Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-25

Herald. travelling ID Arizona, gives the
following d Wv " ala NzA
From Indian tradition and the meager
history available, the accepted theory is
that, during the Spanish conquest, the
Aztecs were driven from Mexico into the
vast deserts lying TO the north and west,
and from thence across the Colorado
river. Proof Of this is still visible in the
many remains Of cities and towns scat.
tered throughout New Mexico and Ari-
zona, and even in Utah. On the north
ern side of the Colorado and Green rivers
the canon walls are found decorated with
hieroglyphic and picture writing, the
meaning Of which is totally unknown to
the Indians at present iuhabiting that
region On the tops Of almost inacces.
sible cliffs and down into horrible chasms,
the remains of large towns may still be
fonnd, crumbling to dust. Peace-loving
and Industrious as we're this race, they
were soon attacked by the warlike no.
madic tribes, and, unable to cope with
their powerful enemies in the open field,
the poor Aztecs took refuge among the
dam canons and chasms of the river.
r RE up the sides Of j. canon walls,
= b vertical hight is from three to FIVE
nsand feet, are yet found the remains
" their houses.
The present inhabitants of the Moqui
Pablos do not number over 1900. They
are situated in the northern part of Ari-
zona, about one hundred miles southeast
of the Paria crossing Of the Colorado.
The towns, seven Ia number, are built
upon cliffs or plateaus, 1900 to 1900 feet
above the valley, which they cultivate to
some extent, raising corn, pumpkins,
melons, etc. There is a great scarcity Of
wood, which is brought distance Of
from seven to ten miles by The women,
who carry it on their backs. | have
often seen q train of twelve OF these
women, with great piles of wood or brush
fastened upon their backs, coming across
the valley in Indian file and with celer
ity that would do credit to mule pack
train For water they rely mostly upon
their reservoirs, which in many places
are cut out of the rocks, with steps all
around descending to the bottom. They
are formedlIlike a bowl ten to Gfteen
deep and about thirty feet across the top.
Their ideas of cleanliness may be
judged of from the following: We are
camped close by them and other reser
voirs nearly all the time during our stay
among the villages. Early in the morn
ing large concourse OF women would
come out With large water Jugs strapped
on their backs with blankets, the corners
tied over the forehead. Entering the
water up to their knees they will gil
their jugs, and placing them on the
back, return and wash their face and
hands, and anRetimes wash all over
all the time laughing end splashing in
the water like q lot of ducks. rs this
is kept up until about eight o clock, and
as there are upward of fifty visitants TO
the pools, one would naturally think
that tha last comers would get anything
but pure water, yet the last jugfnll is
used for the same purpose &c the first,
viz: cooking and drinking during tha
day. In some things the Aztecs are the
cisapest Indians | have ever met, and in
others they are the very extreme. Their
houses and clothing are kept scrspn..
lously clean, and their PROVISIONS, served
no In beautiful dishes Of their own man-
uiacture, would indeed be tempting were
il not for the dread Of something here
tofore instead Of something hereafter.
At the Moincoppi we fonnd Tubs and
his wife, TIE lash-nim-ki. They, with
half dozen other familes-some from
Oryba and one or two from Moquiville-
are building up new settlement. Dis
sasding the antiQuated ways Of their
people, iheY are trying TO emulate The
whites and rise abo,ge ipe EFesplt staie
Of their degradation, The Aztec people,
naturally intelligent and industrious, are
fast dying out for the want Of the help
ing hand Of civilization. This IS a Geld
for he missionary unequalled in the
world, and When 90 near at home, W by
send so many ihopssnl miles abroady
The word Moqui" meaps { de .-ihe
world has called them the Dying
Cite" -Mesquis pablos-whleh is Ia
reality being verified.