Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1855-05-12
Discovery Of New People on the yves
tern Continent

A discovery which even in this age o
almost daily revelations of antiquities ant
wonders of remote times and people, mus
strike the world with wonder, has jus
been made by the officers of the sloop-ot.
war Decatur.
1t will be rccollcctcd that the Decatu
sailed from Rio in company with the Mas
sachuseus (propeller) that they pareC
company, and that for some weeks the
loss of the Decatur was looked upon a;
certain. She was afterwards 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 lst inst,
publishes letter, received from o. ii.
Green, dated on board the Decatur, 'oti
the Straits of Magellan, Feb. 49," and
which contains some statements so start
ling that we make The following extracts.
From The apparent responsibility of the
source, we see no reason for doubling the
narrative, remarkable as it is. The wri-
ter says
There being no appearance Of change
Of weather., | obtained leave of absence for
few days, and accompanied by my
classmate and chum, DIR. Bainbridge, As
sistant Surgeon, was landed on Terra del
Fuego. With 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 upon plain of surprising
richness and beauty fertile felds-the
greatest variety Of fruit trees in full bear
ing, 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 de-
serted, except by few miserable canni-
balls and wild beasts, we had come well
armed, and you can Judge of our surprise.
The inhabitants were utterly astonished
at our appearance, but exhibited no signs
Of fear, nor any unfriendlness. Our dress
amused them, and being the first white
men ever seen by them, they imagined
that we had come from their God, the
Sun, OH some peculiar errand Of good.
They are the nobleSt race ever saw, the
men all ranging from 6 feet to g., well
proportioned, very athletic, and straight
as an arrow. The women were among
the most perfect models OF beauty ever
formed, averaging 5 feet high,very plump,
with small feet and hands, and with let
black eye which takes you by storm.
We surrendered at discretion, and remain
ed two weeks with this strange people.
The ship is in sight that will carry this
to YOU, and must now close only say
ing that the official report oc DR.. Bain-
bridge 10 the Department, will be filled
with the most interesting and valuable
matter, and aslonish the American people
The vessel proves to be the clipper ship
Creeper, from the Chinchi Islands, with
Cuano, for Your port, and | will avail my
self of This opportunity to send You a spe-
c;men of painting on porcelain, said to be
over 5000 wears old; and an 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
Lain language, and have traditions from
successive priests, through half hundred
centuries.