Sunday morning globe., 1901-09-15
ON HER HEAD.
A Fortune on a Mexican WOman's
Head.
PROCLAIMS HER ANCESTRY.
The Crown Worn BY lueOCh Chief Of The l4th
Century Found In Cache Containing Treas
ures Estimated al Half Million Dollars, Near
Chama In Guatemala Rare Jewels and Idols
Of HldeOus Designs and FIlgree Work.

A dispatch from the City Of Mexico
tells Of the discovery, near Chama,
Guatemala, of a cache containing Gu.
rios and treasure estimated at 100000
in value. One Of the rare articles
found is a crown worn by a Quecchi
chief in the 14th century, the date be.
ing fixed by the medalions and coins
forming part of the head-dress.
Rare jewels, idols of hideOus designs
and filigree work, wholly different
from any specimens now displayed in
Guatemala were included in the find,
according to the Oficial Journal Of the
state of Jalisco, which first published
the facts.
Edwin Kurtz, a recent traveller in
the Alte Verapez district of Guatemala
relates stories of adventure and dis
covery in that country which give col
or to the reported find near Champa.
The statements Of Mr.. Kurtz and let
ters from Leon j. Dutton, Of Melrose,
now exploring the country anticipates
further fabulous discoveries and prom
ise Of wealth Of adventure to the Phila-
delphians who are now preparing to
make a four months tour Of the coun-
try Immediately after the close Of the
rainy season which is now at its
height.
A letter from Mr.. Dutton says, "San
Geronimo is now the mecca Of all the
restless spirits in the country. On May
28th hundreds of natives, each the son
of a king, or Of a kings son, assembled
on the great piazza in front Of the
palace Of the alcade and held festival
there throughout the week following
never saw such a ceremony. Scores
Of cock fights entertained the crowd.
"The women, of whom there were
thousands present brought cerandes
worth fortunes and sold them for a
song or traded them for trinkets worth
little or nothing. These jars and vases
are the real thing, differing in that
respect from those made by the Chi
noutla natives, who turn out antiques
| CD by the hundred every month.
Some of the pieces displayed and
sold at San Geronimo were dug up BY
| the women while working on the plan
| tations at Chama. l have seen pOtl
| Of hideous design turned up by thes'
women and when opened l have
/ known them to contain carved images
/ rare Jewels and coins centuries old.
"The Quecchi woman will sell OF
trade anything she has or can get eX
cept coins or precious stones, both of
which are retained to decorate her
headdress. The natives can be identi
fed as to ancestry and habitat by their
headdress, and l have seen dozens OF
these curious decorations with an in
trinsic value exceeding $2O,OOU.
"The headdress of the Quecchi In
dian is primarily a long scarf, some
being two or three yards in length
Hieroglyphics are worked into this "a
brio in all shades of color, and each
figure has a significance known to all
members of the tribe The head pieces
of the living are ofttimes monuments
to the dead and nothing is too valu
able to form a part of this all-import
ant article of dress.
"In the days Of the Aztecs, accord
ing to local lore, family fortunes were
spent upon a single crown designed
for a QuecChi king"