The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-27
FRESH AZTEC RUINS.
From, the n. Y. Times.

FRESH AZTEC RUINS.
From, the n. T. Times.
Some discoveries have lately been made in
New Mexico which will doubtless be the sub
iect of protracted and highly interesting arch
geological research. Governor Army, the Spe-
cial Indian Agent for that Territory, is the
authority for the existence of these curiosi-
ties his knowledge of which has been gained
by personal inspection. II became necessary,
in the discharge of his official duties, for
Governor Army to visit the Utah Indians at
the west of the San Juan river. To do this
he had to traverse a part of the great range
known as the Sierra Madre Mountains, and
here, particularly in what is called the Canon
de Chelly, the discoveries referred to have
been made. We have of late been so over
whelmed with accounts of astonishing natural
wonders newly found in the heart of the con-
tinent that Governor Arny's descriptions of
strange ravines, whose walls tower perpen-
dicularly to an altitude of from one thousand
to two thousand feet, ''the rock strata being
as perfect as if laid by the skilled hands of
masons, and entirely symmetrical" may ex-
cite only passing comment. But the ruins
found among these lonely canons will attract
more eager and substantial attention.
These consist, we are assured, of the de-
serted remains of ancient Aztec cities, ''many
of which bear the evidences of having been
populous to the extent of many thousands of
inhabitants The term Aztec is here used
in Its common and inaccurate sense; being
applicable in strictness, to only one of the
seven Mexican tribes which collectively bore
the name of Nahuatlecas. These tribes are
supposed to have come from the north, from
a region known as Aztlan. Their traditions
say that they emerged from seven caverns in
that region, which most Investigators have
placed north of the river Gila.
The interesting question now arises whether
these vast canons or mountain gorges de-
scrjbed by Governor Army, and affirmed by
him to be filed, in some instances, with
ruins, may not have been the original Aztlan.
1t is at least evident, on reading his descrip
tions, and comparing them with such tradi-
tionary chronicles as we already pos sess, that
this supposition is extremely plausible. The
period of the departure of the seven tribes,
and of their arrival in the valley of Mexico,
is commonly reckoned to have been between
1864 and 11G4. Perhaps a close examination
of the newly-dscovered ruins will have the
effect either of affirming or rectifying this
estimate. In any case it will doubtless fur
nish US with important revelations of the
past history of the continent.
The accounts already received from Gov
ernor Army and his party are substantially to
the following purport:-The ruins discovered
are of stone, and of great extent. In each
has been found, hewn out of the solid rock,
about twenty feet square, containing one
room, and in this room single human skele-
ton. In the centre of these apartments there
are traces of fire, and the theory of thu
observers is that these solitary rooms were
altar places, and the skeletons those of the
officiating priests. 1t will be remembered
that fire was always kept burning, as a reli-
gious rite, on the affairs of the Aztecs; the
Indian tradition being that ultimately it would
light Montezuma back again to his people
he being not an earthly ruler only, bat their
Messiah or Eternal King 1t is asserted by
our informants that the structures
contain handsome arches and other
architectural devices and ornaments
and that the builders must have been skilled
in the manufacture and use of edged tools, in
masonry and in other mechanical arts. Some
of the buildings, unlike most of the ruins
further south, in Central America and else
where, are reported to be seven or eight
stories in height. There are no staircases
within these lofty piles, so that it is inferred
the upper floors were reached by ladders
planted against the walls. Others of the
edifices are perfectly round, built very sub
stantially of cut stone, and plastered inside.
! Tokens abound of the occupation of these
! places by dense and well-instructed popula-
tions, and il seems reasonable TO anticipate
| that to the wonders of natural scenery and
mineral treasure abounding in that neigh
borhood, there is about to be added such
records of the men who once dwelt therein
as will be, at least, as interesting.
The only doubt likely to be raised relative
to the importance or probable significance
of Governor Arny's discoveries, is whether
his buildings may not belong to the class of
"Casas Grandes, once held to mark the sue
cessive steps of the Aztec migration (Which
is supposed to have taken over one hundred
and fifty years from the starting point
before reaching Chapultepec), but since
attributed to the Moquis or to the Pueblo
Indians. II the accounts that have come to
us are precisely accurate, We should say this
hypothesis was out of the question; since
the buildings would necessarily have been
the work of a far higher civilization than any
of the class last named. 1t must be owned,
however, that the love of the marvellous is
strong IN the human breast; and, further,
that there are few things people who are not
actual experts more easily deceive themselves