The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-20


the greatest political centre north OF
Mexico. While a properly organized
war department looked out for the
management of considerable stand
ing army, the pursuits Of the people,
as already said, were those Of peace.
They spent much of their time on the
water aud, as far as oysters were con-
cerned, they may be said to have car
ried their farming operations into the
acqueous element. Oysters, after all,
are in sense an agricultural product,
and these aborigines used to prepare
immense quantities Of these 'meats
for shipment into the interior. For
this purpose they cooked the bivalves
enough to open their shells, and then
dried the meats in the sun. There
was a large demand for oysters by
tribes Of the interior, as well as for
dried clans, which were prepared in
similar fashion, and for marine shells
of certain kinds, which were utilized
as ornaments or cut up to make wam-
pun. In exchange for such articles,
| the people Of the Potomac received
copper, skins Of animals, and various
other things they wanted.
It has been asserted that the pre-
historic Indians cultivated the squash,
and that this plant was originally a
native of America, but this is some
what doubtful. A similar claim has
been made in regard to the watermel-
on, but it is now known positively
that this fruit belonged originally in
equatorial Africa, where Livingstone
saw whole districts literally covered
with the vines. The watermelon was
cultivated in ancient Egypt, and is
represented ON some very old monu-
ments in that country.
Another very important plant that
was cultivated by the prehistoric
farmers of this country was the tobac-
co. The Indian is always the man
who smokes pipe, and no trace has
ever been found in North America of q
savage who did not smoke. Some
times other plants, such as the sumac,
were used as substitutes for the "'herb
nicotian,' but the pipe and the Indian
always went together. Ever so many
pipes have been found in ancient
mounds in various parts of the United
States. and some of them are very
elaborate and beautiful.
OF domestic animals, the ancient
Indians Of TIE north and east seem to
have none, except the hog. There is
scarcely any part of the world in
which some tamable species of the
genus CAMS is not found. and its do
mestication comes about quite aatur-
ally. Doubtless women we're original
ly responsible for the domestieation
Of the dog, as it was to their care
probably that the young wolf-pups,
which Glanced to be picked up, fell.
In this way unquestionably the adop-
tion Of the dog had its beginning.
The aborigines in this country had no
farm animals, with one exception, to
be mentioned presently. They reared
deer, herons, and, in the Southwest,
golden eagles, which were plucked an.
nually for their beautiful feathers. 1t
is known that the Pueblos domestica
ted the turkey.
A region in Colorado. bounded by
the Mancos, La Plata, and San Juan
rivers, is roughly triangle, round the
edge of which is network of ravines
and canons which abound in ruined
castles and towns pcrched on shelves
along the cliffs. Some Of the single
buildings are as large as the biggest
department structure in Washington,
while others are so small and so well
concealed that they are discovered
with difficulty, only by the aid Of a
field glass. Now and then will be
seen whole walled city, with stony
Notifications and huge towers, built
along the escarpment of cliff.
For centuries these cliff dwellings
have been entirely deserted. but for
merly they were inhabited by a large
and Industrious population, which,
being not at all warlike, sought to OBJ
tsin security while cultivatiug the
fields in the valleys below, by build
ing their dwellings in the manner de-
scribed. These people were the an
cestors Of the Pueblo Indians Of to-
day. In their empty houses are found
grauaries. one room being commonly
reserved for the storage Of corn and
another for beans, since these were the