The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-12-06
THE AZTEC COUNTRY.

A correspondent of the Salt Lake
Herald, travelling in Arizona, gives
the following:
From Indian tradition and the
meager history available, the accept
ed theory is that, during the Spanish
conquest, the Aztecs were driven
from Mexico into the vast deserts
ly ing 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
scattered throughout New Mexico
and Arizona, even in Utah. On :he
northern side Of the Colorado and
Green rivers the canon walls are
found decorated with hieroglyphics
and picture writing, the meaning OF
which is totally unknown to the In
dians at present inhsbiting that Ie-
gion. On the tops OF almost mac
cessible cliffs and down into horrible
chasms, the remains of large towns
may still befound, crumbling to dust
Peace-loving and Industrious as were
this race, they were soon attacked
by the wsr-like nomadic tribes, and,
unsble to cope with their powerful
enemies in the open field, the poor
Aztecs took refuge among the deep
cauons and ch&sms of the river
Here, up the sides Of the canon walls
whose vertical nights is from threet
five thousand feet, are yet found the
remains of their homes.
The present inhabitants OF the
Moqui Pablos do not number ovel
I,5O0. They are situated in the
northern part OF Arizona, about 1OC
miles southeast of the Paria crossing
of the Colorado. The toHns, seven
in number, ere built upon cliffs ol
plateaus, 1000 to 1,500 above the
valley, which they cultivate TO some
extent, raising corn, pumpkins, mel
ons, etc. There is great scarcity
Of wood, which is brought distance
Of from seven TO ten miles by the
women, who carry Il on their backs
I hsye often seen q train Of ten OF
twelve of these women, with great
piles OF wood or brush fastened CpOn
their backs, coming across the valley
in Indian file and with q celerity thai
would do credit to q mule pack train
For water they rely mostly upon theiI
reservoirs, which in many places sr'
cut out OF the rocks, with steps al
around descending 70 the bottom
They are formed ike bowl, ten tC
fifteen feet deep, and about thirty fee
scross the top.
Their ideas Of cleanliness may b
. Judged st from the following: W
were camped close by them an
other reservoirs nearly all the tim
during our stay among the villages
| Early in the morning q large con
course of women would come on
i with large water jugs strapped OF
! their hacks with blankets. the corner
, tisd over the forehead Entering tn
water up to their knees they will FL
their Jugs, and placing them on tn
/. hank return and wash their face anC
, hands. and sometimes wash all over
ali the time laughing snd splashiDt
p in the water like lot OF ducks. Al
this is kept up until about 8 O'Clock
, and az there are upward Of fifty visit
, ants TO the pooIs, one would natural
; lIv think that the last comers would
! Get ANYTHING but pure water; yet tn
: isst iugfull is used for the same pur
nose AZ the first; viz. : cooking auc
thinking during the day. In SOM
, ,h;ngs the Aztecs are the cleanes
I, Indisns I have ever met, and IN ether
thew are The very extreme. Thei