Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-30
A Newly.Discovered Nation.

The campaign of Gen. Crook against the
Apaches, last year, opened to research
tract of land two hundred miles square,
which is rich in relics of our country's I'M
known past. 1t contains 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 Ameri-
can, prides itself On its descent from the
ancient inhabitants of the country, and
maintains religion and government, both
of which are peculiar to itself. We are in
debted to Capt. VIC. Manning, of the
regular army, for the facts in our possession
concerning the newly discovered race. AIR.
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 inter-
walls 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 thirty miles south of the border line.
1t is type of the rest. A strong wall sur
rounds it. Within are houses for about
1000 people. Thepopulatiou has dwindled,
however, to about 1900. The place was
mentioned by a Spanish Jesuit who pub
lished, in 1929, a description of his wander
ings in America. About 1885, another
Jesuit wrote minute account of it. The
language resembles the Chinese. So an az
dent archeologist, 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, protu-
berant bodies, little feet, etc. They dress
their hair and themselves in Chinese fashion.
Their religion is barbarously magnificent.
Montezuma is their deity. His coming is
looked for atsunrise each day. Immortality
is part of their creed. The priests have
heavily embroided robes which have been
used for unnumbered years. The ceremon-
les of worship are formal and pompous. -
The morality of this strange people, as
far at least as foreigners are concerned, is
irreproachable. It 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. Their government is conservative
republic. Power is vested in council of
thirteen cabiques. Six of them are selected
for life. Old men are generally chosen. in
order that their terms of Office may not be
Unfortunately long. The remaining seven
are selected from time to time One of
them is the Executive. 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 universal.
1t is scarcely necessary to supplement
these facts with the statement that these
jewellers in towns are quite far advanced in
civilization. On this point one fact speaks
volumes. Woman is not 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.