Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-02

of fire seemed to have swept over the whole
face of the country, un1 the inhabitants must
have fallen before it. In the center of the
c,ty we refer to, rose abruptly a rock twenty
or thirty feet high, upon the top OF which
stood a rortion of the walls of what had once
been an immense building. The outline of
the building was still distinct, although only
the northern angle, with walls ID or Is feet
high, was standing. These walls were con-
structcd of stone, well quarricd and well
built. All the south end of the building
seemed to have melted to cindcrs, and to have
sunk to mere pile of rubbish. Even the
rock on which it was built appeared to have
been partially fused by the heat. Capt.
Walker spent some time examining this in
tcrcstinr spot-hc traced many of the streets
and the outlines of the houses, but could find
no other wall standin@--as often as hc had
seen ruins Of this character, he had never,
until this occasion, discovered any OF the inn
Elements of the ancient people. Here he
found Il number of hundmillS, similar to
those still used by the puchlos, and the Mex
| leans for grinding their corn. They were
made of light porous rock, and consisted OF
two pieces about two feet long, and ten in
chcs wide, the one followed out, and the
other made convex like Il roller to fit the cav
itv. They were the only articles that had
resisted the heat.
No metals Of anv kind were found. Strcwn
all around might be seen numerous fragments
of crockcrv, sometimes beautifully carved, at
Others painted. This however, was not pccu-
liar to this spot. as he had seen antique pot
tcry in every Part of the country, from the
San Juan to the ella.
Can't Walker continued his journey, and
noticed several more ruins a little off his route
next day. but he could not stop to examine
them On this side Of the Colorado, he has
never seen any remains except Of the present
races. The Indians have no traditions rcla-
tive to the ancient people that once thickly
settled this region. They look with wonder
upon these remains, but know nothing OF their
origin. Capt. Walker, who, we may remark.
is a most intelligent and close observer, far
superior to the generality of the old traprcrS,
and with a wonderfully rrtcntivc memory, is
'of opinion that this Basin, nov 50 barren
was once charming country, sustaining
millions Of people, and that its present desc
ation has been wrought 10y the action OF vol
canc fires. The mill discovered proves that
the ancient race once turmcd the country aS
it now appears, meyer could be titled, hence
it is inferred it must have been different II
early days They must have had sheep. too
for the representation of that useful anlma
was found carved upon piece of pottery.
Lieut.. Bculc states that, on his first tril
across the continent, he discovered in the
midst of the wilderness north OF the CHA
l. what appeared to he a stone fort, the walls o
great thickness, built Of stone. lie travcrscC
it, and found it contained lorty-two rooms
In the vicinity were met with numerous ball
of hard clay, from the size of bullet to tina
Of IL grape shot, What was singular abou
{; them was the fact, that frequently ten o
~ t,, kp n q
bullets run out Of half dozen connecting
moulds, or like Il whole baking Of rolls.
is difficult to say what these were ntcnde
. for. They were SO hard. however, that til
smaller ones could be discharged from gun
And now 1t remains for the antiquarian
- explore this most interesting region IN the yer
heart of our country and to say who were tn
people that inhabited il. They may have bee
= the ancestors of the Aztccs, whom Cortcs ioun
:. in Mexico, for they were known to have com
II from the north. Tradition relates that the
r sailed out from their northern homes, dIrccte
Y by their prophets not to celsc their march ii
10 they came across an eagle sitting upon cactu
,c with a serpent in its claw. This they toun
II where the city of Mexico now stands, and her
l. they established their dominion.
Of Tins legend is still preserved in the dcvc
n upon the Mexican dollar. Some remnants
IN the AZtccs still remained within IL few yea
t. past, at the ruined city of Gran Quivcra
10 Pecos, in the wilderness Of New Mexico. Her
n IN deep caverns, they kept alive, with reverel
N tlal care, the Sacred Fire. which was alway
n to burn until the return of Montezuma It on
IS went out about ten years ago, when the la
ye Indian Of the tribe expired. 1t may be that ii
l. Pimos south of the Glla are an eff shoot of II
T. great Aztec nation, left behind in there marc
IN to the South The Plmos, it is known, are f;
ms superior to the Indians of Mexico. They raj
or fine cotton, and from it manufacture all the
it, clothing.
nd Would that some Stephens or Layard wou
he arise to explore the wonders that lie conceal
cr WITHIN this Great B lsin, and to bring to lg
ne the history OF the strange people that on
to inhabited it,