The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-08-20
THE HUMANS.
Something About an Almost Extfncs
Race of Aborigines.

THE HUMANS.
Something About an Almost Extinct
Race OF Aborigtnes.
Observer" correspondent of the st
Louis Times, writes from st. Joseph as
follows:
An article in the Denver Nel1s of July
p, and copied in your paper of a late date,
records some particulars of wonderful
people, but is not-as therein termed-"a
wonderful discovery" and now just made;
The race alluded TO are doubtless the
Zunians, visited by Colonies Doniphan
and Gilpen in December, 1916 Z; and there
are now living in this State quite a num-
Der Of persons who have been at the same
village. So
The late Colonel John L. Hughes, who
was killed at Independence, Mo-, in an at
tack upon the Federal forces. in 1862, ac-
cOmpanied the First Missouri regiment in
ITS unparalleled march from Fort Leaven-
worth, via Santa Fe, Chihuahua and Sal
tilla, to the mouth of the Rio Grande, in
1916 and Z. and wrote an account of the
campaign, entitled Doniphan's Expedi-
tion.' In the fall of 1916, Colonel Doni-
phan was directed by General Kearney TO
cross the Rocky Mountains, three hundred
miles, to the waters of the Colorado River,
and either make peace with the Navahoes
or chastise them so effectually as to pro-
tect the settlements of New Mexico, and
after crossing the snowy range in Novem-
Der, amid storms, and overcoming difficult
ties greater than Napoleon had to encoun-
ter at the Splugen, the NavahOe country
was reached, satisfactory treaty effected.
and visit made to Zuni, which Colonel
Hughes thus describes at page l91 of his
book.
"Zuni, one of the most extraordinary
cities in the world, and perhaps the only
one now known resembling those of the
ancient Aztec, is situated on the right bank
of the river Piscao. a small branch of the
ella, or Colorado of California, nearly two
hundred miles west of the Del Norte, and
contains singular and interesting pOpula-
ton of upwards of six thousand, who de-
rive their support almost exclusively from
agriculture. They clothe themselves in
blankets and other fabrics of their own
manufacture. The Zunians being friendly
disposed towards the soldiers, they pro-
cured of them supply of provisions and
also various fruits in which the country
abOunds. The Zunis, or humans have long
been celebrated not only for honesty and
hospitality, but also for their intelligence
and ingenuity in the manufacture of cotton
and wooden fabrics"
In 1871 Colonel Doniphan thus describ-
ed the same city to the editor of the New
Orleans National: " 1t is divided into four
solid squares, having but two streets cross
ing at right angles. All the buildings are
two stories high, composed of sun-dried
brick. The first story presents solid
wall to the street, and is so constructed
that each house joins, until One-fOurth OF
the city may be said to be one building.
The second story rises from this vast
solid structure so as to designate each
house, leaving room to walk upon the
roof of the first story between each build
ing.
1.-THE inhabitants of Zuni enter the sec
Ond story of their buildings by ladders,
which they draw up at night, as defense
against any enemy that might be prowling
about. In this city were seen some thirty
albmO Indians. who have no doubt given
rise to the story that there is living in the
Rocky Mountains tribe of white aborig-
ines.
1.-The discovery of this city of the Zuni-
ans will afford the most curious specula-
tons among those who have searched in
vain for a city of Indians who possessed
the manners and habits of the AZtecs. No
doubt but that we have a race living as did
that people, when COrteZ entered Mexico.
1t is a remarkable fact that the humans
have, since the Spaniard left the country,
refused to have any intercourse with the
modern MeXicans, looking upon them as
an inferior people. They have also driven
away from among them the priest and
other dignitaries who formerly had power
over them. and resumed habits aud man.
ners of their own; their great chief or
governor being the civil and religious
head. The country around the city of
Zuni is cultivated with great care, and
affords food not only for the inhabitants
but for large flocks of cattle and sheep"
In 1851 the writer cOnverSed with the
celebrated f. y. Aubrey about this same
city of Zuni. which he had visited a short
time previous. and was assured that the in
habitants were expecting the resurrection
of some chief of the line of MonteZuma,
who would restore their power in the
country. He described them as located
beyond the main range of the ROckys,
near the MOhave country, on the waters of
the Pacific. He spoke of them as more
nearly resembling the AsiaticS than Indian
races. This city is situated sixty miles
south and west of the Bear Springs, a
famous resort of the Navahoe tribes, in
New Mexico, the vicinity Astounding in
beautiful valleys and rich and luXuriant
grasses, and giving every indication of
rich mineral deposits. Some eight or ten
leagues south of Zuni the command of
Colonel Doniphan came across large ruin
of what had once evidently been a stone
and brick Aztec city; one of the buildings
remained a story and half high, and
showed skill of a high order. in The
building was found large collection of
cedar wood slowed away for use, and of
which the men cooked supper, and it
seemed as if it burned as brightly as it
would have done more than century be-
fore when first collected and slowed away.
The inhabitants of this city had doubtless
died out, as the Zunians are now doing
They have decreased from over 5000 in
1916 to less than 1000, as at present de-
scribed by Captain Manning.