New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-04-13

OBSERVATIONS oS Az ENtsrlNG FRAGNENr OF THE Ma.
MAJ. or Pure B,rcap Sioc, IN The STATE Of San So.
rqGor Central Ancricd. BY L. c. SQUER
The inquirer into the history ana relations OF hs Abort
gines Of AmerCa, il OF, surprised 10 find engmahca
fragments Of the grca; prm tive lam lies Of the continent
widely separated from their parent stocks and in rudei .
/ were, omong nations differing from them in msnuers
language. government and religion These erra,ie ag
menisio adopt term frOmthe vocabulary ofthe geeogst
in some instances present the ceari and INST ndubi
eeyd,nCes Of their origin aud atonhp in an almost
unchanged language and in civ and social organic siion
manner end customs LITTLE if at all modified from those Of
their distant pIogentors The Inference from this would
uaturay be that their separation had been comparatively
recent vet these absolute identities have been found to
exit in where tradition fails assign Pc
riod for the disruption, well as 20 ndcae the manner
B in which II took place
Central America presents A. pnst two otsbs instances
NJ considerable fragments of the original NahuaI or MeN
stock intruded among tie nations OF that important
and interesting portion of the continent One OF these,
as have shown in my work Nicaragua occupied some
Of the Islands Of Lake Nicar qua aud the sthmw
between the Lake and the Pacific Ocean. Their country
not than fifty miles long, by perhaps twenty
five in width Yet mere. surrounded by diverse
nations distant than two thousand miles from the
Plains of Anahuac they continued 10 retain the language
and Institutions and to practice the rites of their Mexican
MANUAL ancestors. Ii seems almost Incredible that tins
comparative handful Of men could have forced their way
here melted solely by spirit of conquest or adventures
credit he tradition recorded by the early chronicers that
oppressed by like the Hebrews they banded together
and holf by force and half by fraud, fighting with the
weak and treating amcably with the strong, after
years Of trial suffering, finally succeeded in establish
ing Themselves far from their primitive seats
The historian, Iorquemada, informs Ms that
two considerable Mexican nations dwelling in AOcOnusc0,
on the coast OF OaIaca. Iehuantepec, attacked
by the km9Hcs who had been their enemies beforether
sttlfme ut in that Tegoneang the Inference that there
had beer anterior migration thther OF the same nations
from another section OF country. The Ciemelnes suDdS
them imposed upon them the most greyous burdens am
sacrificed numbers OF n en- to their gods Reduced to 90
SPAR they consulted their priests who directed them 70 40
part from the country, which they did going southwark
After various adventures they arrived in Nicaragua, when
they well received by the people, who made room is
tn the shores of the lake Ib6y aiterward EXTENDED
their borders by war and alliances.
Fragments Of this migrating people the historian also
informs US dropped of from he main body ana maze per
maneDt establishments the line Of march And several
later authors have supposed that certain Indians known TO
exit in the State of San Salvador, which hes between
Guatemala aud Nicaragua and known the Pp Indians
the fragments alluded 70 by Iorluemadi but W
70 ny visit the State Of San Salvador during the SGT
yeeF s53 proof Of the fact had been addG ed nor
had Il been definitely accepted by students.
During this visit enabled not only tO settle this IN
teresng point ia American Ethnology but also 10 ascer
tain with great precision the extent OF country winch Ae
inruders from Mexico occupe at the time OF the con
quest They were spread siOne the coast from the ko
Leupe the BIO de La Paz separating the States Oh
san Sel adOr and Guaemala and from the sea TO the
base of the great chain of the Corderas tha Is 70 say
over region Of country 80 miles in length Dy
from 40 % 90 in breadth pom the north and east
they bordered by the Lencas' who were pefhaps
Of the same family with the builders Of CoPsn ana
the other imposing PGmy OF the forest which rise 10
silent grandeur in the valleys and plains OF Honduras ana
Guatemala They occupied region Of unsurpassed
beauty and fertility which they proudly named Cg'eGttas
the LsId Of Riches We have accounts Of their civil
oreanza tion but the fact that they Of the true
MANUAL stock leads ire,isbly the inference that Their
institutions were essentially The lame with That o. Iasa
practices Of the indians n the districts Wnere Ine
Spanish invaders have not attained an ascendancy.
The ttnacy with which they have adhered TO their
traditions and 20 their ancient rites aud customs, Is
derfuIy Illustrated in the district known the Costa
d" del Bes mo or BslsGn Coast, which is about hfy
miles IN leI 9Th by twenty 90 twenty five in breadth lying
between La Liberad, the port Of the city OF
San salvador. and the rOGdEtead OF Acsjutis,
SOnsonete This district Is entirely cclpied by In
0laLs returning habits but little changed from whh they
at the period OF the Conquest is only trayerei
by opoihs so intricate and difficult 10 baie the ct
fs Of the stranger to penetrate its recesses Ihe a
Guilty OF intercourse is enLhDceG II not by the absolute
hostility Of the lndions Themselves from their dislike TO
any Intrusion the part Of the whites be they spanaris
OF foreigner | however fortunate in Numbering
among M friends in Central America TWO gen
lie no are the principal purchasers of the celebrated
Bslssm of Pera, which Obtsined excleyey BY these
Indiana and constitutes their only ace Of sale and sole
source Of wealth They NOT only have an extensive &C
duaiutafce with the Indiana but also great influence
over them which exercised In putting me
in relation with ofhe intelligent ia their ys
the city VI san Salvador was thus enabled % Obtain
voc gbuary OF their language which il is absolutely
identical With the N0hEaL Mexican, need not be
addueed The sole difference which | observed that
which he'd Previously remarked in Nicaragua and con
fs- in the contraction total omission OF the vel known
Mexican terminal or III Thus all water Is simply az
and R-L flint ssimply tS Some other variations erein
Dictated in MSS nOteprefyed TO copy of MolinAs Mex
Dictionary, which | obtained IN SAL Salvador, ana
which have 70 believe belonged TO the now eh
tnct Convent NJ San Franciscan MONKS who were the
fret 10 introduce Christianity IN the ancient Cuscaslan
The towns Of the Indians Of the Balsam Coast occupy
generally tie level submits Of the oy range OF moanIa
which extend parallel 10 the coast at the distance OF ao
four leagues inland. Their houses all thatcneu WIZ
grass palm leaves the churches only beng coserea
with tiles The largest town has more than wv "
habitsnts Very few among these Indians kno" 10" y
read VII g, but in this respect considerable Sd'Shee
has been made since the Independence.
The mechanic y arts little understood and Of oouse
the lae arts sill lese knovp. Music is cultivated " ss~e