Arizona republican., 1900-09-26
NEW MExIco's WHITE INDIANS.


 For more than hundred years the question whether therc existel in -t.nerica tribe of white Indians has Teen agitated, and more or less posi- rlve statements from learned men have hen quoted on both sides. That tie icgend of a white race haa a basis in f1e, ;s i:Toved by six in1:yi,lu,'s stilI living in the Pueblo of Zuni, N. M. Their existence, however, Is known to very few, and even of those who have visited the village, not many have seen the white Indians, for as a rule they keep themselves out of sight. The his tory of the legend is interesting:
 From the earliest times more or less definhe rumors about white Indians have been current. In 1791 the Rev. pr. John Williams published a treatise on the subject, which is now very rare, although the impe tus which he gave the inquiry still survives. The purpose of the publication was to start a subscrip- ton fund to be devoted to the explOra- ton of the wild parts of America be- yond the Ohio river" where the author was sure the long sought white men would be found. In his own mind there was not the slightest doubt that these white men were descendants of the Prince Madoc of Wales, who, according to the old Welsh legend, left his native country soon after 117O A. D. on ac- count of family dessentions, and sailed out to the west, leaving Ireland on his right hand
 According to the ancient bards Prince Madoc returned in the course of time with glowing accounts of a new country he had discovered, and, gathering his adherents about him, he set sail again for the far west, to the land which he had found, and was never again heard or. Dr. Williams conteuded that the white 1n5ians were the descendants of these twelfth century Welshman. and. whatever may be thought of his con- cluslons, his argument was certainly worth consideration. He cited the many reports concerning these Indians then current coming from various parts Of the American continent, particularly the account of a man named Riming- ton, native of England, who had met the white Indians at a grand tra ling meeting, or Indian fair, at the forks of the Ohio. He was told that they came from remote district west of the Mis- slssipDi. Rimingtons companion. a Welshman, claims to have spoken to these Indians in his own language. It was said also that these Indians had book, which they venerated highly, but were unable to read
 More than sixty years later. when the Pacific railroad surveys across the con- tinent were made, the story cropped out in another form but the white h. dians were definitely. located at the Pu- eblo of Zuni In the reports of that survey, published in 1856, a description of one of these Indians is given, togeth- er with list of words which were said to be practically synonymous in the Zuni with Welsh languages. No expIa- nation of the presence of white mem bers of the tribe was attempted. About 1SI1, J. H. Beadle newspaper cores pondent, visited Zuni He mentions q book which these Indians had and which they regarded with great rever- ence, although they could not rad it.
 There can be no doubt that the white Indians al Zuni are albinos. There are four others at the Moki vilIag and several scattered among the other pu- eblos. In dress, manners. customs anu language they are like their feI- lows, but their complexion is very fair: they are. indeed, much winter than the average white man who has lived much in the open air. Their hair is a tawny yellow instead Of the jet black which characterizes the Indian Their eyes are So weak that they have to keep them closed in the sunlight This is due, doubtless, to the absence of col orlng matter in the iris. As the skin lacks that protection also, these pee pie suffer very much from sunburn. where the regular Indian Is almost as immune as a negro. Their eyelids and lips are always sore, and it Is probably on account of their dread of the sun light that So few travellers have seen them.
 To those who have seen these cu- rlous freaks they give the impression at first that they are Irishmen dressed as Indians, for their faces have a decided celtic cast. The only way, however. in which they differ from other members of the tribe, is in the absence of color ing matter in the skin and hair The cause of this albinoism has not been determined; it may be due 10 close in termarriaSe within the family. an in- evitable result of the social system of the pueblos and their organization un- der the clan or gems system.