The sun., 1881-11-27
Il PREUISyOaIC RACE IN THE MUUN-
3IINS or EEW .NEYfCO.

1{INS or NEU MGffCO.
The Eorship of I.ions-The siru,inrity Of
Works In the Mound, of the Nr-,..,,pi
Valley and the Fyr"m'ds of Mex,cs.
From the taia,, 7ise.
PrSA BnASoA, n. NJ, Sept. 2o.-My last
letter WIS written in camp. Mt the Cueva Pinta-
da. or Painted Cave. northwest OF tho Indian
the west bank OF the Rio Grnnde. Subsequently
| moved further up the canon. ascended its al.
over Nh easy slope, re:ched the fotrero dc las
Vacas. OF which | shall sDeak further on.
On the highest point OF the great Potrcro de
lac Vacas are among the most renarkaDle pre-
historic relics that have been discovered in
Now Mexico. bang no less than the gods sculp-
turcd in stonc that wrre worshipred hy the M
cieuts. These tho statues of mountain
lions. carved from volcanic rock an stu that
forms the cnp OF the pcircrc. The images are
enclosed in n rud. aud hlmost circular stone
wall. in II space atty ioet in circumference
three feet III height. with an entrance projected
wide. The lions face directly toward the east are
two in number. scrnrntei ny a space OF twelve
rcsent puma or monniain lion IN the act OF
crouching for spriuE. The heads OF these
statues are almost ertir,ly destroyed showing
sought their overthrow. The legs. body. aud
tails Of the animals are better preserved.
md constitute the remains OF the most remark
able stone images set M for pagan worship in
tho territory Of the United States. To these gols
homage. The Indians who accompanied me
were among tho most Intelligent ot the village.
aud although they professed TO be good Cath
oiics. and on the walls ot their humble adobe
dwellings, hung pictures OF the eaints. aud
around their necks were einbleDs OF the church.
they could not be induced to touch the statues.
This lid not attempt to have them do by n Ii-
rect request. but madsthe test through strategy.
st Held gnss on ON the & ossk OF n one ,h OF the
ot looking at some other object. and then sent
jose back after the instrument: Il was ties,
his devotion. which did not require. 1t was
obtaining knowledge under u false pro-
as us nTs bass tns qd Gnt wns wS I'M 'f ms
Kering step. undecided. and rs II he knew not
what to do; but he won, bnck. and. arpronching
within three foet OF the sacred image. Reached
forward with n stick and drow tho glass toward
him until he could reach IT with his hand with.
Santa Fe. saw ono of the same tribe in u fur
house. and Iho PROPRIETOR 80 ounteer"l the OBJ.
to touch the skin OF a lion that hung on tho wall.
Tho experiment was tried with similar results.
llo absolutely nnd IN ierr2r whsn n ths SKIN was
enter the building. learn from ;he Cochitis.who
form my company--lnd they disclaim any su-
pcr-,ition or belief in the sacrsdness of these
who iredn"ntiy visit this PLACE. and i, oier np
iors with a reii.sh kind OF ointment.
ard imrloro tl.eir protertion, ana assist
prepared 10 bolievc. II ia additional evidence.
il any wpre required that these are descend.
tho national museum in MeXito are carved i'm.
ages in stone, ~ similar animals. Sonc OF
tneui arc we'll preseryr'i. whiie others hear Tho
marks % Spanish dofacnment. Tho mountain
lion was a sacred anima! among the NeStcaus.
as well as with tn" ancient and preson, dweiiers
In the mountains Of Cocht.
Opposite 10 aud NORTH OF the potrero OF the
lions. IN tho inre ot n g III ami fronting deep
Gna1 h l. soyiI 9i c. nwsnGs. nS now n n o.,
their habitaInns. lived and died. All the ci!n
buildings | have examined face toward the
ia - Ia. asstsi. l.fl R,Nn
form 10 n general stvlo Of construction. This
is tho result OF purpose. They are superior ia
aui Inferior to tho forts Of tho town builders
OF New Mexico and Arizona They arc not tho
work o! noinnds. Who dn nni stop lohs en"nEh:
themselves fluctuations IN tho rocks. but mny la
identified with the pcorle who emisrat,nd from
the seven cave cities of Aztlan and found roiuSs
Tho nntiluiiies r Nav Mexico Colorado. md
ar rlpnn are distinct from those Of any other
euliar TO the two last named nrn found in Sew
M"s1 b6y ant ,nes are s." ns OBJ o9 t., eS" * pies 9I
p'orGticos vas primarily and prominently 20
tnrow som" i.:Et or p" origin OF mo mysterious
M ripey Getwrcn tn"r work)'ud tG,o-a "l ne
r!rnmid builders ~ ne yak,y o, MeHiSo. II
tnl. QUO iippnr;aut stop wouiu b5 gained in tho
so.utlon "f ~" problem
Beginning ia hLnes ~. h0v- by personal
survey trnr,I the uuG.i hui tors Ia tho Gulf.
Hui t1ru Uu r1rrrSen chHiu u thsir curious
NNr"S d"''l "a" 'i.'F 81 'iio Hlseis>'pp'' mo
- - - "n ". l'lh 'pdI tlI"u'htics ,i"NrlsiHE
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j" nov l''''s-'''N, 'o r""ouh' W. ""1o Illi' "'r1
'e-ri III 'h9 h,.s'-s, pii NHi"F. Or Tue WorN
lhf, lHpnh- N'r" l".it li"n- urf rf"hif" rome.
nHi on tLe shnrrs u ,lhH thII. ,ro,-lh lhE nv"
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p"n u' ulp 'rNs. va "" olh'r lhhu, ~ tur
Ere,' mound oi Snh"Hih wor' hr3nGht n
if"sah'', ~ tpno'.lepr,i II Wnuil ht hn
~ tl' 81. ~ l',.., lt = pI "" 'rhni!'
IN pyrAlhI . ~ III" sun tnn moon ht i"l'll-
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- II " Va ~ - l.n l' air' lh', 'EFpl
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mounds rs -" F" tf'' Ii."iH IN Ne y II zeal states
A. = ~ lnl' lnii1.v. lh" '~lli9 weFo Ia" SAM
|pieiS ir ~o"" u,"'. $. h'Hrs IN others. nhd
nom -. IN i''. i'.'rlF "ls l"hrh wan ~"
y .'S ol ,oi 'A. 'ii"'.'A i+o shl ~ '.HN
y -.' we're Ia - in'r-' IA 81 Nos ~"
r" "Nhi"rnaFt y! tHo-" i"n - IN Hbn',- o' ,hli-
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rom "l rom IN" sh,,i' houih: anu sAu'ls
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'1ltl lHuh'iu- ~ We ,i ''l r't-i'h il'., ,'s-
! h-n SUES III" skut- "I "" in'nn' i'l,n"r4
dstsci.i aud tle comment mal@ that II WAS