The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-05-16
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Interesting Discovery.

its crushing descent 10 the grouu -
AnslscuJ.
Interesting Discovery,
AN ANCIENT AND ClvlLIzEp PEofls--
The following curious letter 10 caloutalsd
TO arrest more than ordinary attention. 1s
is from the pen Of o. II. Greeh, Of tho "a
s. Sloop. war Dec atur, 10 sAStestts6d fhe
Straits Of Magellan. FebruSrf f 6eh,s sd
appeared in the New Orleanye eRiesyunp ef
the ist instant:
There being no appearan CO of : change j
Of we s,her, obtained lesys OF a6sep1p
tor few days. and accombanjea BY
classmate aud chum. DR.. Baj0Hfl1625 AN11
sistant Surgeon, wss landed %, sqA 46
Fuego. With great labor and l6ee1f
we scrambled up the moOntaik Slds
which line the whole south zedst 4AeSss
these Straits, and after ascending 3s600s
feet, we came upon plain Of surRAesi14.
richness and beauty. Fertile feA Af-sht
greatest variety OF fruit treeA in sbe@lf.
ing, and signs Of civilization aDd 49fabs
ment meeting us on every side. MSsha4
never read any account oI ftheses yeeSles
and thinking this Island wassNh1lly 7pss
serted. excep, by few. miseta6ls fhaets
balls and wild beasts, we had coaS 1le
armed, and you can. Judge OF OF Sl1l:,
prise. The inhabitants wtrg 6tttf -
tonished at our appearances, but
no signs Of fear nor-rany unisisn3 u q
Our dress amused the m being ,tha 6eltA
men ever seen by them; they ind
that we had come from their God. TIA
on some peculiar errand Of good. 1hs1
are the noblest race Iesen saw. tho ense
all ranging from 6 feetto 81. we'll RreEpts
| toned, very athletic, and strsieht 40 -
arrow. The women were among the nsess
perfec, models Of beauty ever fOrahed. ~
ersging 8 fee, high, very plump /, with amat
feet and hands, and with, . je.-blsek eys
which takes you by storm. We snfsen.
dered at discretion, and remained two
weeks with this strange people.
Their teachers OF religion speak sska
Latin language, and have iradiliops &ese
successive priests, through half hpadrs4
centuries.
They tell US this Island was soncs NJ
tached to the main land; that about So
years ago. by their records, their oounssy
was visited by violent eaFthquakes Which
occasioned the rent now known a ths
Straits OF Magellan; that on the top d Nc
mountain which lifted lie head 10 stiss Stgs,
whose base rested whers iks waters nuw.
flow, stood their greatteMple vhich, 80,
cording to their descripiion. ~ compared
to the one now existing Neeee, snuN hass
been H. ,208 feet squares and over lsi00s
feet high, built Of the purest pantils mar
BILE. thousand reflections crowd upSA
the mind in viewing this people. and Nc
paradise, before unknown ossRs werlA.s
The ship is in sight that ~in carry this
to you, and ! must now close; orly say
ing that the official report OF Dr.. Bsis-
bridge TO the Department. will BE- nllsd:
with the most interesting and dsvaaushls
matter. and asionsh the American pseYtes
The vessel proves to be the clipper ehiP
Creeper, from the Chinci Islsnds, Sas
guano, for your port, and viii avaifsny- :
self OF the opportunity to send you afsps.
cimen OF painting on porcelsin, said 10 bs
over 5000 years old: andssa innee. 0eas
OF gold and iron. taken in oos 81 sis
wars many years before the Sifaiig &c 11A~
gelfan existed. SAP '''it' 'asf SCI Ssfsis 8
+ They number about thres sihonsanJ
men. women and childrens and was -.
sured the population has mol saried ,tY0
hundred. as they prove by their ire ditioas.
for immemorable ages. As the aged grow
feeble they are left 10 die, ana n The etil-
dren multiply too rapidly they sss lsasri-
r feed by the priests. This order eompSises
about oDe.tenth of the popvtasion. end
what the ancient Greeks called ymnos.
ophists." They are all Of oAss t6eSsias
race. neither will they admit asstfankeE
into their order. They live, iee sts NsssS
part, nea ar the beautifnl sire am called Tsa-
uhan, which takes its rise IN TIE noun-
tains. passes through the msgni6csht vsl-
ley Of Leuva. and empties into Ne AslAn-
tic at the southwestern point Of the lalsnA.
This residence is chosen for ths eAks Of
their frequent puri6c cations. Their Nsss
( consists Of milk. curdled with souf hesbs.
They eat apples, rice, and sll ffuits and
4 vegetables. esteeHing it the height Of im-
! pie,y TO eat anything that has life. They
. live in little huts or cottages. each enc b
! himself, avoiding company end diseeusse,
employing all their time in eontsMbi biSsioa
and their religious duties. They estsem
{ this life but a necessary dispensaiioa d
| Nature. which they voluntarily undergo
:. as penance. evidently thirs,inR AFTER ths
h dissolution OF their bodies; and firmly be-.
D lieving that the soul. al dea,h.. ID selsss<d
from i,s prison. end launched forth inn
d perfect liberty and happiness. mess1oss
h they are always cheerfully disposedi 10 die
. bewailing those that are alive. and csle.
}, brating the funerals Of the dead with Joy
;. ful solemnitirs and triumph. 8.
;, W The term "grsss ~idows" asseel
. from the fact thai their husbssds ~!
"roving blades"
e @ Men. con'ray 10 iron. are not 70 =
e wrcnght,upon when they are hot; and 81
e far more ,ractable in cold blood.
, U- Boas, not, Tor discerning ioihs N
= think you fool. IS
}. H a dis,ing guishrd teaehe. defines es