Mexico Missouri message., 1901-02-28

away iIOIil llt' ltdilN pdt'S.
As there were always proving
bands of Indians all thru the mines
it was no uncommon thing for
them to go into the cabins while
the men were ont at work and
help themselves to whatever cata-
bles they could find. Old Dad
concluded that he would work the
old Chief, and he took him up to
the cabin and gave him the only
square meal that he ever had, and
the old fellow felt SO good that he
told Dad the Americans were the
best men in the world and that
Dad was the best one among them.
Dad asked him who was the next
best man, and he said, Indian
next, Spaniard next Chinaman
next, dog next and niger last. "
Dad thought he had the old Chief
down fine and showed him how to
open the cabin door 10y pulling the
latch string which in our cabin
always hung outside. Dad told
him that he was the only Indian
that knew how to open the door,
andshe would hold him responsible
for any ding that was taken out of
the cabin. When the old Indian
went away Dad said, Boys, he is
IL good Indian 1t is hardly nee
eSsary to say that Dad lost II good
pair of blankets and all his tobac-
60 the next day
will now digrcSs little and
write of what an old man. who
said he was IA descendant of the
Aztec race. said. As all that he
knew was by tradition and as his
tory would bear out many things
he told us, we were compelled to
believe that there was Il good
foundation for his story. He was
very old and said all that he knew
had been told him by his father.
In speaking of the gold mines he
said prior to the landing of Cor
tez in Mexico that Mexico was the
richest gold producing country in
all the world. That the mines
were located near where Il great
city stood which was totally swal-
lowed up by an earthquake and
not even trace of it was left by
which it might be found. He al
so told us of the origin of the vast
herds of wild horses that roamed
over our western prairies. He
said that when Cortez and his men
appeared on horseback, the ma
tlveS, having never seen horse.
thought the man and horse was all
one animal. 1t struck terror to
the hearts of the already frighten-
ed people, and he said that when
the SpaniardS finally left the coun-
try they turned their horses loose
in the mountains and they scat
tered over the country and the
COW pony or the mustang is the
descendant of the Cortcz cavalry
horses. | will say more about the
mustang later ON.
In conclusion of this letter |
want to give our readers brief
description Of the country in which
our camp is situated. We are
surrounded on all sides with low
mountains thiuly covered with
pines and low spreading oaks;
along the slopes, covered with
ShlapnelI brush, and down in the
ravineS and on the flats NAV be
seen large stones of various shapes
and lying in every position mag
Unable. From the general appear
ance of the surroundings it would
bear out the idea that the country
at some remote period had been
turned upside down by volcanic
cruptious. 1t is rendered unfit
for anything except the gold that
lies hidden underneath.
Our readers will remember that
| was mere boy at this time and
write altogether from memory.
Many things have escaped my
memory, but | will continue these
letters, and tho the story will be
plain. | will endeayor to state
facts. After the next | will write
from the lower country and will
be among the Spaniards.
Gro BE CONTINUED.)