The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-01-10


in relation to peculiar race, entirely unknown
to the civilized world, residing on the banks Of
the Gila The following description is from the
pen of the San Francisco correspondent of the
Philadelphia Inquirer:
at appears that this community of human
beings are now living, and, probably, have lived,
for ages, isolated from the rest of mankind, far
out through the desert, and have no communi-
cation scarcely with the rest Of their fellow crea-
lures. Far away beyond the South Pass, on
the head waters of the Gila river, lives John
Bridgers, trapper of the plains and mountains
for more than forty years, and whose veracity
cannot be questioned by any one acquaiu-
ted with him. 1t is admitted by all trap
pers who know him, that he is better acquainted
than any living man with the intrcacies of the
hills and the streams that lose themselves in
the great Basins. While trapping on the trib
utaries of the Colorado, an Indian offered to
guide him (Mr. Bridger) and party to Il peo-
pie living in the desert with whom they could
barter. He represented them as living a great
way off, and that they were entirely unknown
to the whites. The proposition was acceded to,
and after providing themselves with dried meats
and water, they struck right into the heart Of
that Great Desert, where no white man had ev-
er before trodden, perhaps, since the creation of
the world, and they say has never since, and
which the hardy mountaneers will only venture
to skirt. After five days travel, the party ar
rived at three mountains or buttes, rising in
grandeur in that solitary waste. These noun
:ains were covered with diversity of forest and
fruit-trees and flowers, all in magnificent bloom,
and which appeared like some extensive oasis in
a mighty desert Streams of the purest water
rippled down the declivities of these mountains,
and meandered around their base and through
the vaIIies in crystalline beauty. Birds warbled
melodous notes from myriad branches of trees,
and the atmosphere was redolent with odorifer-
GUS herbs and flowers Here was numerous
agricultural people, surrounded with waving
fields of corn and a profusion of vegetables
They were dressed in leather. They knew no.
thing of fire arms, using only the bow and ar
row. And for miles circling those buttes, were
adobe houses, two and three stories high. MIR.
Bridger was not allowed to enter any Of their
towns or houses, and after remaining three days
only, left them-not, however, before being Civ
ell to understand that they had no communica
ton with any people beyond their desert homes.
These are supposed to be the same race of peo
pie who once inhabited the banks of the Gila
and the Colorado, and left those monuments of
wonder, the "Casas Grandes," which so deeply
attracted the followers of Fremont and Doni-
phan, and then vanished as a dream. Their
adobe houses attest the fact. My informant
says that months after the conversation he had
with Mr.. Bridger upon this subject, he had an
other with Mr.. Papin, the Agent of the Ameri-
can Fur Company. He told him that another
of the party, Mr. Walker, the mountaineer af
ter whom one of the mountain passes is named,
and who is known to be man of truth, had
given him the same description ofthose isolated
people, and from these two reliable sources there
can be no question of the truth of the story
The subject one Of deep interest," as we'll to the
antiquarian as to all who are curious upon such
matters, and it is to be hoped that the recent
discovery in the Colorado country will have the
effect Of speedily bringing to light, and to the
knowledge of the world, not only the existence
of these people in their desert home, but also
their origin and history. 1t is apty that Mr..
Bridger's account is so meagre as to leave us in
the dark in regard to many things which lie
mlSnL nave eilIiShteHeu u> uPon' fh'IuouSh He
was not permitted to enter their houses or their
towns. still he might have described their color,
size, appearance of the women, and many other
things which would be extremely interesting.
But no doubt now, since these facts have be-
come kdown, that expeditions will be started to
unravel the mystery concerning that strange
people, and for one shall wait with much ankle
ty to hear their origin and history developed.
An Ohio raper advertises for good prao
ticed printer, who would take charge of the
mechanical department OF a newspaper office,
read proof. make selections, scrbble para
graph when necessary, rock the cradle, dig po-
tatoes, cut wood, and 60 with the gals to sing
ing school, and ueighboring cuttings.