Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-04
THE CH1BCHAs.
Little.Known Contemporaries OF Tie
Axtecs and Incas.

AZteCS and lncAS.
The rich regions of the Axtss, v,,.
discovered in 1919, and the ecnqssrsr Of
Montezuma was already returning to
Spain when Pisarro set sail for Peru. IN
1882 the empire of the Incas was entirely
overthrown; while in 1886, there sfi,
existed, unknown to tho world. aps. the
high tablelands of the eastern serdiller.
of the Andes On agricultural people com
posed Of moro than q million seuh, Dos
eessing popalous cities, fortified places-
and paved roads; On established priest
hood with temples, affairs, and saerificos
an organized hereditary government and
o standing army; an approximate com.
putation Of time; and various industries
and no little intelligence in husbandry
Over this growing civilization Of the
Chibchas the conquest swept like hur-
ricane, devastating villages, archives,
manufactures, and cultivated fields.
dispensing the bones and aanihilatinr
the traditions Of the miserable Indians.
In the course of few years they were
deprived of their independence, their
chiefs, their liberty, and oven Of their
language, at the hands of the most cruel.
blind, and persistent persecution; their
very name was stricken from the cata
logue OF existing nations, their doscen
dants were condemned to complete obi
Won of their origin, while tho antiquarian
was left in the doubt and confusion of
fabulous ages with respect 70 events
which Immediately 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 edi6ces Of
its cities: Of the extensive salt mines
of Zipaquira; of the pottcries Of Tinjaca,
nnd especially of the great riches, the
golden decorations, and the upright mum
mics covered with fine mantles, that were
inclosed in tho temple Of Suanoaz, the
principal sanctuary of tho Chibchas
Nor were these descriptions exaggerated
In our day there have been found in
ancient sepulchcrs the most dolioate cot
ton fabrics, well-prescrved nunmies,
deliberately carved wooden articles 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 Chibchas 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
almost unknown. They are said to have
been denominated Chibch;s because of
tho frequent recurrence Of the syllables
"chi'' and "cha' in their tongue, but
Humboldt calls them Muiscas or Moscas-
According to the distinguished historian
Acosta (wbose excellent work has been
freely consulted and often translated in
the preparation Of this paper the term
muisca merely signified people" in their
language, and mosca (Castilian for "Ay"3
was probably corruption Of tho former
or itmay have been applied to these In
dams because Of the great number that
appeared before, and endeav0red TO stay
the progress Of, the handful Of Spnniards
led by Quesada. AS successful as Cortex
or Pizarro, unlike them, this famous cap
tain was never rewarded with the coveted
marquisate Of Spain, and has hacked the
master hand of Prescott 10 portray the
thrilling incidents of his no less penark-
able conqucst.-[rh Century.