Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-07-30
A Newly-Discovered Nation.

The campaign of Gen. Crook against
the Apaches, last year, opened to re-
search tract of land, 200 miles square,
which is rich in relics of our country's
unknown past. 1t contains chain Of
ancient cities in ruins and a coterie Of
ancient towns still inhabited by race
which holds itself aloft from Indians
and Mexicans and Americans, prides
itself ON its descent from the ancient
inhabitants of the country, and main
tains religion and government, both
of which are peculiar to itself. We
are Indebted to Capt. g. C. Manning,
of the regular army, for the facts in
our possession concerning this newly
discovered 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 visited the
Inhabited towns, talked with their
rulers and informed himself concerning
their customs.
The largest settlement Is In New
Mexico about 80 miles south of the
border line. 1t Is type the rest. A
strong wall surrounds it. Within are
houses for about 4, 900 people. The pop
ulation has dwindled, however, to
about 800. The place was mentioned
by Spanish Jesuit who published in
1929 description of his wanderings in
America. About 1885 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 arch2ologist, who
visited the citya year ago, says. Some
of the minor customs correspond with
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
barbarously magnificent. Montezuma
is their deny. 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 unnumbered years. The
ceremonies of worship are formal and
LompOus. The morality of this strange
people, as far at least as foreigners are
concerned, is irrepro~chable. 1t is
probable that they keep record of
events by means Of tying peculiar knots
in long cords. This, If true, seems to
establish some kinship or remote ac-
between them and tine
Aztecs. Their government Is 8 con-
servative republic. Power Is vested in
q council of thirteen caciques. Six Of
them are selected for life. Old men are
chosen, in order that their
terms of Office may not be inordinate|y
long. The remaining seven are chosen
from time to time. One of them Is the
Another Is sort Of Vice
President. There is war chief, chief
of police, etc. These seven caciques
are usually young men. They serve
but few months. Suffrage Is univer-
sal. 1t is scarcely necessary to supple
ment the statement that these dwellers
in towns are quite far advanced In CIV
ilization. On this point one faetspeaks
volumes. Woman Is not a beast Of bur-
den, 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
show that this isolated COM
munity has maintained its traditions
lions unbroken for at least thre and q
half centuries. Its history, carefully
may prove clue to the prob
em Of the aboriginal Americans. The
mound builders Of the North and the
.ity builders of the South may be rep
in the town dwellers Of New
Mexico and Arizona.--C Chicago Tribune.