Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-10-05
& STRANGE RACE.
~ THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA.

~ THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA.
THRorGu the very center of the Great Basin
runs the Rio Colorado Chiquitc, or Little Red
River. Ii lakrs its rise in III" mountains that
skirt the right bank Of the Rio Grande, flows
almost due west, and cmplies into the Colorado
at n priut on the s,ne parallel Of latitude with
Walkers PISS Aboat one hundred miles north
of tIis, and running Amos! parallel with it, i.
the river San Juan. Each of these streams II
ahou. one hundred and fifty miles long Between
them stretches an mmrsp table land, broken oc-
lasunaIlv hv >icrr,s of no great length, which
shoot up above the general elevation. About
halfway between the Two rivers, and midway i'll
Ikc wilderness between tho Colorado and the
Rio Grandr. is the country of the MoqulS. From
the midst of the plain rises abruptly on all sides
Il Battle of considerable elevation, the top ot
which is ~ ilal rs if some great power had sliced
oil the Snmia:t. Away np here the MoquiS have
built three large villages, where they rest at
night perfectly >crnrc fom the fierce tribes who
live to the north and c.lst OF them. The sides
of the ,ablrmnunin arc almost perpendicular
ellis. and The Top c.n only be reached up u steep
iiiyh, of steps cut in The S"lid rock. Around
il> base is - plain of arabic land, which the Mo-
uuis cultivate with great as>iHuly. Here they
raise alI kinds of grain, melons, and vegetables.
They have also Il number Os orchards, filed
with many kinds of fruit trees The peaches
they raise, Captain Walker says are particularly
fine They have large tloc!is Of sheep and goats,
but vcry few beasts of burden or cattle. They
are Il harmless, ncl;ln-ive racc-hos2iiable to-
- rangers, and m"k" very liilr Resistance when
attacked Inr warlikc Nayaiocs. who dwell in
the mnunlains to the northeast OF them, are
in the habit of sweeping down upon them every
two or l;rrr years, and driving off their stock
At such times they gather up al Thai is movable
from their farms, and fly for refuge TO their
mountain stronghold Here their enemies dare
not follow ,Iium. When Il stranger approaches,
they appear ON The tops Of the rocks and houses
watching hi- movements. One of their villages,
nj w!;!c! Captain Walker stayed for few days,
is five or six hundred yard. long. The houses
are generally built OF stone an'! mortar, some of
adobe. Thcy are very srng and comfortable,
AMI many uf .hrm are ;wo, and even three stories
high Tho Inhabitants a:c considerably advan-
red in some uf the arts, and manufacture excel
leu, wanIirn clothing blankets, leather, basket
work, aud pottery. Unlike some of the Indian
tribes of this country. the wnfnen work within
doors the men TcrIurming nil the farm and out
door labor. A Il race, they are lighter IN color
than The Digger Irdians Of California. Indeed.
the women are t"!crah!y fair, in consequence of
not being so mach exposed 10 the sun. Among
them Captain Walker SAW three perfectly white,
with white, hair and yellow eyes. He saw two
others of ile >;lnr kind ut the zani villages,
rca7er tic Rin Granle. They were no doubt
AIhino<. and probably gave rise the ruIilors
which have prevailed ut the existence OF wnite
Indians in the Basin.
The Mnuu, haze probably assisted nature in
f,ip Si,. far
their villages Thry have eut down the rocks in
many places, and have eycavaied out of the solid
rock rnnbrr al large rooms. fnr manufactur-
ing wn"l!c. cloths. Their only arms are bows
AMI arrows, although ll:ry never war with any
other tribe. The Navai"cs carry off their stock
wi,lnnt oppn.i,nn But unlike almost every
other tribe of Indians on TIE continent, they are
scrupuuu.lY honest. capt. W. says the most
attractive aud valuable articles may be left expo
sed and they will not touch them.
Many Of tic women are beautiful, with forms.
Of tault!r.s symmetry They are very neat and
clean. and dress in quite Il picturesque costume
of their own manufacture. They wear Il dark
robe with red border, gracefully drnpcd so as I"
leave their right arm and shoulder bare. They
have mos, braniui hair which they arrange with
great care i'i.r condition If Il female may be
known from brr manner Of dressing the hair.
The virgins part their hair in the middle behind,
and twist each parcel around Il hoop six nr eight
imrhe, in diameter. This is nicely smoothcd
and Oiled an.l fastened to each side of the head,
something Ike large rn-elIe. Tie effect is
very striking. The married women wear their
hair twisted into = club behind
The lnGnis farm in the plain by day, and re-
tire tn their villages on the m"untain 1T night.
They ir;i.a'c iEtci' land, by mean, Of The small
streams running ont Of the m"untan- Some
times, wI;rn il ii.il- % snow on the mountains in
winter, their crops are bac For t> reason they
always keep ,wu or three provisions laid mp, for
fear Of !amirc. Allngrihcr, they IRE y most en-
irn"rdinary people. far in advance Of any other
aIori.irrS yet discovered on This continent.
| 'l'hcv have never had Intercourse with the whites,
and If rn,;rsr their civilization originated with
themselves What field is here for the adsen-
lu:uuS traveller! We have rarely listened to
auyihng rncrc interesting Than Captain Walkers
plain, Unaffected >i"ry Z" his travel, in The Great
! Ba.n-$an Franr>rD Herald.