The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-12-08
From the San Francisco Herald.
Discovery Of Ruined Cities within the
Great Basin.

AhO OiCdt Ddsils IN the uluuIe OF our IerrltOrv
bounded on the North by the settlements of the Nor
mons IN Utah, on the East by the Grand, on the
South by the CHA, and the West by the Sierra Ne
vada, Is region sill almost unknown. Trappers
and mountaleers have passed all around the inner
side of its rim, but none have ever crossed il with
the exception Of MIR. Beae who trsversed on his re-
cent trip its Northern slope, and Capt. Joe Walker
the famous mountancer, who passed nearly through
It's centre in the winter of 1850. But le, therefore
Is known regarding II, but nat little is exceedingly
interesting and fills the mind with eagerness TO know
more. From Capt. Walker we have gathered many
particulars regarding his celebrated trip and The
character OF this mysterious land, which have ever
before been brought to light There is no lack of
streams within 1t; the Rio Colorado Chiquto, OF Lit
tie Red River, entirey across it, about 100 miles
to the North OF the Ga, and almost parallel TO IT.,
and emptes into the Colorado. About l20 miles
further North, the San Juan follows exactly the same
course as the Little Red, and emp,ics into Grand
River the most Important branch Of the Cosssse.--
Grand River itself pnrsues little South Of
West across the Northern part Of the Basin, while
the Avonkeree large rIyer dscoyeredb by Mr.. Beale,
Green River, and the Rio Srgcn, al large streams
winch dram the Northern mountain rim and run in
Souherly direction into the Colorado.
The Great Basin between the Colorado and the
ITO Grande Is an immense table land broken towards
the ella and the Rio Grande by detached Sierras.--
Almost all the streams run through deep canons.--
The country is barren aud desoale, and entirely IN
inhabited even by the lowest order Of Indians. Bat
thouSu nov 50 Dleak ana iorDudtng srewn ali around
may be seen the evidences that il once peopied
by a civilized and thickly settled population. They
have long s,uce disappeared, hut their handiwork
stl remains to attest their former greatness. Capt
w aHer assures us that the country from the Cobra
DO to the Rio Grande between the q liza and San Juan
is full of ruined habita,ions and cities mos; Of hich
are on the table land. Although he had frequently
met with crunbling masses of masonry and number
less specimens of antique pottery, such have been
noticed IN the immigrant trail south of the Gila ii
mt NTH lIstf -
structure standing. Ga that occasion he had pcne-
trated about midway from the Colorado into the viii
derness, and had cncamped near the Little Red River
with the Sierra Blanca looming up TO the South
when he noticed little distance al object that in-
ducei him 10 examine her AS he approached he
found 1t TO be kind Of CITADEL around which lay the
runs OF a city more than mile in length. Il was
located gentle deciivity that sloped towards Red
River, and the lines of the cOud be distinct,
traced. running regularly at right angles with each
other.
The houses had all been bnit OF stone but al had
been reduced to ruins by the action of great heat
which had evidently passed over the whole couatry
IL was no ordinary conlagraion, but mast have been
some fierce furnace like blast of fire, srnar 10 that
issuing from volcano, the stones were all burnt,
some OF them almost oindered, others glazed ii
melted. TINS appearance was visible M every ruin
he met with. storm OF fire seemed have swept
the whole face Of the country, and the inhabi-
tanis must have fallen before il. In the centre oi the
city refer to, abruptly rock twenty thirty
feet high, upon the top Of which stood portion oi
the wall Of what had once been immense building.
the outline oi the building still distinct, atho,g h
only the northern ans with walls - Is feet ion,
aud 10 feet high, standing. These walls were
constructed OF stone well quaIried and We'll built
All the south end Of the building seemed to have
melted cinders, and have sunk mere pile OF
} rubbish. Even the rock on which it hliIt ap-
peared TO have been partially fused by the heat Capt
Walker spent some time examining this interesting
spo-he traced many Of the streets and the outline
OF the houses, but could find 70 other wall standn5
often he had ruins Of this character, he
had never, until this OCCASION discovered any o the
implements Of the ancient people. Here he found a
number Of handnll, similar those still used by The
tueblos and the Mexcans ior grinding their cnrn.--
They wee made OF light porous OK, ana consisted
Of two pieces about two feet long aud ten inches vide
the followed out and the other made ex like
a roller to fit the concavtv. They were the orly ar
! iices tina, had resisted the heat.
No metals Of any kind we're found. Strewn all
around might be seen numerous fragments o crocke-
ry, sometimes beautifully carved, at Others painted.
TINS, however, was not peculiar to this spot he
had antique pottery III every part of the country
from the San Juan to the Gia. Capt. Walker con-
;inued his journey, and noticed several more ruins i
hide OF his route next day, bot he could stop
examine them. On this side of the Colorado, he has
never seen any remains except of the present
The Indians have traditions relative TO the ancient
people that once thicky settled this region. They
look With won Ter these remains but know nothing
Of their origin. Capt. Wa aher, vino, we remark
is most Intelligent and close observer, lar superior
to the generality OF the old trappers, and with won
deiiully reteutive memory is oi opnoa that this B3-
sin, now so barren, was once a Charming country,
sustaining millions oi people, and that lis present
desolat,on has been wrouyhtby the action OF volcanic
fires. The mill discovered proves that the ancient
race once armed; the coaary AS it now appears,
could he titled, hence II is Inferred it must have
been dittcrcat IN early days. They must have had
sheep, too, for the representation Of that useful
NAL was found carved on a piece OF pottery.
Lieut. Bcae states that, his first trip across the
continent, he discovered in the midst of the wde,-
ness north Of Gia, what appeared to be strong fort,
the walls Of great thickness, built of stone. He
traversod it, and oJad 1t contained iorty-txo
In the vicinity met with numerous balls Of hard
clay from the size Of buIIe, to that of grape shot.
What singular about them the fac, tina, fire.
Quenily ten twcnty stuck together Ike a
ber o. bullets run out ol hall dozen connecting
mouds or like whole baking Of rolls. II is difficult
to say what these intended for. They 80
hard, however, that the smaller ones could be dis
charged from gun. And NOW ii remaus for the
quarian explore this most in.eresng region in Inc
very heart of country, and to say who the
people that inhabited il. They may have been the
ancestors of the Azecs, whom Cortoz found in Mex
co, fo they were knovn to have come from the North.
Tradition relates that they sailed from their
Northern homes directed by their prophets not 10
cease their march till they eagle sit.
ting upon cactus with serpent IA us claws. This
they iouad where the city Of Mexico stance, and
here they established heir dominion.
Thi: legend still preserved IN the dev ice upon
the Mexican dollar. Some remnants OF tae Aztecs
still remained within few years past the ruined
oitv of Gran Quivers, Pecos, in the wilderness of
New Mexico. Here in the deep caverns. they Kept
alive, with revcren ia the Sacred Fire, which
was always to burn until the return Of Moutezuna.
Il only went out about ten years ago, when the last
Indian Of the tribe expired. Ii may be that the Pimos
South of the q Ga of-shoot Of the great Aztec
nation, left behind in their march to the Souh. The
Pmos, it is known far superior to the Indians OF
Mexico. They raise fine cotton, and from II manu-
facture all their clothing.
Would that Stephens or Layard would arise
explore the wonders that lie concealed within this
Great Basin, and bring light the history of the
strange people that once inhabited IT,
How TO BE MAN.--When Carlyle asked
by Young person To- point out what course Of read
ing he thought best to make him man, he replied in
his characteristic Jranner.
"lt il not by books alone, or by books chiefly that
a man is in all his points 4 nan. Stud, TO do faith