Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-03
Miseellaueons.
A NEWLY DISCOVERED NATION.

The campaign of General Crook against
the Apaches last year opened to research
a tract of land 200 miles square which is
rich in relics of our country's unknown
past. 1t contains a chain of ancient cities
in ruins and coterie of ancient towns
still inhabited by race which holds It.
self aloof from Indian and Mexican and
American, prides itself on its descent from
the ancient inhabitants of the country, and
maintains religion and government,
both of which are peculiar to itself. We
are indebted to Captain w. c. Manning,
of the regular army, for the facts IN our
possession concerning this newly discoy-
cred race. Captain Manning. who was
with General Crook during the whole
campaign and was recommended for pro-
motion by the latter on account of gallant
ry in the field, explored in the intervals
OF fighting. He visited the inhabited
towns, talked with their rulers, and in
formed himself concerning their customs.
The largest settlement is in New Mexico,
about thirty miles south of the border
line. 1t is type of the rest. A strong
wall surrounds it. Within are houses for
about 1000 people. The place was men,
toned by Spanish Jesuit who published,
in 1929, description of his wanderings in
America. About 1885, another Jesuit
wrote minute account of It. This ac-
count Is true in nearly every detail to-day.
The language resembles the Chinese. So
an ardent archeologist, who visited the
city year ago, says. Some of the minor
customs correspond to those OF the
Chinese. The women are of the true
Celestial type, almond eyes, protuberant
of Nhnx hnv
selves and their hair in Chinese fashion.
Their religion is barbarously magnificent
Montezuma is their deity. His coming is
tality is part of their creed. The priests
have heavily embroidered robes which
have been used for unnumbered years.
The ceremonies of worship are formal and
pompous. The morality of this strange
people, as far at least as foreigners are
concerned, is irreproachable. It is prob
able that they keep record of events by
tying peculiar knots in long cords. This,
If true, seems to establish some kinship or
remote acquaintanceship between them
and the Aztecs. Their government is a
conservative republic. Power is vested
in council of thirteen caciques. Six of
them are selected for lite. Old men are
5ShSl diiy SHOStu III OiuCl tDCn tCi hlo
of office may not be inordinately long.
The remaining seven are elected from
time to time. One of them is the execu
tive. Another is a sort of vice president.
There is war chief chief ofpolice, etc.
These seven cac;ques are usually young
men. They serve but u few months.
Suffrage is universal. 1t is scarcely
necessary to supplement these facts with
the statement that these dwellers in towns
are quite far advanced in civilization. On
this point one fact speaks volumes.
Woman is not a beast of burden among
them, as she is with all Indian tribes. She
is held in high respect. Her tasks are
confined to those of house keeping. The
written records which we have mentioned
show that this isolated community has
maintained its traditions unbroken for at
least three end half centuries. Its his
tory carefully studied, may prove clew
to the problem of the aboriginal Ameri-
cans. The mound builders of the north
and the city builders of the south may be
represented in the town dwellers of New
Mexico and Arizona.-Chicago Tribune.