Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-10-28
THE


An Ancient People OF south America
About whom Little Is known.
The rich regions Of the Aztecs were
discovered in 1919, and the conqueror
of Montezuma was alrecdy returning
70 Spain when Pizarro set sail for Peru.
In 1882 the empire Of the Incas was
entirely overthrow, while in 1886
there still existed, unknown to the
world. upon the high tablelands Of the
eastern cordillera of the Andes an agri-
cultural people composed of
than a million souls, possessing popu
lous cities, fortified places and paved
roads; an established priesthood with
temples, affairs and sacrifices; an or
ganized, hereditary government and a
standing army; an approximate com
putation of time and various indus
tries. and no little intelligence in hus
bandry.
Over this growing civilization Of tine
Chibchas the conquest swept like o.
hurricane, devastating villages, arch-
ives, manufactures and cultivate
fields-dispersing the bones and auIi
hilating the traditions of the miserable
Indians. In the course of a few wear.
they were deprived of their ~indcpcud
ence, their chiefs their liberty and
eve of their language, at the hands o.
the most cruel. blind and persistent
persecution; their very name was
stricken from the catalogue Of existing
nations. their descendants were con
demned 20 complete oblivion Of their
origin, while the antiquarian was left
in the doubt and confusion Of fabulous
ages With respects TO events which i'm
mediately preceded this epoch.
The hurriedly written narratives of
the conquerors speak of the grandeur
of the Valley Of Castles'-Bogota. so
called because of the high edifces of its
cities; OF the extensive salt mines of
~zipaGuira; of the potUeries Of Tiniaca,
and especially of the great riches, the
golden decorations and the upright
mummies covered with fine mantles.
that were inclosed in the temple of
Suamoz, the principal sanctuary Of the
Chibchas. Nor were these descriptions
exaggerated.
In our day there have been found in
ancient sepulchers the most delicate
cotton fabrics, well preserved mum
mics, deliberately carved wooden arti-
cles OF furniture, exquisite vases Of
baked earth, often initiating the human
form and the figures Of animals. and an
infinite variety Of golden ornaments
and images. Beyond doubt the Glib
chas had attained the third place in
the civilization of aboriginal America;
yet volumes have been written upon
the Aztecs and Incas, while the name
of this enlightened contemporary is al
most unknown. They are said TO have
been denoninated Chibchas because of
the frequent recurrence of the syllables
''chi" and cha" in their tongue, but
Humboldt calls them Muiscas OF Mos
cas-.
According TO the distinguished his
tOrian Acosta, the term muisca merely
signified people" in their language,
and hosea tCastilian for ''1y') was
probably a corruption of the former, or
may have been applied to these Indians
because of the great number that APP
peared before. and endeavored 70 stay
the progress Of the handful of Spaniards
led by Quesada. As successful as Cor
ter Or PiZarro. unlike them, this famous
captain was never rewarded with the
coveted marquisate of Spain, and has
lacked the master hand of Prescott to
portray the thrilling incidents of his no
less remarkable conquest.-Lieut. H. r.
Lemly in Century.