The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-02-21
WHITE INDIANS OF THE SIERRA
NEVADAS.


A writer in the Mariposa Chronicle
furnishes the following description of the
village and surrounding country inhabit-
ed by the tribe of white Indians beyond
the Sierra Nevadas, about which SO
much has been formerly said by other
writer's:
"This village is pleasantly and ro-
mantically situated in a beautiful and
rich valley, gurded on either side by lof-
ty and precipitous bluffs, which from
ders and variegated colors, present a
singularly picturesque appearance. The
mountains and table land adjacent are
thickly studded with magnificent and
lofty pines, cedars and oaks; while in
the valley, dressed in her richest and
rarest colors, Flora reigus supreme
We were agreeable surprised, upon en-
tering the village, to observe the taste
and utility displayed in its construction.
The streets were very regularly laid out
in circular form, shaded by trees re-
sembling in appearance the Magnolia
The houses are partly Grecia in style,
and of very good workmanship. That
occupied by the Chief or King would re-
fleet honor upon a more enlightened
people. It is gigantic structure, built
in the form of a pyramid, and surroun-
ded by q succession of corridors rising
one above the other. Upon the railing
of each corridor-which is wide and
grooved for the admission of earth-are
cultivated the most beautiful and fra
grant flowers, So arranged that at short
distance the places resembles an i'm
mense bouquet. The people seem to
have great respect for their chief, who is
a venerable and benevolent man of about
sixty. We were received and entertain
ed by him during our stay in the village,
with the warmest and most profuse hos
pitality. A part of his suit was delega-
ted to accompany us in our inspection
of the village and surrounding scenery.
In truth, SO much attention was lavished
upon US, that at times was almost in
duced to believe that surveillance was
placed upon our movements.
(" We were told that the valley exten-
ded nearly to the desert, but that view
of its entrance was obscured by hills of
sand. OF the origin of this people L
could learn but little reliable. They
have tradition, however, which may
shed some light upon the subject. 1t
is that their fathers came from across
the great waters; they mere visiting,
as was their custom annually, neigh
boring nation, when they were driven by
gale from the land. Tho gale contin-
ued with terrsfc force for number of
days, driving them rapidly to the east
After enduring fear, hunger and thirst,
until they were driven to dispair, they
came in sight ofland. This land proved
to be inhabited by savages, by whom
they were taken into the interior and
held as slaves. Soon after, plague
appeared among the Indians, which made
fearful ravages. The Indians were
made to believe that it was judgment
upon them for enslaring the white men,
and they were accordingly liberated
Their fathers then established themselves
in the valley which they now occupy
The are evidently of Asiatic origin in
stature they very much resemble the
Hungarian, and speak language very
similar. I Lave thought 1T probable
that they have sprung from the nation
mentioned by Kossush as inhabitAg the
interior of ASIA