Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-05-20


crcdulous 60 believe some of them.
The legends are worthy Of repetition
from their richness in Imagination, Il
from no other cause.
Let the reader imagine himself
beneath some wide-spreading tcpi-
guage, 10 avoid the fierce rays of a
, tropical sun; With the cloud-capped
Los Frailes, FL Nerro Pelon and Qua
guento, looking like earth's gigantic
sentincls, or towers reaching up 10 the
skies, and a white-haired Indian guide
relating strange stories Of Reals Peri
dos, and he will have some feelings
similar TO the writer's.
My narrator was an old Indian
! named Ramirez, whose chief occupa-
ton was guiding tourists and miners
who visit this almost unknown part of
the world. Ramirez had RECALLED him
self with q drink of pulqUc, which is
J the favoritc beverage of Mexico, and
lighted an antique pipe which seemed
to afford him infinite satisfaction. His
bronzcd skin contrastcd strangely with
his white Jacket and trousers, and inn
mense sombrerO on the ground at his
side. Ramirez was half sitting and
half reclining on the ground, lazily
watching the donkeys and mustang,
lariatted a short distance away.
don't know that the old rascal ever en-
ioyed himself better, while / was IN
constant dread lest some wild mountain
brigands, who infost the Sierra Madre
might suddenly appear from some con-
venient chaparral and deprive me of
the few reals and pesetas Of silver /
NJ Oh al
and arms, leaving us helpless in the
mountain wilds. Ramirez seemed to
have no concern about the wild
marauders, and took matters as coolly
as IL he had been in the heart OF civiliza-
tion. To my urgent requests to go on,
he answered:
Don't be in too great haste, senior;
we can not reach them before night
fall Il is never safe to travel when
the sun is so hot. We will be able to
pass the night on the top Of Quaguento,
from which you can get a good view of
the Vermillion Sea.
81 have almost given up the idea of
exploring the canyons, Ramirez"
said, for having heard so many stories
Of the wild robbers, | was afraid to
venture too near those dangerous
looking places.
"Wht, senort" asked Ramirez, fix
ing his great dark eyes on me.
II am afraid of these mountain rob-
bers who lurk in the canyons"
"Well, sometimes the pronunciados
do get among these canyons, but we
are more likely to find prospectors,
hunting for the Reals Perdidos q Encan-
tados. They are harmless and would
help us" After moments pause.
with a sigh he continued: II may not
be the one, but whoever he is, he will
be rich."
"What do You mean?" asked.
"Mhoever finds the enchanted towns
will be rich"
care you so foolish as to believe any
thing of the kind oXists?" 1 asked in
no little amazement
He opened his eyes. and for a few
moments never saw such a complete
picture of astonlshment and indigna-
tion. AT last removing his pipe the
Aztec said:
81 am very sorry senior said that. IL
shows that much as may be known of
other countries, nothing is known of
Mexico, or the history of the Aztecs.
The Reals Perdidos are true
Mining towns may be lost" l
answered, "and doubtless are. They
may be buried beneath land-slides,
earthquakes, and sometime in the
future be dug out; but | greatly fear
that they will never pay for the discov-
cry if found. As to there being en-
chanted towns and cities, inhabited or
uninhabited, believe that to be wholly
a myth"
Though using the best Mexican at
my command. | am vet i'm doubt
whether the old Aztec fully understood
me. He seemed, however, 10 catch
the drift of my idea, and as il to con-
vince the most skeptical mind, pro-
posed TO narrate one of those strange
legends. As had heard many before,
and knew that while they abounded In
the extrayagant, they were rich in in
cident, consented to listen to another.
II would BE- fully three hours before
the lazy guide could be induced TO stir
from beneath the tepiguage, so the
time might as well be passed IN story
telling as in any other way. His story
was OF one OF these enchanted cities, and
hihhtH OlhhEt EioNtHs htIN give IL
as near as | can remember it. The
translation may not be literal, but in
substance it is the same.
''Many years ago when the children
of the sun ruled this part Of the world,
while the grandfather Of Montezuma
was on the throne there was young
man Of noble birth in his court. He
was brave, and one of the Kings best
Generals. His name was Heraclio.
and wherever he led the armies of
Montezuma, they were successful. This
Heraclio possessed a very violent tenn
per, and when in rage was terrible. A
witch of the mountains cautioned him
when he was child to restrain his
temper, or IL would not only prove his
ruin, but the destruction Of Mexico.
He was so proud and naughty that he
held even the King in defiance. Sure
ly the Monarch would not dare punish
one so powerful and influential as he.
The King had been at war with some
northern tribes and had succeeded in |
humiliating them, and compelling |
them TO pay tribute. Heraclio returned |
laden with spoils and honors, aud |
great banquet was given in honor |
of him, in the piazza in front Of the |
Kings palace. lie was hOnOred as /
no General had ever been, and made /
one Of the Kings chief advisers. There
was poor slave whom HeracliO bitterly /
hated. lie purchased the slave, who
had been captured in war. and made
his life miserable. Before his capture
the young man had been a Prince, and
II was his bravery which had won the
lasting hate Of Heraclio. He finally
had the captive Prince dragged TO the
and there chained to a tree.
He beat him with stick until he was
bruises from head to foot. Then he
lad the yultures come day by day, and