The Arkansas advocate., 1833-11-27

-s@. .sas-s bounds of our States, is the onIv music of the Cumanches, Snakes, Eutas and A. paches, and all the tribes in the mountains. north of Santa Feat least, as far as have been acquainted with them bnt at the point where we first find the vestiges of the nations of Aztec and Anahuac, We see an utter difference in the music and dances. as well as the habits of the Aborigines.
 After watching q little while the plumed and ornamentedaetorsin the graceful and re- gular dance, San Juan went on to the lower part of the town and cautiously ascended a ladder to the first story of one of the hous- es, thence in the same way to another and another story, and thence descending by an aperture in the roof, he found hirF. in a large, low apartment, of which sudJs.y in- mate was an old beldame occupied in cook ing over q small fire. She turned td him as he entered, and without speaking, point cd to q low stool near the fire, and aoain turned her attention to the large earthen hr, with which she was busy, while she rocked to and lro erooning at the same time a low song. IL was with some embarrassment. that San Juan took his seat-for the old beldame was considered by the Indians as something of a soreeFess-as partaIsing, III 10 small degree, of the character and attri- bntes Of the priestesses to whom they had paid difference, before the eloquence of the shaven monk and the fury of the priest-di- rected soldier had converted them to the pure and simple faith of Romanisln. She was short of stature, withered and bleared- and, with her high eheek-bones, and black, tangled hair, resen1bled nothing so much as an old Arab woman. She was a Nab alo, who had been taken captive in a skir- nish, and retained as a servant, by one of the principal men in the Pueblo-and n this ca pacity she had acted for some years. She was still unconverted to their faith, and at stated times performed her strange and mys- tic ceremonies to the great scandalization of the Padre, who had remonstated fre- quently with her master upon the subject, but to no effect.
 ''Jaralsta,o said San Juan al length, with desperate exertion of courage, < have you been we'll since 1 was here last!' 4 kind | of assenting grunt, was her only answer; but It was enough to encourage him to pro- ceed "Nefe in your case, said he, eI would be far from remaining d slave-You possess powers which are more than mor- tai, and it is strange that one so gifted will remain a servant; ,
 Ay,' said the woman, 1 do possess pow CTS not given to others, but what matters 1t? l may not use them for my own benefit"
 $ You might, perhaps. then do t fer your friends, who might in their turn as- sist you. Where are the ruins three days journey from thIs, in the edge of your coun- try. That mountain contains great trea- sures, and you have the power to open it and to bring them forth. Teach me to do It, give noe the power to open the wonder ful door, and here are three dollars of pure silver, with the Kings head-Niva el Rei- stamped upon them."
 "And do you think that will open the treasures of my fathers to thee-pitiful, base, priest-trodden slave! Get thee from my sight, or will exterminate thee. Fool, idiot, cur Begone
 The poor Saint was confounded. He had not expected this volley of wrath, and he hastened to escape the vengeance of the enraged beldame. As he did so, he stum- bled unluckily over large cat, which lay between him and the ladder, and fell; and the hag still more enraged at the injury done her favorite, rushed upon him and fastened her nails ill his face, uttering at the same time, low curses Ill the rough cultural lan- guage of the Nabajo, which to him, sound ed like the invocations of spirits, and fright ened into insanity, he freed himself from her clutches by desperate exertion, and mount ing the steep ladder like cat, gained the open air.
 The next morning early, San Juan mounted his donkey, crossed the river in the ferry boat kept by the Indians, and took the road which fed towards the mountains of the Nabajo. His knife was in his belt, and his bow and arrowsa at his back. Other arms he had none, except you might give that name to a mattock, which he bore with him. Towards night of the third day, he arrived at the place of his destinaton-a narrow valley between the mountains, which raised their barren crowns i'll every direc- ton, around the green and solitary nook. In the midst of the valley, was confused pile of ruins, where there had once been a temple, part of the stone walls of which were still standing, and various irregular plies of earth showed where the buildings 0, mud had stood.
 There are many such proofs in that Prov ince or Territory, of the existence in 1t, at some former time, ofa race of Indians more civilized than even the donesticated Pueb- los. In different narts of the country fhere