Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-23
A STRANGE RACE
IN THE HEART OF CALIFORNIA.

Through the very centre Of the Great Ba-
sin runs the Rio Colorado Chiquito, or Little
Red River. Il takes it's rise in the noun.
luins :ha, skirt the right bank Of the Rio
Grsnde, flows almost due west, ard empties
into the Colorado a, point on the same
parallel OF latitude with Walkers Pass
About one hundred miles north Of this. and
running almost paraliel with il, is the river
Ssn Juan. Each Of these streams is about
one hundred aud fifty miles long. Between
them stretches an immense table land, bro.
ken occasionally by Sieras Of no great
length, which shoot up above the general
elevation. About halfway between the
two rivers, and midway in the wilderness
between the Colorado and The Rio Grpnde,
is the county Of the Moquis. From the
mids, Of the plain rises abruptly on oil sides
u Butte Of considerable elevation, The top
OF which is as fiat as il some great power
hal sliced of the summit. Away up here
the Mrguis have built three large villages,
where they rest at night perfectly secure
from the fierce tribes who live to the north
and east Of them. The sides Of the table
mountain are almost perpendicular clIffs,and
the top can only be reached up steep flgh;
Of steps cut in the solid rock. Around its
base is a plain Of arabic land, which the
Moquis cultivate with great assduity.-
Here they raise all kinds Of grain, melons,
and vegetables. They have also a number
Of orchards, filed with many kinds Of fruit
trees. The peaches they raise, Capt. Walk
er says, are particularly fine. They have
large Adcks OF sheep and goats, but very
few beasts Of burden and cattle. They are
q harmless, inotfensive rsce-hospitab'e to
strangers, and make very little resistance
when attacked. The warlike Navnioes,who
dwell in the mountains to the uorth-eas. OF
them, ars in the habit Of sweeping down
upon Them every two or three years, and
driving off their stock. At such times they
gather up all that is movable from thell
farms, and fly for refuge to their mountain
stronghold. Here their enemies dare mol
follow them. When stranger approaches
they appear on the tops Of The rocks and
houses, watching his movements. One oI
their villages, at which Captain Walke
stayed fora few days, is five or six hundred
yards long. The houses are generally bull
Of stone and mortar. some Of adobe. The!
sle very snug and comfortable, and many o
them ore Two and even three stories high'-
The inhabitants are considerably advanced
in some Of the arts, and manufacture excel
lent woollen clothing, blankets, leather
basket work, and pottery. Unlike some 0
the Indian tribes OF this country, the womeI
work within doors, the men performing Al
the farm and outdoor labor. AZ race
they are lighter in color than the Diggerln
dlaus Of California. Indeed, the women art
tolersbly fair, in consequence Of not belI!
50 much exposed TO the sun. Among then
Captain Walker saw three perfectly white
with white hair and yellow eyes. He saw
two others Of the same kind at the Zan
villages, nearer the Rio Grands. They we'
no doubt Albinos, and probably gave rise
the rumors which have prevailed Of the ex
is,encs Of white Indians in the Basin.
Ths Moquis have probably assisted natur
in leyslling the top Of the mountain as
site for their villages. They have cut dow
the rocks in many places, and have excava
ted out Of the solid rock number OF la'g
looms, for manufacturing woolen cloths
Their only arms are bows and arrows, al'hf
they never war with any other tribe IN
'Nayajoes carry Gff their stuck without Of
position. But unlike almost every oshs
tribe Of Indians on the continent, they ar
scrupulously honest, cap'a'" Walker saI
the most attractive aud valuable arlicis
may be lel, exposed and they will not tOuc
them. -"
Many of the women are beautiful, wit
forms Of faultless symmetry. They are vel
neat and clean, and dress in quite pclu
ssoue costume Of their own manufacture
They wsu dark 'obe with red borde
gracefully dssped so as to leave their r'si
am ,nd shoulder bare. They have mo
beautiful hair, which they arrange vii
c,rs, rare. The condition Of female ms
be known from her manner Of dressing Il
hair. The virgins par, their hair in the ml
die behind, and twist each parcel around
hoop six OF eight inches in diameter. tn
:, ,irslv amoo,hcrl and oiled, and fsstens