The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-18
Discovery Of ~ New People ON the Wcs.
s fern Continent.

L0HESULHe D0Hy COhTteTs
Discovery of ~ New People ON the Wes.
tern Continent.
discovery which, even in this age OF almost
daily revelations of antiquities and wonders Of
remote times and people, must strike the world
with wonder, has just been made by the officers
Of the soop- -of.war Decatur.
1t will be recofected that the Decatur sailed
from Rio IN company with the Massachusetts
| (propeller) THAT they parted company, and that
Tor some weeks he loss OF the Decatur was looked
upon certain. She was afterwards discovered
by her consert, part way through the Straits Of
Magellan, and towed into the Pacific by the
Massac chuset,s. The New Orleans Pcayune, of
The ST instant, publishes n letter received from O.
H. Green, dated on board the Decatur, off the
Straits Of Magellan, February 49, and which
| contains some statements startling that we make
the following extracts. From The apparent re.
speclabiliiy Of the source, reason for
doubling The narrative, remarkable as il is. The
write: says:
There being no appearance Of a change Of
weather, obtained leave OF absence for a few
days, and accompanied by my classmate and
chum, Dr.. Bainbridge, assistant surgeon, was
landed on Terra del Fugo. WiIh'great labor and
difficulty we scrambled up the mountain sides,
which line the whole southeast shore OF these
Straits, and after ascending $500 feet, we came
fertile ields-the greatest variety of fruit trees 10
full bearing, and signs of civilization and refine
ment meeting US on every side. We had never
read any account of these people, and thinking
this island was wholly deserted, except by e W
miserable cannibas and wild beasts, we had come
we'll armed, and you judge OF our surprise.
The inhabitants were utterly astonshed at our
appearance, but exhibited no signs Of fear, nor
any unlriendlness. Our dress amused them, aud
hain ba fire h,, IA
imagined that we had come from their God The
Sun, on some peculiar errand oil good They are
the noblest race | ever saw, the men all ranging
from feet to 81. we'll proporoned, very athletic
and strait as an arrow. The women were among
the most perfect models Of beauty ever formed.
averaging feet high, very plump, with small
feet and hands, and with jet black eye which
takes you by storm. We surrendered at discretion.
and we remained two weeks with this strange
people.
The ship is in sight that will carry this TO you.
and must r: now cI4sai.y only saying that the off,
will be filed with the most interesting matter, and
asonish she American people, The vessel proves
to be the clipper ship Creeper. from the ChnchI
Islands, with guano, for your port, and viii
avail myself of this opportunity 10 send you "A
specimen OF painting porcelain, said 10 be over
3, 900 years old and image, made Of gold and
iron, taken in one of their wars many years before
the Straits OF Magellan existed. -
Their teachers Of religion speak the Latin LAM
guage. and have traditions from successive priests,
through hulf hundred centuries.
They tell us that this island was once attached
TO the main land that about 200 years ago, by
their records, their country visited by VIC.
lent earlhq quake, which occasioned the rent now
known as the Straits of Magellan; that on the top
of the mountain which lifted its head to the sun,
whose base rested where the waters now flow.
stood their great temple which, according to their
description, as compared to the now existing
we saw, must have been l7,200 feet square, aud
high, built of the purest panIile marble.
They number about three thousand men, wo.
men and children, and was assured the populn-
ton has not varied two hundred, they prove hy
their traditions, for immemOral ages. As The
aged grow feeble they are let to de, and f iha
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." They are all OF
one peculiar race, neither will they admit stra0
ger into their order They live for the most part,
near the beautiful stream called Tanucan, which
takes its rise in the mountains, passes through the
valley OF Leuvu, and empties into the
Atlantic at the extreme southwestern point OF the
island.
This residence is chosen for the sake OF thcir
freouen, publications. Their diet consists Of milk,
curded with sour herbs. They eat apples, rice,
and all fruits and vegetables. esteeming it the
height of imp:ety to taste anything that has life.
They live in little huts or cottages each one by
HIMSELF avoiding company and discourse, EN-.
Dloying all this time in contemplation and their
religious duties. They esteem this life but a ne.
cessary dispensation OF Nature, which they vol
lntariIy undergo Penance. evidently thirst.
No after the dissolution Of their bodies, and firm
y believing hat the soul, al death, is released
rom prison. and launches forth into perfect liber.
v and happiness. Therefore, they are always
;heerfulIy disposed to die bcwang those that
ire alive, and celebrating the funerals Of tho dead
with joyful solemncs and triumph.