The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-10
SUN PARCHED ARIZONA.
PEN SKETCHES OF AN OLD. But IN
KNOWN LAND.
Pictures on the Sand.-A Once Powerful
But Now Vanished Race.

Special Correspondent OF The Free Trader.
Mountains, many hued, barren and for
bidding Of aspect.
Isolated peaks, detached and ragged
spurs, standing out in bold relief against a
blistering sky.
Sands that burn and blaze and simmer in
the sunshine.
Fields of a kali aud soda that glisten and
CLEAN and glitter with fiery intensity that
almost outrivsls the sun itself
I Desolate plains. sun.scorchsd and cactus
grown. A waste, weird ana waterless.
I Painted lands, upon whose red sands
water is unknown, and no life exists, al
though the traveller beholds pictured before
him placid lakes, running rivers, fountains,
hanging gardens rivallng those OF ancient
Babylon, temples. tswsrs, Publications with
flags flying upon their ramparts, beautiful
landscapes, groves, orchards and meadows,
upon which herds of cattle, deer and ante
lope are feeding, all painted with the real
istic effect of light and shade.
A land upon whose face fire and flood
have left the marks of their visitation; torn
and riven by stupendous gorges, and crown
ed by lofty mountains, heaped and massed
and tumbled together, as if for centuries
they had been the sport of earthquake and
convulsisn.
A land of tabled cities, rich in gold and
silver and precious stones; and once the
home Of one of the most powerful and re,
markable pre-. historic races of the Western
World.
This is Arizona (arid zone), as found by
your correspondent in September of 1887,
and fitting name it is indeed for such o
dreary waste.
As to the derivation and meaning Of the
word Arizona. there is a difference Of opin.
ion, but the most probable theory offered is
that it comes from drrida dry and coma
izone) It is also claimed that Arizona is
corruption Of the word "Arizums," which
name the early Spanish explorers applied to
this region.
The old Aztec tradition says The
earth is the offspring of the sky. Long
prior to the present race Of men the earth
was peopled by race Of giants, who in time
died off, leaving the earth uninhabited
After long time celestial virgin, child
of one of the thirteen deiiies who rule all
things, came down to the earth, aud being
well pleased, remained for a long time its
sole inhabitant. Once, in deep sleep. a
drop of dew from heaven fell upon her, and
she conceived and bore two children, a son
and daughter, from whom have sprung all
The people Of the earth. The name of this
celestial virgin was Arizuma, the beautiful
,r sun. beloved maiden"
"sEvEN CITIES OF CrBOlA."
From time immemorial there has existed
sort of fsnciful tradition that somewhere
beyond the great Colorado desert, in Ari-
coma, were TO be found vast treasures and
mines Of fabulous wealth. And probably
he first adventurer who crossed the arid
waste Of this then unknown desert was the
spanish cavalier, Coronado.
Nearly century before the May Aower
tast anchor at Plymouth Rock, glowing
sports reached new Spain of the existence.
ar to the north. Of seven cities called "Ci.
bola." They were said to be maghi6cently
puilt and, besides being wonderfully rich in
he precious metals, we're as populous and
infinitely more beautiful than the city of
Mexico itself At the head of about
thousand followers, mostly Indians, the
adventurous Spsniard set out 10 find the
Seven Cities,' and reap golden harvest.
)ver the rugged heights Of the Sierra Ma
70 and by the parched plains of Sonora,
through the valley Of the Santa Cruz river,
sst tho present site Of tho town Of Tucson,
oronsdo forged his way aud after much
ardship and suffering finally reached the
illages Of the Pima Indians on the Gila
iver. Amer exploring the ruins in the
icinity, the principal one Of which he
AIMED Casa Grande, he pursued his way
hrough the lava wastes of the San Fran
iscO Mountains to the Painted Desert of
be Little Colorado river beyond. Two
ays' journey to the northeast from here,
nd forty five from the starting point,
rought the adventurous binl in sight of
be long sought Cities of Cibola."
A GORGEOUS MYTH.
treat was the Spanish cavaliers chagrin
pd that Of his followers, for instead of
Shedding magnificent and populous cities,
Oh in silver and gold and precious stones,
collection of miserable Moqui villages met
eir gaze. The houses were built of rough
|one laid in mud, and situated on rocky
lttes from three 10 six hundred feet above
e surrounding plaiu. Other villages of
Ike character we're met with east and north.
ut nowhere was 10 be found any trace of
70 sun-bright cities and the wonderful