New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31
SKIN AND BONE.
\ COLORADO ROYAL FAMILY PIE
SERVED WITH EGYPTIAN SKILL
From The Denver Evening Post.

| From The Denver Evening Post.
Few people in Colorado. perhaps, are aware
OF the fact that within this State found the
remains of a prehistoric race preserved by a
system Of cmbalmng which, while somewhat
different from that of the ancient Egyptians. has
proven equally effective in combating the raw
ages OF decay. Many know that Southwestern
Colorado was hundreds OF years ago. populated
by a race Of cliff dwellers. and the ruins of their
homes on the Rio San Juan near Mancos, are
annually visited by thousands OF inquisitive
tourists. IL liz not generally known however.
that these people attained to such degree of
perfection In the art Of preserving the remains
of their dead that even now centuries after
they were placed in the tomb. the only indica-
ton of the lapse of time is i'm the withered and
dred-up appearance Of the skin.
In the of the State Historical Society
at the Capitol building four Of these mum
mics. the most interesting specimens yet dscov-
cred. Those who have read with interest the
/ results OF the abors of arch;eoogiSts in Egypt,
whose every discovery of this character is dis
! cusscd I'm the journals and magazines through
out the world will be repaid by visit to the
Capitol Building. Were the history of this
strange people known and their records pre-
served the four mummes in the rooms of the
Historical Society might prove to be the re
mains OF family equally royal and renowned
in their own country with Rameses or Cleo
patra in Egypt. That they form a family group
is evident. There are the father and mother and
two children. probably three to five years Of
age. Not all the dead of this race were thus
preserved. In an adjoining cave are hundreds
of hum III bones. representing the remains Of
those VINO dld not rank hiSh enough III the Gin
dNellers world to be thus carefully protected
from the cffacng fingers OF time. II is there
fore. not improbable that this family was of
the royal blood.
The extraordinary fineness Of the embalming
wrappings is further evidence OF this fact
Unlike the ancient Egyptians this wrapping
ssts not of many folds but n single garment
carefully sewed To shut out the air. The EN-
bamng robe IN which the remains are shrouded
is composed Of n groundwork OF cord made of
the fibre of the yucca plant, and closely woven.
In this are interviewer feathers, or rather the
finest down. from some species Of bird. Each
feather is carefully woven i'm an upright po-
sition. and so closely they placed that neither
air nor water can penetrate the cloth. To make
one Of these robes with the crude methods en-
poyed all being done by hand. must have been
n labor OF years. and il is probable they were OF
almost priceless value. Tens of thousands of
feathers would be required for each robe
This feather cloth is evidently indestructibl
showing signs Of decay 1t is OF light brown
color. with occasional streaks OF white
OF the mummies. those OF the mother and chill
dren are the best preserved. The woman's long
black hair hangs down over her shoulders and
teeth and skin are In perfect state of preserva-
ton. But the most remarkable specimen is that
OF one of the children, which appears to have
been about three years Of age. Were il not for
the peculiar parchmentlike appearance Of skin
it would seem tina; the child had been dead but
few days. Even the lips have not decayed
and the fact that the eyes missing is not
noticeable. for the closed lids are still intact
Hair and eyebrows are preserved seemingly as
In life. The frontal development OF the head