The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-03-07

the year OF our Lord|gAl TO- when his
countrymen were conNending among
themselves on account of. their inherit-
ances in Wales, took ship and sailed
towards the West, passing. Ireland, ,,un-
til he came to that extensive continent
new called America. He turned, max
ing known his intention TO form set
tlement there, which induced many to
accompany him on the second voyage,
which he accomplished in eight months
and ten days, coasting Iceland, Green
land, and South along the now Cana
dian coast" ~
In Wisconsin ancient cities have
been discovered, named Aztaan, built
by a civilized people. The Indians
have tradition of the Azteeks con-
quering their fathers, and came here
with tools, implementsot various kinds,
that they built houses, and cultivated
the soil, and in 100 years, disiiking the
climate, they burnt their cities, and pro-
ceeded to Mexico, which they conquer
ed. ...-
In ncorroboration of this, Baron Hum
bodt's writings informs US, that at the
time the Spaniards overran Mexico, the
people inhabiting the vale where that
city now stands, were called Azteeks
or Aztekas, and were as the history in
forms US, usurpers, and came from a
country far North which they called
Azatan. ...
The country Of Azatlan. Baron H.
remarks, "we must look for at least,
north Of the forty-second degree of
north latitude" He comes to this con
cIusion from an examination Of the
Mexican, or Azteka manuscripts. which
are made of a certain kind Of leaves or
skins prepared on which an account
painted in hieroglyphics Or pictures,
was given to their migrations from NEex-
leo, and how long they halted at GER
tain places, which in the aggregate,
amounts to four hundred and sixteen
years, and they commenced their jour-
neying in the eighth century.
A late writer says of one city, near
Milwaukie, that there are amongst
these ruins walls and buttresses built Of
brick. This brick Is evidently formed
by q mixture of the clay and sand in
the Immediate vicinity. Judging from
its appearance, it was piled up. mixed
with gras: or straw, and was then burnt,
or baked until it assumed a degree Of
hardness much greater than our ordina-
ry brick, as it is now after the lapse of
centuries quite as solid and difficult to
break. 1t is full Of pores Of about an
inch in diameter which ,intersect it in
all directions, evidently caused by
straw which was consumed by the
great heat necessarily made to harden
the wall. There, are also several
square moundsofp plains whose use must
have been synonymous with the tow
ers which are seen in the old forts Of
Europe. One OF these contains an ex-
cavation or cellar, from which a stair
way leads 10 the top. About three feet
below the surface Of the ground is a
sewer, arched with stone. From the
Of the ruins, it. is evident
that a part Of them once contained a
fort. On slight eminence about eigh-
ty rods to the right of the fort are about
one hundred and fifty mounds, built on
straight lines. They are evidently
places of burial as all that have been
opened contained human bones, beads,
and other Indian ornaments.
These ruins being so much more ex-
tensive than we anticipated, the enclo-
sure containing twenty-three acres, and
the artificial work being so distinct and
palpable, induced US to delay our stay
at the hotel some days, and make a
survey and exploration Of
their mysteries. Accordingly after hay
ing traversed and examined every part
extensively, we, procured assistance
and opened mound No. 4. After much
hard labor, we penetrated to the depth
Of six feet, when we fonnd the skele-
ton Of an Indian, in sitting position.
The bones were much decayed, and
many of them crumbled to pieces, by
accidental blows from the spade. Be-
heath the skeleton, and upon which it
to be seated, we found the
;harred remains Of fabric, which ap-
oeared much like hemp. This mat or
article of dress was branded together in
| very neat manner, and was undoubt-
IDLY the cloth of which the natives
their clothing. In addition, to
his, we found between the legs ofthe
ikeleton a piece of earthenware, shap-
ID somewhat like common bowl, and |
covered with glazing surprising any,
hing Of the kind that we ever saw
rhis alone, would indicate a knowh |
dgea Of the arts, possessed BY the Az
alians. far SUPERIOR to that which the |