pueblo Indians are skilled in making pottery and in weaving blankets and baskets, each Pueblo having its own patterns by which its baskets may be known. They cultivate the land, raising corn, beans, melons, and various vegetables. Sometimes they construct irrigation systems to bring water to these fields. They grind the corn between two stones and bake it in cakes upon hot stones. Notice the ovens. Keystone ID: 13720 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.