The first thing the missionaries in the early times had to do was to force the Indians to leave their scattered ranches and form a pueblo.

To make a place a pueblo they had to build a church.

The Indians were pressed into service to erect the building, and kept at work, if necessary, by a troop of soldiers who often accompanied the missionaries and in this way assisted them in spreading the gospel.
From the missionaries' point of view this was a very practical arrangement; but the purpose of having the Indians remain in the villages has not been accomplished to this day.

Only the native-chosen authorities, who are obliged to reside there during their term of office, form something like a permanent population in the pueblos.

The natives come together only on the occasion of feasts, and on Sundays, to worship in the way they understand it.