Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-07-27
From Mr.. Stevens rev work.
A NV In @ CT / !

y IL | ~ VI \ 1 L
But the padre told us something more
that increased our excitement to the high
est pitch. On the other side Of the great
traversing range Of Cordiliercs lies the dis
trict of Vera Paz, once called Terra dc
Guerra, or land Of war, from the worIlke
character of lis aborignaI inhabitants
Three times the SpanlardS were dnven
back in their attempts to conquer II. Las
Casas, vicar Of the convent OF the DOmln-
can order the city of Gautimaa, mourning
over the bIoodshed caused by what was
called converting the Indians to Christian
ity, wrote treatise to prove that Divine
Providence had instituted the preaching OF
the Gospel as the only means OF cover
sion to the Christian faith; that war could
not with justice be made upon those who
had never committed any aggresslons
against Christians; and ihat 10 harrass and
destroy the Indians was 10 prevent the ac-
complishment Of this desired object. his
doctrine he preached from the pulpit, and
enforced in private assemblies. He was
laughed at, riJlcuied, and sneerng advised
to put his theory in practice. Cndlsturbed
by this mockery, he accepted the propo-
sails, choosing as the field Of his opera
tons the unconqucrablc district called Ter
ra dc Guerra, and made an arrangement
that no Spaniard should be permitted to
reside int hat country for five years. This
agreed upon. the Dominicans composed
some hymns in the Quiche, language, de-
scrbing the creation Of the world, the fall
Of Adam, the redemption of mankind, and
the principal mysteries Of life, passion,and
death Of our saviour. These were learn
cd bv some Indians who traded with the
Clutches, and a principal cacique of the
country, afterwards called Don Juan, hav-
ing heard them sing, asked those who had
repeatcd them 10 explain in detail the mean
ing of things so new to HIM. The Indians
excused themselves, saving that they could
onlv be explained by the fathers who had
taught them The cacIQuc sent one of his
brothers with many presents, 10 enireat
that they would come and make HIM ac-
quaintcd with that which was contained IN
the song OF the Indian merchants. a SIN
gle Dominica frar returned with the am
bassadJr, and the cacique, having been
made 20 comprehend the mysteries of the
new faith, burned his IDOLS and preached
Christianity 20 his own subjects Las Ca
sas aud another associate followed, and,
like the apostles OF old. without scrip or
staff. cf.stcd what Spanish arms could not,
bringing a portion OF the Land Of War TO
the Christian faith. The rest Of Terra dc
Guerra never was conquered: and all this
dsv the northeastern section bounded by
the range Of the CordijlcraS and the States
Of Chaps, is occupied by Candones or
unbaptized Indians, who live as their faith
RS did, acknowledging no submission 10
the Spaniards, aud the Government of
Central America does not pretend TO eXcr-
else anv control over them. But the thing
that aroused us was the assertion by the
,adrc that. four days on the road 10 Mex
leo, on the other side OF the great sierra,
was a living city, large and populous, oc
"upcd by Indians, precisely in the same
state as before the discovery of America.
lie had heard Of II many years before at
the village of Chajul, and was told by the
villagers that from the topmoSt ridge Of
Sierra this city was distinctly visible
He was then Young, and with much labor
{ med 10 the naked summit of the sierra,
from which, at height o, ten or twelve
thousand fca:, he looked over an immense
pain ex'cnIng TO Iucatan and the Gull,
of Mexico, and saw AT a great distance u
Ia &c city spread over a great space, and
with turrets white and sl;tering in the sun.
The traii;ionory account Of the Indians of
Chniul is, that no white man has ever
reached this city; that the Inhabitants
speak the Maya language, are aware that
a race Of strangers has conquered the whole
country around and murder any white man
who attempts 10 enter their territory. -
Thy have no coin or other circulating
me 'ium; no horses. cattle, mules, or other
domestic animals, except fowls. and the
cocks they keep under ground 10 prevent
their Growing being heard
There was wild uoyc.ty--somcthng