Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-09-04
A Newly Discovered Nation.


the Apaches last year, opened to research
a tract of land 200 miles square, which
is rich in relics of our oountry's unknown
past. 1t contains a chain of ancient
cities in ruins and coterie of ancient
towns still inhabited by race which
holds itself aloof from Indian and Mex
lean and American, prides itself on its
descent from the ancient inhabitants Of
the country, and maintains religion
and government, both of which are Pc
culiar to itself We are indebted to
Capt. w. G. Manning, of the regular
army, for the facts in our possession con-
cerning this newly discovered race. Cap
tain Manning, who was with General
Crook during the whole campaign, and
was recommended for promotion by the
latter on account of gallantry in the
field, explored in the intervals of fight
ing. He visited the inhabited towns,
talked with their rulers. and informed
himself concerning their customs. The
largest settlement is in New Mexico,
about thirty miles south of the border
line. 1t is a type of the rest. A strong
wall surrounds it. Within are houses
for about 1000 people. The place was
mentioned by Spanish Jesuit who pub
lished, in 1929, description of his wan
derings in America. About 1885, ano-
ther Jesuit wrote a minute account of it.
This account Is true in nearly every de-
tail to-day. The language resembles the
Chinese. So an ardent archaologist,
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 bodies, little feet, etc. They
dress their hair and themselves in Chi
nese fashion. Their religion is barbar-
ously magnificent. Montezuma is their
deity. His coming is looked for at sun
rise each day. Immortality 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 concern
ed, is irreproachable. 1t is probable
that they keep a record of events by
means of 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 conservative republic.
Power is vested in council of thirteen
cociques. Six of them are selected for
life. Old men are generally chosen, in
order that their terms of Office may not
be inordinately long. The remaining
seven are elected from time to time. One
of them is the executive. Another is
sort of vice president. There is war
chief, chief of police, &c. These seven
caciques are usually young men. They
serve but few months. Suffrage is uni
versal. 1t is scarcely necessary to sup
plement these facts with the statement
that these dwellers in town are far ad-
vanced 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
The written records
which we have mentioned show that this
community has maintained its
traditions unbroken for at least three
and half centuries. Its history care.
fully studied, may prove clue to the
problem of the aboriginal Americans.
The mound builders of the north and
the city builders of the south may be
in the town dwellers of New
Mexico and Arizona Chicago Tribune,
July IA.