New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-12-09
Indians and Antiquities in New Mexioo ami
.afslsN sas California.

lafsaR 4s California. s
The Literary World had a letter from Mr..
Bartlett, Chief of our Boundary Surveying Com
mission, which possesses some interest. 1t was
written at San Diego, on the 10th May. We give
only brief extracts
In my journey across the continent, from the,
Gulf Of Mexico to Ell Paso del Norte, and then
across to chihuahua, and various parts Of
Sonora, to Guaquias at the Gulf Of California
Ia region rarely visited by foreigners-l did
not meet with a single specimen Of antiquity
belonging to an earlier age than the present.
The frontiers of the States mentioned, abound
in ruined buildings formerly inhabited by the
Mexicans, but abandoned in consequence of the
incursions Of the Indians. Depopulated towns
and villages, in most Of which are found fne Old
churches, are also quite. common, but no vestlge
Of an ancient race. It was. indeed, melan.
choly sight to visit the deserted towns and
ranches. Some of the latter were very extern
.sive, showing that wealth and luxury once
abounded there They are now olyergrown with
grass and wood; serpents, izardsshnd yenomous
reptiles harbor in their decaying walls owls
and bats, in great numbers find o resting place
in their dark chambers; and even the hungry
wolf does not hesitate to become dwell ler1n the
deserted place. Some of the churches ,are in .
good state of preservation, the statuet, OF the
saints still adorning the inches: and in order to
render them again fit places for wors mp, "
would only be necessary to exterminate the bats
and swallows which, in innumerable numbers,
now occupy them s.as
The savage, though he would murder every
soul in the village, and plunder every house.,
liseems to have felt reverence for the churches;
for even the gildings and orments, which would
attract their attention, are left untouched These
churches are always surrounded by extensive
ranges Of buildings, which were doubtless once
occupied by the very Indians (ors their ances-
| tors) who have rendered them 30 desolate. In
fact, it is generally conceded that they were the
chief builders Of them, working under the direc-
tion Of the priests or others charged with their
erection. Many of the churches, referred to
were exclusively missions, established for con-
yerting the Indians to Christianity, but more
frequently into la horers and mechanics Hence
everything around seems to have been adapted
| to large household. They were always placed
in the richest valleys, and surro unded by large
orchards of peach, pear, pomes sranate, ounce
md other trees, .dcqtias, or Irigatipg can't
ntersectins every portion of the valley, rendered
it extremely productive and cap able OF SUSTAIN
| ing q large number Of people. ss ii5 VS..
| The ranches or haciendas, before mentioned
are also situated in the midst Of fine valleys
where the attention of their, occupants was
chiefly directed to the raising of stock. The
deserted rancho of Babocomori, near the Sar
Pedro, once had 20 900 head Of cattle, and there
were scarcely any which did not possess b,ooo
beside mules and horses. We found shelte
from the rain q couple of niglitswithin the wall
of this rancho, and here met with party Q
Sonorans engaged in hunting wild cattle; TO
| though the owners, when they abandoned thes
places, drove off their stock, enough had stray
ed away among the hills end secluded spot
from which there has been q large increase
/ Hence wild cattle abound in the northern an
central parts of Sonora, and are obtained BY a
4 passing travellers through th at region. Colon
7y..l -aA1..s