New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-23
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
III ruins, and a coterie OF ancient towns still
Inhabited by a race which holds itself aloot
from Indian and Mexican and American.
prides itself on its descent from the ancient
inha bitants Of the country, and maintains a
religion and government, both OF which are
peculiar to itself. We are indebted to Cap
tain w. C. Manning, of the regular army,
for the facts in our possession concerning
the newly discovered race. Captain Man
ming 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 inter-
walls of fighting. He visited the inhabited
towns, Galked with their rulers, and in.
formed himself concerning their customs.
The largest settlement is in New Mexico,
abont thirty miles south of the border line.
1t is type of the rest. A strong wall sur
rounds 1t. Within are houses for about
1000 people. The population has dwindled,
however, to about 1900. The place was
mentioned by Spanish Jesuit who pub
lished, in 1929, a description OF his wander
ings in America. About 1886, another
Jesuit wrote minute account of it. This
account is true, in nearly every detail, to-
day. The language resembles the Chinese.
So an ardent archRolOgist, 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 Chinese fashion. Their religion is bar
diety. His coming is looked for at sunrise
each day. Immortality is part Of their
creed.
The priests have heavily embroidered
robes, which have been used for unnum-
bered years. The ceremonies of worship
are formal and pOmpOus. The morality of
this strange people, as far at least as for
eigners are concerned, is irreproachable.
1t is probable that they keep record of
events by means Of tying peculiar knots in
long cords. This, if true, seems to estab-
lish some kinship or remote acquaintance
ship between them and the Aztecs. Their
Power is vested in council of thirteen
caci9ues. 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 ten are elected from
time to time. One of them is the executive.
Another is a sort of vice president. There
is q war chief, chief Of police, etc.
These seven caciques are usually young
men. They serve but few months. Suf-
frage is universal. 1t is scarcely necessary
to supplement these facts with the state
ment that these dwellers in towns are quite
far advanced Ia 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
housekeeping.
The written records which we have men.
toned show that this isolated community
has maintained its traditions unbroken for
at least three and half centuries. Its his-
tory, carefully 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 repre-
sented in the town dwellers OF New Mexico
and Arizona.-Chic0go Tribune