The sun., 1889-04-28
SOME NEW BOOKS.
The story of New Mexlco.

01 MEXICO proper the NOluu1c WHICH uehis Will
Arizona and New Mexico is the most interest
ing OF tho series bearing the collective title OF
The History Of the Pacific States. Hero tho
author. Mr.. II. Il. BANCROFT has again an op-
portunity to discuss the two romantic epochs
OF American history that, namely, OF Spanish
discovery and conquest, and that OF tho seden-
tnry and more or less civilized populations
whom the Spaniards encountered. The sec
ond OF these periods anterior In point Of time,
and superior in attraction from the viewpoint
OF the archnologst-is examined at great
length 10 the authors Native Races" and he
accordingly allots only chapter to this
subject in the present book. The three cen
turios OF Spanish exploration and rule
on tho other hand are carefully studied and
minutely described In some thirteen chapters; !;
the rest OF the present volume is assigned TO
the annals OF Now Mexico and Arizona, from
the establishment OF tho Mexican republic
Gown to tho present time This part OF Mr..
Baucroft's work has required an immense
amount OF research In the unpublished rec
orcs OF Madrid and tho Mexican capital as
well as in those OF Washington and In the
American newspapers Of the last forty years,
and IL is improbable that the field here trav-
ersed will svor again be gone over with equal
thoroughness and patience. After an inspec-
tion OF tho book we are disposed to put full
faith In the assertion OF the preface that no.
where have the historians resources OF the
original data been richer or moro varied. We
quote part OF what tho author says regarding
his sources OF Information: besides many
rare works IN print. consulted only imper-
fectly or not at all by previous writer's,
have consulted the Santa Fo archives.
and have had access to rich stores OF the
most important documentary records from
Spain and Mexico In my own and other private
collections; and l have been especially fortu-
nate in being able to utilize. practically for the
FIRST time. the work OF Viliagra and several i'm
portant documents, bearing on O0atc's con-
quest. never before correctly recorded For
later evonts of territorial history, have studied
all tho publications extant including Govern
ment reports and newspapers: and have be-
81 les here. as in other parts Of my field, taken
tho testimony Of many prominent citizens and
officials. who have thrown new light on many
phases Of the subject" Later, the author adds
that nowhere In my work have been able to
correct more erroneous statements filed more
historical gaps, or, except In the matter OF
minute details. to supply, In comparison with
preceding writer's. moro new matter"
Nevertheless. experience has taught
Mr.. Bancroft to expect that the
old inaccurate aud threadbare sources Of
knowledge will still be consulted to consider
able cxtent in preference TO the better and
original authorities now made accessible at
second hand. He anticipates that many writer's
will continue to talk Of the Aztecs and of Mon
tezuma in this northern region: to describe
Santa FG as the oldest town in the United
Stutes. dating its foundation back to the six
teenth or fifteenth century. or that OF Tucson
to the sixteenth to derive the name Of Arizona
from arid zone " or - Narizona." the big-nosed
woman to accent the current traditions Of
rich mines of gold and silver, discovered and
W orked by the Jesuits and conQuerors. or by
ensavci Indians under their cruel direction:
and to repeat various other errors that have
found place in the legendary annals of Arizona
and New Mexico.
1t is naturally the hapter treating Of the pre-
b 81 oric condition Of New Mexico to which we
turn with especial curiosity What was the re-
In ion OF the ancestors Of the present Pueblo In
dians. whose community houses. or towns. are
tie oldest continuously inhabited structures
Oh this continent, to the Nahua and Maya ma
tioIs, whom the Spaniards found inhabiting the
Il iGh plateau Of Anahuac and Central America 2
Although great deal of skiltul and systematic
in' cstigation has been directed to the elucida-
H. n of this question since the publication OF
y Bnncroft's Native Races" the author sees
in that work. He now substan-
tally rcaiIlrms those conclusions after con-
+ sely restating tho main facts. The facts may
Ec thus outlined: In their sixteenth century
explorations the SpaniaIds found from seventy
to a hundred OF the Pueblo towns still inhabited
there being much confusion OF names In the
Tcrent narratives Of successive visits. Most OF
the towns described by tho Spanish chronicles
cannot be definitely identified or located. but
ls groups they present only slight difficulties,
md they covered about the same territory then
ls now. South Of this territory, in southern
Arzona and northern Chihuahua. and proba-
BY north oft. in southern Colorado and Utah. |
similar widespread structures were then. as
low, in ruins In the next century. chiefly dur
nG the wars following successful revolt |
AGAINST the Spaniards. many OF the towns werO |
destroyed or abandoned. tho number being re-
1ucod ut that period. or II little later, to about
wcnty-lve. 1t is only in the broadcast outline |
hat the history Of this people can DO evolved |
rom their material relics, traditions affording |
cut slight aid. Clearly the whole region. ex-
ending somewhat further north and south |
han tho present bounds OF Arizona |
md New Mexico. was In the past |
occupied by sonli civilized tribes. not |
Illlering among themselves or from tho pros
mt Pueblos moro than do the latter as now |
,nown from their forefathers OF the sixteenth |
entury and occupying the most fertile valleys
With their stone and adobe town houses, simi- |
ar, but often vastly superior to the later we'll
,nown Pueblo dwellings. Long. perhaps CEN
uries. before the Spaniards came. began the
ecline of this numerous and powerful people. |
The cause OF their misfortunes must be traced
o wars with savage, predatory tribes like the
Ipaches and with each other drought and
'estiepce contributing to the same end. All
he ruined structures and other relics Of the
0mote past in this region were 80 evidently
ho work Of the Pueblos or cognate tribes that
hcre exists no plausible reason for indulRing
II couIoctural theories respecting the agency
4 extinct races.
Mr.. Bancroft still refuses. as he refused In
H. Native Races,"so adopt the theory that
he ancestors Of the Pueblo tribes were Aztecs
sft In Arizona during the supposed migration
rom the northwest to Mexico. 1t is his belief
hat no suoh general migration occurred at
,ast not within any period reached by tradi-
lon: but whether this belief Is we'll founded or
OF, ho has found no reason to modify his con-
,ntion that the New Mexican people ana cul-
lre were not Aztec. He does not mean to OK
ress decided opinion that the Aztecs were
OF some hundreds or thousands OF centuries