Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-10-17

ter of "Scenes in the Rocky Mountains"
gives an account OF a tribe Of White Indians,
recently discovered by trapping party,
which had arrived at Un,ah from CHA.
The Munchie, are a nation Of uhite abo.
rhymes, actually existing in valley among
the Sierra de los MImbros chain, upon one
Of the afliuents Of the ella, in the extreme
north. western part of the Province Of So.
nora.
They number about eight hundred in all.
Their country Is surrounded by lofty noun
tains At nearly every point, and is well wa.
tered and very fertile, though of limited ex-
tent. Their dwellings are spacious apart.
ments neatly excavated in the hill sides, and
are frequently cut in the solid rock.
They subsist by agriculture, and raise
cattle. horses, and sheep. Their features
correspond with those OF Europeans, though
with complexion, perhaps somewhat fair.
er, and form equally, il not more graceful.
Among them are many OF the arts and
comforts OF civilized life. They spin and
weave, and manufacture butter ana cheese,
with many OF the luxuries known to more
| enlightened nations.
Their political economy, though much at.
ter the pa,riarchal order, is purely reIubl'-
can in its character. The old men exercise
supreme control in the enactment and execu-
tion Of laws. These laws are usually OF the
most simple form, and tend to promote the
general welfare Of the community. They
are made by a concurrent majority OF the
seniors in council--each male individual
over specified oge, being allowed voice
and vote.
Questions OF right and wrong are heard
and adjud"ed by n committee selected iron
The council Of seniors, who are like wise en-
powered to redress the injured and pas
sentence uponlhe criminal.
In morals, they are represented rs hon
esl and v,r,uous. In religion they differ We
~ little from other Indians.
They are strictly men of peace, and new
ergo 10 war, nor even, as common thing
oppose resistance to the hostile incursIon
OF surrounding nations. On the appearance
OF an enemy, they Immediately retreat, will
their cattle, horses, sheep. and other valua
ties. to mountain caverns, fitted at all time
fpr their reception--where, by barricad,nj
the entrance, they are at once secure with
out a resort TO arms.
In regard to their origin they have los
all knowledge or even tradition, "a thin
not likely to have happened had they bee
the progeny OF Europeans at any late perio
that is. since the time OF Columbus, neitt
er do their characters, manners, customs
) arts, or government, SAVIOR 0! modern III
rope.)
. Could colony or party Of Europeans i
. the short period OF three centuries and
hall lose all trace OF their origin, religion
: habits arts civilization and government.
} Who, Tor moment, would entertain al !de
5 SO estranged to probability
r And yet The Munchles cannot be real II
dams; they must be of European descen
e though circumstances other than compile!
I ion aiiDrd no evidence OF IDENTITY with ell
. er race. Where then shalt We place then
whence is their origin!
We are forced to admit the weight Of CT
cums,an,ial esjimony as to their having Sc
/; tied upon This continent prior To lis discov'
/ nv by Columbus. Here we are led 10 IL
!. quire, are they not the remote decendaHl
!. OF some colony OF ancien, Romans
That such colonies did here exist in 10
' mer ages. there is good reason for believing
: i'ne great lapse OF time and other operati'
r. causes combined, may have transformed Il
MunChies from the habits. customs, chlra
n ter, religion arts, civilization and !angua,
e OF the Romans, to the condition IN wht
e they are al present found.