Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-07-31
A ANew1y.Discovered Nation.

The campaign of Gen. Crook
against the Apaches last year opened
to research tract of land 200 miles
square, which is rich in relics of
our country's unknown past 1t con-
tains a chain of ancient cities in
ruins and coterie of ancient towns
still inhabited by race which holds
itself aloof from Indian and Mexican
and American, prides itself on its de-
scent from the ancient inhabitants of
the country, and maintains religion
and government, both of which are
peculiar to itself. We are indebted
to Capt. w. c. Manning, of the reg
ular army, for the facts in our pos
session concerning this ncwly-discov-
cred race. Capt. Manning, who was
with Gen. 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 fighting. He visit
ed the inhabited towns, talked with
their rulers, and informed himself
COuCcIHlLS UlclI CustOIllS.
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 population has dwin-
died, however, to about 1900. The
place was mentioned by Spanish
Jesuit who published, in 1929, de-
scription of his wanderings in Amer
lea. About 1886 another Jesuit
wrote a minute account Of it. This
account is true in nearly every detail
to-day. The language resembles the
Chinese. So an ardent archpologist
who visited the city years ago says.
Some of the minor customs cor
respond to those Of the Chinese.
The women are of the true Celestial
type-almond eyes, protuberant bod
les, little feet, etc. They dress their
hair and themselves in Chinese fash
ion. Their religion is barbarously
magnificent. Montezuma is their
deity. His coming is looked for at
sunrise each day. Immortality is
part of their creed. The priests have
heavilyembroided robes which have
been used for unnumbered years.
The ceremonies Of worship are form
al and pompous. The morality OF
this strange people, as far at least, as
foreigners are concerned, is ire
proachable. 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. Theil
government is conservative repub.
lie. Power is vested in council OF
thirteen caciques. Six Of them arc
} selected for life. Old men are gen
orally chosen, in order that their
terms of office may not be inordin
ately long. The remaining seven
are elected from time to time. One
of them is the Executive. Another
is sort of Vice-President. There
is a War-Chief, Chief of Police,
etc. These seven caciques are usu
ally young men. They serve but q
few months. Suffrage is universal
1t is scarcely necessary to supple
ment these facts with the statement
that these dwellers in towns are quite
far advanced in civilization. On this
point, one fact speaks volumes. Wo
man is not beast Of burden among
them, as she is with all Indian tribes
She is held in high respect. Hel
tasks are confined to those of house
keeping.
The written records which we have
mentioned show that this isolated
community has maintained its tradi
tions unbroken for at least three-and
a-half centuries. Its history, care
fully studied, may prove clew te
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.-Ch Chicago Tribune.