Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-24
The CliT.DwelIers.

Long before Columbus discovery.
probably early in hethristian era. civil
iZation began in America. Five distinct
native civilizations ARE known 10 have
existed: one in Peru. one in Yucatan.
one in Mexico, one in New Mexico. Ari-
Zona and Colorado. and one i'm the val
lcys of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
The latter were mound builders, who
worked the copper mines Of lake SUPERB
or and worshiped the American eagle.
The New Mexican race we call tho Purb-
los, or town builders. and toward the
close Of their career the Clifr-dwellcrs.
When the whites came To this conti-
ncnt the Petuvians and the civilizations
of Iucatan and Mexico r.rr. flourish
ing: the Clif-dwcllcrs bad aearly disap-
pcarcd. and the Mound builders had
been swept away and replaced by bnrbar-
Gus northern hordcs. Living in n
moist land rich in wood, they built of
this material, and most Of their works
perishcd with them; hut the New MeNi-
can people occupied n dry, elevated and
barren country abounding in platcaus
and cliffs, where agriculture. requiring
irrigation. could bc carried on only along
the borders of the few and widcly-scpa-
lntrd streams, or where water could be
stored in reservoirs. The region was
and j. n desert. in which settlements
mark oascs. Wherever the Pucbios
could cultivate the ground thcy built
towns of stone or sun burnt brick. the
only material at hand in this nearly
woodlcss land. They raised cotton.
corn. pumpkins, cans and other ycge-
tables had domestic animals and were
quite advanced in weaving. pottery max
ing. and other primitive arts. At one
timc they occupied every available spot
in eastern Arizona. New Mexico and
Southern Colorado; but the natural CON
ditions of climate and topography for
badc that any great accumulations Of
wealth should repay the endless patience
of their toll. \ har" subsistence was
all that could be- wrung from the desert
land.
When. therefore. the northern tribes
began To crowd down upon the scattered
settlements, these wild men of the chase.
who. having neither property nor fixed
homes. had everything to gain and
nothing tn lose In tIe struggle. slowly
wore out the strength Of the more civil
izod race. While the services Of every
man. woman and child must have been
needed in agriculture tn secure living
n large proportion Of the male pouula-
tion were In arms resisting the inrrcas-
ing inCursions of nomads. Weakened
by battle and famine. the gcntlcr race.
who had treasured aud developed the
sacred germ of human progress. ahan-
doned their cities in tn" valleys and took
refuge in ledges Of almost inaccessibl
cliffs. Here they built themselves ston
houses. not 10 be approached except by
ladders. and supported themselves on
what could he raised along streams Mt
the foot of the rocks. All Of this trans
pircd before the fiftccnth century.
When the Spaniards first penetrated
into New Mexico. they heard fabulous
tales of seven inhabited cities. full
gold and silver, pcrched on the summit
Of n high rock. They vainly endeavorcd
TO cross the deserts separating them from
these so-called cities Of Cibnia. Almost
nothing was known of them until
United States government expedition.
overcoming great obstacles. encampcd
finally at the foot Of the cscarpcd plateau.
on whose top stand the seven Moqui
towns. They found civilized agricul.
tural people, clad in cotton and wooden
garments of their own weaving. on
gagged in Cultivating maize. vegetables
and fruit. hut also men Of the chase, and
thoroughly warlikc.
This is the only surviving remnant of
Of that once-powerful people. who.
driven from the valleys to the cliffs.
pcrished at last by the hands of the wild
tribes we are now exterminating Al
bdny Journal.