The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-11


Encouraged, be advanced and passed also The third
barrcade and in succession all the Others and came
to place where the cacique WAS, which was open
space, the trees having been cut down, where the
INDIANS preper6 themselves by every effort TO resist
the Spaniards and protect their chief. Attacked,
however, by them in most spirited manner, though
they fought desperately they were overcome and
nearly all were slaughtered On this the cacique
submitted, and his life was spared by De Soto on
condition of his yielding entire obedience to him.
In battle the Apalachians exhibit q very different
conduct from that of the native tribes of America
in general who slaughter on the field of battle all
they are able to- The Apalachans in the heat of an
engagement spare all who ask for quarter as they do
the women and children who are not in the battle.
When victorious they exercise no inhumanity
on the bodies Of the slain. They only cut of their
scalps which they carry home at the point Of their
valuable trophy. The prisoners they make they
take with them their return, and treat them with
the same kindness and attention as their own
family. A great festival 10 then made which con.
tinues for several days, attended with dances and
other sports and songs in which they boast of the
bravery they have shown and ext0l the memorable
exploits of their ancestors.
RELIGION.
Their priests are called Jaouas whose dress Is q
robe reaching below the knees made of the skins OF
different wild animals, with strips OF the same
placed across, of various coOrs. The robe Ia bound
round the body with band of deer skin, and to
this attached three or four purses or bags con-
diseases Over the robe is worn the entire skin of
lion, tiger or leopard. They wear in large holes
made in their ears certain small bird highly VA
lued by them which has been dried in the smoke
over fire. Their feet are naked. On their heads
they have very high pointed bonnet, made of skins
of different colors, sewed together having gro
tesqne and frightful appearance. Their arms, which
are naked up to the elbow, are marked with several
characters and other figures, made at the time OF
their initiation into their Office by punctures in the
skin, which the ashes of the bark OF certain
are spread, which leaves brown mark that IA nef-
faceable.
Their religion is the worship of the sun. Daily in
the morning, soon as it appears every individual,
at the door Of his cabin sautes it and sings hymns
to it; and the same is done in the evening when it
descends below the horizon, with suppcations to it
to return and again enllghten them;
But there is public worship of the sun, and of
more solemn kind, which is performed four times
year, on high mountain near the capital, called
Olarmi, and attended by the inhabitants OF all
the provinces, dressed IN their richest attire.
The mountain is of a c0nical form, and spiral
path leads to the summit which Is fiat The path
is bordered with cedars, cypress aud other odorifer
Gus trees. In several places inches are cut in the
rock as resting places for those ascending Inc top
is a level verdant plain, enamelled with variety
of flowers and odoriferous shrubs, which spread
around a delightful fragrance, and groups OF ever
green trees similar to those along the path, in va
rious parts.
which is grotto cut in rock, so well proportoned
that it appears to be the work of an expert archi
tect AS it faces to the east, 1t first receives the
rays Of the rising sun. The grotto is OF novel
form about two hundred feet in length, the roof
arched, rising to the height Of twenty feet There
Is a wide opening from 1t to the top of the noun
tain, through which light Is brought into the temple.
In the centre of the grotto is stone altar; The
whole interior of it is encrusted with kind Of nitre
which might be taken for white coral and when
hardened by time forms several grotesque figures,
presenting singular appearance. The floor Is Oh
the same kind, and that II may De walked over With
out slipping Is strewed with sand. In front Of the
temple is a basin filed with pure water, which
trickles from secret springs of the mountain
through clefts and assures in the rock.
The offerings made by the Apalachans to the sun
are not like those of the Mexicans-human victims
but the burning of incense chanting its glory and
PROJECTIONS, and presents Of garments, which are
afterwards given to the poor who attend the festival
The evening preceding the day when the ceremonies
of worship are to be performed the inhabitants Of all
the provinces assemble at the mountain and ascend
TO the top by the spiral path, along which fires have
been made to tighten the way Tents or small cabins
ments for them the next day. The priests only are
admitted into the temple. The ensuing morning, on
the first appearance OF the sun above the HORIZON,
they standing before the temple, commence hymns in
honor Of it. falling from time to time on their knees;
then in regular order going out of the grotto they
throw ON brazer in front of II grains Of incense
perfumes, and one ascends TO the summit and other
and places on a rock followed for the purpose some
OF It's rind for certain birds called tonabzuls-sg-
nifyinr bird of the sun-whch are accustomed at
every festival TO flock to the place.
While the ceremonies are being performed by the
priests in the temple, the worshippers on the sum-
init bow in reverence several times to the sun, then
commence dances and other diversions, which they
continue during the whole morning until the sun Is
at the meridian. When the priests In the temple
perceive this by its rays descending through the
opening they throw on the brazier in front OF
the grotto the remainder of the aromatic
drugs they have provided, the smoke of
which. ascending like cloud OF sweet incense
through the opening to the top of the mountain,
Is seen by the worsnippers. The priests then go out
of the temple, except six, who stand by the stone
altar having cages in their hands, In which are some
of the birds tonabzulis, which they let out. Those
outside close the entrance TO the temple by boughs
of trees and the birds, finding no admission into IL,
y several times round the mountain, the heads
OK the worshippers, who salute them with shouts of
joy and then swiftly dart to the woods.
their eyes, when they are out Of sight de-
scend the mountain, bearing in their hands
branches Of palm and evergreen trees, and on
their arrival in front Of the temple the priests in
profound silence invite them TO wash their hands
In the basin Of overlooking water which II before IL;
after which they continu their descent of the
mountain, and when they arrive at the foot, re-
turn home TO their different provinces. The poor
who attended the festival remained the last TO
ceiye the dresses aud other presents which were
designed for them by the worshippers. When the
company have all left the tonabzulis return TO the
mountain and gather the grains Of nytee which had
been strewn around on the summit for them as
was their custom on all similar occasions
The Apalachians celebrate In their songs one Of
those Jaouas known among them by the name OF
Karaikary, who established the worship Of the sun
taught them 20 cultivate the earth and to clear the
country OF the wild animals which desoated it.
They have tradition, that the ssu being once
under an eclipse for twentyfour hours, the waters
OF the Lake Theomi rose 90 the top Of the high
mountains around H. except Mount 0laimi; and that
alone being preserved RON tne general innndatlon
country retreated 10 H. by whom the country wa
re-peoplcd; that when the eclipse was over the wa
tiers OF the lake subsidized 10 their natural level In
this account cannot tail TO be seen "reminiscences Of
the Deluge, as among the American nations In
CURE or rur SICK AND BrRfALs
Their physicians their JaouU or priests, AZ has
been said. who carry SUSPENDED from their girdi'