The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-01
IAN AZTEC COLONYI NICARAGUA

IAN AZTEC CoLoNYIN NICARAGUA.
The fact of the existence of an aborig-
inal Mexican Colony, more than thou
sand miles distant from the principal seats
of Aztec civilization, and separated from
them by numerous and often hostile ma
tions and tribes, with different institu-
tions, and speaking different languages, is
certainly one Of interest and importance
in all archaeological investigations. That
such colony existed on the narrow 18TH
mus between Lake Nicaragua and the Pa
cific Ocean, was asserted by some Of the
early chroniclers, but as the proofs of the
fact were not presented, it has never re-
cciyed full credit among students. Indeed,
as late as 1850, D.. Lutfidm, IN MS cru
dite work on The Varieties of Man." re-
CARDS the evidence upon this point as ''by
no means conclusive" If, therefore, l
shall be able to complete the evidence
and establish conclusivcly that such a col
ony did exist, in the region above indca-
ted, at the period of the discovery Of the
fifteenth century, l shall have the salts
faction of fixing enc more and very i'm
portant point Of departure in American
chronological inquiries. Important, as
showing that this continent has not been
exempt from those migrations, correspon-
ding to the currents and tides Of the ocean,
which have, earlier or later, swept over
every part of the Old World, and affected
so remarkably, by intermixture and change
of soil and climate, the condition and re-
lations Of its inhabitants.
Within ten years after Balboa, crossing
the Isthmus of Darien, buckler and sword
in hand, had rushed into the waters Of the
Pacific, and claimed its almost 1imitless
shores for the crown of Spain, while Cor
tez was yet struggling against the armies
of Montezuma, as early as 1922, a Spanish
Captain, Gil Gonzalez de Avila, sailing
from Panama, had discovered the coasts
of Nicaragua, and penetrated into the in
terror of that remarkable country, uncr-
ringly marked out by the circumstances
of geographical position and physical con-
formation, as the theatre of vaster enter
prises than human daring has hitherto con-
ceived, or human energy yet attempted.
He found here a region where Nature has
lavished her richest gifts, and assumed
her most magnificent forms-high volca-
noes. gentle slopes, level plains, and broad
and beautiful lakes and rivers; and all
combined with fertility of soil and a sa-
lubriousness of climate probably unsur-
passed by any equal extent Of country I'M
der the tropics. These were conditions
eminently favorable for bringing together
primitive communities of men, and for
nurturing and sustaining vast popula-
ton. That it did SO, we have not only
the testimony of Gonzalez, but also of all
the early chroniclers; and he who has
passed over its broad plains and luxuriant
slopes, and observed its attractions and
resources, will be prepared to credit the
assertion of the pious Las Casas, that it
was zone Of the best peopled country in
all America"
From the testimony of the early explo-
rers, and from existing sources of infor-
nation, we know that the Indians of Nj
caragua were then, as now divided into
two widely separated, if not radically dis
tinct families, corresponding very nearly
with the natural divisions of the country.
Upon the low alluvions, and among the
dense, dark forests Of the Atlantic Coast,
there existed few, scanty, wandering
tribes, maintaining precarious subsist-
ence by hunting and fishing, with little or
no agriculture, destitute Of civil organiza-
tions, with debased religion, and gener-
ally corresponding with the Caribs of the
islands, TO whom they sustained close af-
fnities. OF these rude tribes it is not my
present purpose to speak. Their descend
ants, still further debased by the introduce
ton Of negro blood, may still be found in
the wretched Moscos or Mosquitoes, who,
by brazen fraud, are attempted to be
passed off upon the world as a sovereign
nation, comprehending the duties, and ca
pable of fulfilling the requirements of gov
ernment!
In the more elevated and salubrious re-
gions around the great lakes of the inte-
rior, and upon the slopes of the Pacific, on
the other hand, the natives had many fea-
lures III common with the semi-civiliZed
nations of Mexico, Guatemala and Yucca
tan, and has made many advances in the
same direction with them. Like them,
they were divided into numerous tribes,
or small soyereignties, with separate and