The Nevada journal., 1853-10-07

n3O never, Until TINS OCCASION, OlScOVcIcU
any of the implements Of the ancient peo-
pie Here he found a number of hand
mills, similar to those still used by the Pue-
bios and the Mexicans for grinding their
corn. They were made of light porous
rock, and consisted of two pieces about two
feet long, and the other made convex, like
roller, to fit the concavity. They were
the only articles that lad resisted the heat.
No metals of any kind were'found. Strewn
all around, might be seen numerous frag-
nents of crockery, sometimes beautifully
carved, at others painted. This, however,
was not peculiarly to this spot, as he had
seen antique pottery in every part OF the
country, from the San Juan to the Gila.
Capt. Walker continued his journey. and
noticed several more ruins little off his
route next day, but he could not stop to
to examine them. On this side of the Coll
oradc he has never yet seen any remains,
except of the present races. The Indians
have no traditions relative to the ancient
people that thickly settled this region
They look with wonder upon these remains,
but know nothing Of their origin. Capt.
Walker, who, we may remark, is most
intelligent and close observer, far superior
to the generality of the old trappers, and
with wonderfully retentiye memory, is Of
opinion that this Basin, now so barren, was
once charming country, sustaining mil
lions of people, and that its present desola-
ton has been wrought by the action OF vol
canic fires. The mill discovered proves
that the ancient race once farmed ; the
country, as It now appears, never could be
TILED, hence it is inferred it must have
been different in early days. They must
have had sheep. too, for the representation
of that useful animal was found carved up
on piece of pottery.
Lieut.. Beale states that on his first trip
across the Continent, he discovered in the
midst Of the wilderness north of the Gila,
what appeared to be strong fort, the walls
of great thickness, built of stone. He trav
ersed it, and found it contained AZ rooms.
In the vicinity were met with numerous
balls of hard clay, from the size of bullet
10 that OF u grape shot. What was singu-
lar about them was the fact, that frequent
ly ten or twenty were stuck together, like
a number of bullets run out of half dozen
connecting moulds, or like whole baking
of rolls 1t is difficult to say what these
were intended for. They were so hard,
however, that the smaller ones could be
discharged from gun. And now it re-
mains for the antiquarians to explore this
interesting region in the very heart of our
country, and to say who were the people
that inhabite it. They may have been
the ancestors Of the Aztecs, whom Corte-
found in Mexico, for they were known to
have come from the north. Tradition re-
lates that they sailed out from their norths
ern homes, directed by their prophets not
to cease their march till they came across
an eagle sitting upon a cactus, with SER
pent in its claws. This they found where
the city Of Mexico now stands, and here
they established their dominion. This le-
gend is still preserved in the device upon
the Mexican dollar. Some remnants of
the Aztecs still remained within few years
past at the ruined city of Gran Quiyera
or Pecos. in the wilderness of New Mex
leo. Here, in deep caverns, they kept
alive, with reverential care, the Sacred
Fire, which was always 10 burn until the
return of MonteSuma. Il only went out
about ten years ago, when the last Indian
of the tribe expired. 1t may be that the
Pimos south of the Gila are an offshoot of
The great Aztec nation, left behind in their
march to the South. The Pimos, it is
known, are far superior to the Indians of
Mexico. They raise fine cotton, and from
it manufacture all their clothing.
Would that some Stephens or Layard
would arise to explore the wonders that lie
concealed within this Great Basin, and to
bring to light the history of the strange
people that once inhabited it.
The Sonora herald states the small pex
has made its re.appearance, in mild form,
at that place.
The work on the Sacramento Levee is
being done in a most faithful and substan.
tial manner.
A Frenchman's wife, in Tuolumne Co.,
gave birth to four children, last week.
On last Tuesday a man named Prior
was murdered on the Merced river twelve
miles below Quartzburg, by band of five
Mexicans. They tied and gagged his wife,
who had to witness the horrible death OF
her husband, and robbed the house of $780,
The mate of the British ship Montague