Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-04-16
Selefteo Artiflrs.
Indians and Antiquities in New Mexico and
California.

The Literary World had a letter from Mr.
Bartlett, Chief Of our Boundary Surveying Com
mission, which possesses some interest. II was
written at San Diego, on May goth. We give
only brief extracts:
In my journey across the continent, from the
Gulf Of Mexico to FL Paso del Nortc, and then
across TO chihuahua, and various parts Of Sono.
ra, to Gusquias at the Gulf Of California; re-
gion rarely visited by foregncrs-I did not
meet with single specimen Of antiquity be.
longing to an earlier age than the present. The
frontiers Of the State mentioned abound in ru-
incd buildings formerly inhabited by the Mcxi-
cans, but abandoned in consequence of the In
dians. Depopulatcd towns and villages, in
mos; Of which are found fine old churches. arc
also quite common, but no vcstigc Of an ancient
race. II was, indeed, a melancholy sight to
visit the deserted towns and ranches. Some of
the latter were very extensive, showing that
wealth and luxury once aboundcd there. They
are now ovcrgrown with grass and wood SER
pents, lizards and venomous reptiles haibor in
their decaying walls; owls and bats, in great
numbers. find resting place in their dark
chambers; and even tho hungry wolf docs not
hesitate to become a dwcllcr in the deserted
place. Some Of the churches are in good
state of preservation, the statues Of tile saints
still ndorning the nichesi and in order to rem
der them sgan fit places for worship, It would
only be necessary to cxtcrminatc the bats and
swallows which, in innumcrabc numbers, now
occupy them.
The savage, though he would murder every
soul in the village and plundcr every house,
seems to have felt n reverence for the church.
es; for even the gillings and ornaments, which
would attract their attention, are left untouched.
These churches are always surrounded by ex-
tensive ranges of budings, which were doubt
less once occupied by the very Indians Tor an.
cestors) who have rendered them so dcsoatc.-
In fact it is generally conceded that they were
the chief builders Of them, working under the
direction Of the priests or others charged with
their erection. Many Of the churches referred
to were exclusively missions, established for
converting the Indians to Christianity, but
moro frequently into laborers and mechanics
Hence everything around seems to have becn
adapted to q large household. They were al
ways placed in the richest valleys, and sur
rounded by large orchards Of peach, pear, POM
sgranate, quirce and other trees. Acquias, or
irrigating canals intcrsceting every portion of
tho valley, rendered it extremely productive
and capable Of sustaining large number ofpco-
pie.
Tho ranches or hacicndas, before mentioned,
are also situated in the midst of fine valleys,
where the attention of their occuranis was
chiefly directed to the raising of stock. The
deserted rancho of Babocomori, near the San
Pedro, once had twenty thousand head of cat
tle, and thcro were scarcely any which did net
possess five thousand, besides mules and horses
We found shelter from tho rain a couple of
nights within the walls of this rancho. and here
met with party of sonorians engaged in hunt
ing wild cattle; for though the owners, when
they abandoned these places, drove off their
stock, enough had sTayed away among the
hills and secluded spots from which there has
been large increse. Hence wild cattle abound
In the northern and central parts of Sonora,
and are obtained by all passing travellers
through that region. Colonel Cook, in passing
through that country in lslT, subsisted his en-.
tire battalion of four hundred and fifty on them
for two weeks. We found them very shy, and
difficult to approach near enough to shoot; be-
sides having herd Of tame cattle and sheep
with us, we did not exert ourselves to obtain
them.
We saw more or less of tho various Indian
tribes from the Rio Grande to the Pacific
With them all, even the most warlike, We were
on the most friendly terms. With the warlike
and the now hostile Apachcs had my camp,
for three months. ana in tho very center oil
their country. The chiefs and others visited
me daily at my table, and slept on my floor ;
and have often been nlonc with ten or fifteen
of these people in my quarters or about tho
door.
Among all the tribes have seen, there is
vast difference between the ehici and the mas
ses, or those who possess no power or wealth.
The characteristics OF tribe may be discovered
by an observer in all classes, in the same man
ner that you can recognize an EnglismAn or an
Irishman, whether he belongs to the nobility or
the common laborer-or the rich Boston mor-
chant from a down eastern Of Sam Slick stomp
You would know them both to be Yankees
The Indian chiefs and their families are always
Inc specimens of the genus homo-well made, of
good height regular features, full faces, and
generally of fairer complexion than the rest
This may be accounted Cor in the same manner
as you would for the superiority and inferiority
Of peoplein every nation, l.. e., their model OF
life. The Indian chiefs are rieh-they always
have the best to cat and to wear. Their wig
wams, too, are always tho best. But those of
inferior grade are generally half starved, and
many of them arc without wigwams or blank
cts. and hut n scantv eovoring for tho bodv-