Columbia gazette., 1853-11-19
EXPLANATION OF THE RUINS
IN THE DESERT.
RUINS IN THE DEsERT-- b SPANISH
MISSION OF coNcEPYoN.

A>SAANo AIN DtSE Sf AsiSI1
MISSION OF coNcEPYos.
A correspondents of tln writing
from Santa Anna, under tobe,
4, says: -
Your paper came to
ing an account of the ecentIy
discovered in the sa1 swest OF
the Colorado, about (! d miles
up the river. This ~ lat has
caused so much excite1 SO an
cient as might be SUPP
In l54l, Herman search
ofpearls, discovered n Cali
tOrnla. lie gave to - e name
Of Cortes Sea. In S5k1 ear he
was recalled to Mexi q dis
turbance which took ~ bsence
from the capitol. Ii ploring
party in the port of q prose-
cute the discovery their
object being to discov Be tribu-
tary at the head. A yh of the
Colorado they left tt and in
boats ascended as far lction of
the Gila. The SpauiarS making
a treaty with the Inls $40, made
preparations for foundil' ssion. as
suring the natives that were chill
dren of the sun, sent to s&A he Yu-
mas against all their en.z.
In the year 1543, the 49, Of Con-
ception was founded on = west side
of the Colorado, opposite tie mouth of
the ella. In the following year, the
Spanish priests, with their soldiers, ex-
plored the river $50 miles further
There they built fort Of adobes, of so
feet in height, with level top of 25
feet square, fully completed with field
pieces of artillery, to protect them from
the encroachments of the Indians. This
fort being composed of mud earth, in
the rainy season the whole fabric fell to
the ground from the overflow of the
river.
In the following year. the soldiers
carried their field pieces up the river,
and few miles to the east of the bot
toms of the Colorad1 they built large
fort of stone, about one hundred feet in
height, double the size of the former.
After placing their artillery on the level
above, they went to cultivating the
ground, unmolested by the Indians,
whose tribes were numerous on both
banks OF the river. On the east were
the Yumas, Apaches, and Maricopas;
on the west, the Mohaves, Moquis, and
Cocomaricopas The character of these
Indians is, by nature, indolent and pus-
illanimous, and without energy. AT
sight of a Spanish soldier, hundreds Of
the Indians run away, like sheep before
a wolf, raising their war cry. Their
arms were long bows and arrows, clubs,
end spears, Of burnt wood; their arrows
pointed with optal stone, and their
hatchets made OF the same. Ultimately
these Indians discovered that the pro-
visions brought over from the Mexican
side were deposited at the Mission down
the river; there they commenced THEN
emigration in such numbers that the
whole country above was nearly depopu-
lated. The soldiers abandoned theil
fort to protect their Mission.
Here were gathered almost the whole
Of the mentioned tribes. The soldiers
commenced to fortlfy their Mission by
building forts of stone and adobes, all a.
round their premises, and ditching fol
the purpose of irregating their agricul-
tural lands. The first crop OF grain
raised at the Mission was gathered by
the Indians and soldiers, and the pro-
duce was equally divided daily among
the Indians This charity excited them
insomuch that at the next spring the In
dians all, with one accord, commenced
the cultivation of the Mission lands, SO
that storehouses was filled. And the
third year the crops were so abundant
that they made RATS for the purpose Of
taking the grain down to the shipping,
and shipped it to Mazatian, La Paz,
Chametla, San Bias, and Acapulco
The returns were in such articles as
they required for domestic use, all equal
ly divided amongst the Indians, so that
every thing was to be had in the Mis-
sion that nature required. Even schools
were got under way for the education OF
the Indian children. A friar was dis
patched to Mexico with maps and sur
veys Of their progress. And to & i've the
chief a favorable view of Spanish gran
deur, he went with the priest to Mexico
where the viceroy received him kindly,
making him many presents. The priest
likewise was loaded with presents for the
churches, and the privilege of building
stone bridge across the Colorado, from
one rock to another was accorded. On