The weekly Butte record., 1858-10-09
sun, that he may send them antel pc to kill, In
slians to trade with,* and save them from en-

dans to trade with,* and save them from en-
emies.
The first of the Indian hyeroglyphics discov-
cred upon our route were at Rocky Dell creek,
between the edge Of the Llano Estacoda and
the Canadian. The stream flows though
gorge, upon one side Of which a shelving
sandstone rock forms sort of cave The roof
is covered with paintings, snme evidently an
cient, and beneath are innumerable carvings OF
footprints animals, and symmetrical lines.
This series, more than others, seems to rep
resent chain OF historical events. being en-
braced by serpentine lines First is rude
sketch resembling ship. with sails ; then
comes horse, with gay trappings, man with
a long speaking trumpet being mounted upon
HIM, while a little bare legged Indian stands
IN wonder behind. Below this group are seve-
raj singular looking figures: men, with the
horns OF az OK, with arms hands and fingers
extended as if in Astonishment and with claw
ed Ieet Following the curved line, we come
to the circle, enclosing a Spanish cabaliero,
who extends his hands in amity to the naked
Indian standing without Next appears u
group with an officer and priest bearing the
emblem of Christianity. The carvings are of
horses and men, with combinations of right
lines and curves producing various nyero-
glyphic figures. A favorite symbol is the
track Of mocasin. Systems OF lines, like tai
lies, are also numerous. Seven is the number
most frequently noted miuding one of CHS
holms remerks. The men discovered among
The sand several arrows and feathered orna-
menis, placed there as offerings. probably. to
the deity Of the place. We were here visited
by Pueblo Indians from New Mexico. ard
copies from the inscriptions were shown to
them. They recognised them, and said that
thiS place was once a fasorl,e bnffilo range,
aud here their fathers hunted, icastcd and
danced, and then, sitting by the water side,
recorded their thoughts and deeds upon the
rocks. They confirmed what the others had
SAID IN regard 10 The power of Mon,ezuma,
and his expected advent from the cast
They say that there is but one God but
that Montezuma is his equal Inferior to tn, m
is the sun, to VIII IN they smoke and prav be-
caise he looks upon them, knows their vans.
aud and answers their prayers. The moon is
younger sister OF the sun and the stars a e
their children. All are worshipped, Besides
these Is the Great Snake, to whom. ty order
OF Montezuma. they are to look for life
Turning to the inScrip ions, and pointing to
the horned mei, they said that this was rep
reseitatioa OF the buffalo dance. from time i'm
metnoria u national iestivity, at which they
crowned themselves with horns and corn shucks.
We saw no more Indian inscriptions until
we reached the cannon upon Santa Fe river,
where the half vilriiicd sut face of the rocks
contained many representations of snakes, four
footed beasts, and Rien. They ere ru,le, like
those upon the banks of Rio CHA. Being dis
connected they seem designed to tell no story,
and hence the copies are suppressed.
The next series of carving Was found at El
Moro Inscription ROCKY where Spanish adyen-
turers and explorers, from as early period is
the first settlement =. Plymouth, have been in
the habit, OF recordine their expeditions to and
rom Zani. But these have all sbecn ftiiy de-
scribed by Captain Simpson, in his report
upon the Navajo expedition, aud therefore will
not be repeated bere. The Indian figures are
evidently more ancient than the oldest of the
Spanish inscriptions.
In the valley of Zuni thete ia singular
spring, surrounded by high walls Of earth,
upon the top of which are many eartheru jars
Gxed in an inverted position. Pedro Pine,
governor of this frontier pueblo visited our
camp, and was questioned regarding this f'un-
tain. lie replied: ave live l., a country
without aceqnias, and for the growth Of oar
crops. depend upon rain. TO obtain this
blessing from the Great Spirit, it is necessary
for us to perform the rites and observe the
ceremonies of our ancestors. This spring has
ever been held sacred TO the,raiE god. No an
lmal may drink OF its waters. 1t must be an
annually cleansed with ancient vases. which,
having been transmitted from generation to
generation by the caciques, are then placed
upon the walls, never to be removed. The
frog the tortoise, and the rattlesnake, represen-
ted ppan them, are sacred to Montezuma, the
patron Of the place, who would consume by
lightning any saerhegious hand that should
dare 10 take these relics away"
He also told a wonderful story of a sudden
fieshet that anciently swept over the country
destroying all men and beasts that did not fly
from the valleys to mountain tops. The Zrni-
ans that escaped built the town. which is now
in Iuins upon high mesa and a yellowish
horizonrai vein, near the top of the strat6ed
mount, marks the line of high water.
The cac;ques are priests as well as govern
ors, and Pedro Pino IS the high priest and
master Of their peculiar ceremonies. His es-
pecal duty is to ofliciate before the water de-
tiles. He seeks upon the hillside for twigs of
CtTtdih ttccS NliiCiiuc CitLtttikt luto StiCfS
few inches in length and rims with feathers
Upon the top # each he binds. first tour turkey
feathers; then four eagles feathers and final
ly. below, the same number OF ducks feathers.
Some sacred spot is then selected and these
sticks, united by threads like a snare. are
planted IN the ground This is an Invocation
for rain. it is dedicated to Montczuma, or to
the lesser divinities of water-z-frogs, turtles,
and rattesnakes. I'he Great Spirit. in con-
sequence of these ceremonies, gives them rain
IN due seasnn enabling them to produce f
crops without irrigation. The people believe
that their superior sapctity iu the observance
of these srites has caused them to be thus ia
vored above the Spanish population AL
though tolerating in their pueblo u church of
the cross, and occasional visits Of Christian
priest they seem 10 have little regard for the
Catholic religion. In secret they glory in 10y
atty to Montezuma. They endeavor to keep
cir Spanish neighbors ignorant of their Ger
emonies. but say that Americans are brothers
OF the children Of Montezuma- and their friends !;
therefore they hide from them neither their sa-
cred dances in the courts, nor the midnight
meetings of the caeiques ip the estufa. Be-
meath the apparent multiplicity OF gods, these
Indians have firm faith in the Deity. the urn-
seen Spirit of Good. HIS name is auoye all
things sacred. aud, and like Jehovah of the
Jews, too holy to be spoken. Montezuma is
his son and their King. The sun, moon and
stars are Hi works worthy Of their ad.,rat tiop