The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-11-13

vus,s- Known Contemporaries 81 the A.
tees and lncns-
The rich regions Of the Aztecs were
discovered IN 1919. and the conqueror 81
Montezmma was already returning TO
Spain when Pizarro set sail for Peru.
In 1889 the empire Of the Incas was en-
tirely overthrown; while In 1886 there
still existed. unknown to the world. up
on the high tablelands OF the eastern
cordillera Of the Andes an agricultural
people composed Of more than million
souls, possessing populous cities, forth
flcd places and paved roads; an cstab-
lished priesthood with temples, affairs
and sacrifices; an organized, hereditary
government and = standing army; an
approximate computation Of time; aud
various industries. and no little intel
ligence in husbandry. Over this grow
ing civilization Of the Chibchas the con-
quest swept like a hurricane. devastat-
ING villages. archives manufactures and
cultivated fields-dispersing the bones
and annihilating the traditions Of the
miserable Indians In the course Of a
few years they were deprived of their
~. and even Of their language;
Mt the hands of the most cruel,
blind. ard persistent prosecutions;
their very name was stricken from the
catalogue of existing nations. their de-
scendants were condemned to complete
oblivion Of their origin. while the anti
quarian was left in the doubt and con-
fusion Of fabulous ages with respect to
events which Immediately preceded this
epoch. The hurriedly written narra-
tivcs Of the conquerors speak Of the
grandeur Of the valley Of Castles
Bogota, SO called because Of the high
edisices of its cities; Of the extensive
salt mines of Zipaquira; OF the potter
les of Tinjaca. and especially Of the
great riches. the golden decorations,
and the upright mummies covered with
fine nantes. that were inclosed in the
temple Of Suamoz. the principal sanct-
nary Of the Chibchas. Nor were these
descriptions exaggerated. In our day
there have been found in ancient Sc
pulchers the most delicate cotton fab
rics. well-prescrved mummics. elabo-
ratcly carved wooden articles of furni-
ture. exquisite vases Of baked earth.
often initiating the human form and
the figures OF animals, and an infinite
variety Of golden ornaments and i'm
ages Beyond doubt the Chibchas
had attained the third place in the
civilization of aboriginal America; yet
volumes have been written upon the
Aztccs and Incas. while the name OF
this enlightened contemporary is al
most unknown. They are said TO have
been denominated Chibchas because OF
The frequent recurrence OF the sylla-
blcs ''chi' and cha" in their tongue.
hut Humboldt calls them Muiscas or
Moscas According to the distin-
guishcd historian Acosta Whose excel
lent work has been freely consulted
and often translated in the preparation
o; this papcr). the term muisca mere
ly signified people" in their language.
and mosca (Castilian for "fy'D was
probably corruption OF the former. or
may have been applied to these Indians
because Of the great number that ap-
pearcd before. and epdeavored TO stay
the progress Of the handful Of Span
iards led by Quesada. As successful
rs Cortcz or Pizarro. unlike them. this
lannon's captain was never rewarded
with the coveted marquisate Of SPAIN
and has lacked the master hand 81
Prescott 20 portray the thrilling inch
dents Of his no less remarkable CON
quest - Lieut.. Lemly. in Century.