The Empire County argus., 1855-06-23


When you and were boys.
Discovery OF New PEOPLE ON THE WESTERN
CONTINENT. A discovery which even in this age of
almost daily revolutions of antiquities and wonders
OF romantic times and people, must strike the world
with wonder, has just been made by the officers of
the sloop-ofwar Decatur 1t will be recollected
that the Decatur sailed from Rio in company with
the Massachusetts, (propeler)-that they parted
company, and that for some weeks the loss of the
Decatur was looked upon as certain. She was af
forwards discovered by her consort, part way
through the Straits of Magellan, and was towed
into the Pacific by the Massachusetts,. The New
Orleans Picayune Of the ls ult. publishes letter.
received from O. H. Green dated on board the De-
catur 'off the Straits of Magellan, Feb. 15,' and
which contains some statements so startling that
we make the following extracts. From the appa-
rent respecability of the source we see no reason
for doubling the narrative says the Ata remarkable
as it is The writer says:
There being no appearance of a change of wea-
ther, obtained leave of absence for few days.
and accompanied by my classmate and chum, Dr.
Bainbridge, Assistant Surgeon was landed on Ter
ra Del Fuego. With great labor and difficulty we
scrambled up the mountain-sdes, which line the
whole southeast shore of these Straits, and after
ascending $500 feet, we came upon plain of sur
passing richness and beauty; fertile fields the
greatest variety of fruit trees in full bearing and
signs of civilization and refinement meeting us on
every side. We had never read any account of
these people, and thinking this island was wholly
deserted, except by few miserable cannibals and
wild beasts, we had come we'll armed and you can
judge of our surprise The inhabitants were utter
ly astonished at our appearance, but exhibited no
signs of fear, nor any unfrendliness. Our dress
amused them, and being the first white ever
seen by them, they imagined that we had come
from their God, the Sun, some peculiar errand
of good They are the noblest race ever saw the
men all ranging from to ca, well proportioned,
very athletic, and straigh arrow. The wom-
en- were among the most perfect models of beauty
ever formed, averaging 5 feet high, very plump
with small feet and hands, and with Jet black
eye which takes you by storm We surrendered at
discretion and remained two weeks with this strange
people.
Their teachers of religion speak the Latin Ian
guage, and have traditions from successive priests,
through half hundred centuries.
They tell us that this island was attached to
the main land that about 1900 years ago, by their
records, their country was visited by violent
earthquake, which occasioned the rent now known
as the Straits of Magellan; that on the top Of the
mountain which lifted its head to the sum- whose
base rested where the waters now flow, stood their
great temple-which, according to their descrip-
ton, as compared to the one now existing we saw,
must have been II 200 feet square. and over 100
feet high, built of the purest pantile marble.
The ship is in sight that will carry this to you,
and must now close; only saying that the official
report of Dr. Banbridge to the Department, will be
filled with the most interesting and valuable mat
ter and astonish the American people. The vessel
proves to be the clipper ship Crecper, from the
Chincha islands, with guano, for your port, and
will avail myself of this opportunity to send you
specimen of painting porcelain, said to be over
5000 years old and an image made of gold and
iron, taken in of their wars many years before
the Straits of Magellan existed They number
about 5000 men, women and children, and was
assured the population had not varied two hundred
as they prove by their traditions, for immemoral
ages As the aged grow feeble they are left to die
and if their children multiply too rapidly they are
sacrificed by the priests This order comprises
about one-tenth of the population and what the
ancient Greeks called "Gymnophists" q" They are
all of one particular race neither will they admit
a stranger into their order They live, for the
most part, near the beautiful stream called Tanu.
can, which takes its rise in the mountains, passes
through the magnificent valley of Leuvu, and emp
ties into the Atlantic at the extreme southwestern
point of the island.
This residence is taken for the sake Of their fire.
quent publications. Their diet consists of milk
curded with sour herbs They eat apples rice,
and all fruits and vegetables esteeming it the
height of impiety to taste anything that has life.
They live in little huts or cottages, each one by
himself avoiding company and discourse, employ
ing all their time in contemplation, and religious
duties They esteem this life but necessary dis
pensation of Nature, which they voluntarily undo
as penance evidently thirsting after the dissolu
ton of their bodies; and firmly believing that the
SOUL at death, is released from prison. and launches
forth into perfect liberty and happiness There
fore, they are always cheerfully disposed to die,
bewailing those that alive and celebrating the
funerals of the dead with joyful solemnites and
triumph.
TICKLE People. About two years ago, young
Frenchman on business tour to this country was
much annoyed by the charge he frequently saw in
American papers, and which to him was often made
face to face that the French people were too tickle
to be good republicans" He returned a few days
ago, and visited French restaurant, where he
read the paper. All present were much surprised
to see him, quite excited, rush up, paper in hand,