The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-01-16
WERE THEY TOLTECS?
ORIGIN OF THE CLlFF-DWELLERS
BEING STUDIED.
Mexican Archaeoiog st Traces This
Strange People Back Through Ages
to Establish Identity as p. osenitors
of Ancient Races of Ills Country.

Prof, Leopoldo Batres, Mexieo's able
archaeologst, has returned after sew
eral weeks spent in the land OF the cliff
jewellers AZ Mancos, Colo.
The object of Mr.. Batres' expedition
was to establish the Identity OF the
people known as the elf dwelers with
the ancient Toltees, and TO prove that
Huetlapalla, the red city," from which
the Toltecs, according to their tradi-
tons and the earliest records, started
on their migration southwark to Ana
huac, was located in the caves of what
is now the State of Colorado, says the
Mexico Herald.
To reporter who met him on the
Centrals express at IIuehuetoca, MIR.
ton with his trip. 1T has been a
pleasure to me-" he said. ITO visit the
Unitel States and experience the
boundless kindness and hospitality of
the American people, and. in addition,
have been thoroughly successful in the
scientific object of my expedition. l
no longer entertain the smallest doubt
that the underground city of the cliff
jewellers, which | explored, was the
Huetlapalla of the Toltees. purpose
to set forth all the grounds for my con-
clusion in a book which | am going TO
write about my explorations. Briefly,
all the objects which | found in the
Colorado caves bear out my view. The
grecques of the eeremics are similar to
those of the Militia palaces, which, as is
well known, were Toltee. Note, too,
that Huetlapalla means the red city,;
and that the homes of the cliff dwellers
We're painted red. and SO remain 10 TINS
day.
Il made original excavations, and
have brought back with me large col
lection of archaeological objects, in
Guiding a skeleton with fragment of
feather winding sheet, a pair of palm
sandals, pottery, implements of agricul-
ture, pieces of wood for kindling fire
by attrition, pieces of leather sewn
together, skulls. piece of an osier
basket similar to the ones made in
China, all from the caves of the cliff
jewellers. besides large collection of
photographs.
The trip to the cliff jewellers Is the
hardest one | have ever made, though
l have visited all the most inaccessible
archaeological remains in Mexico.
had to be let down to the mouths of
the caves by ropes passed underneath
my arms. With eight companions
had to camp out for a week. and after
climbing daily among the rocks my
buckskin suit was torn to shreds SO as
to be no longer serviceable. | found
in the caves the remains of regular
towns. and in the largest of all a palace
of 300 rooms. with windows, doors and
roofs in a good state of preservation.
To find analogies everywhere with the
work of the Toltecs was my object,
and my success will be fully set forth
in my book. On the walls of one of the
towers l traced hieroglyphics of Ma
huati orign-red figures on white
ground. OF these | made a careful
copy.
"Such is a brief outline of the scien-
tifc side of my trip. As to its social
features. can hardly find words to
express my gratitude for the hospital
ity and kindness which l received on
all sides. especially from the Governor
of the State and Moses Hallett, Unit
ed States district judge for that circuit
Every facility was Afforded to me; all
my requests were granted. and in some
cases my desires We're even anticipat-
ed In fact, l was treated a eurerpo
de rev. | return to Mexico with the
most grateful impression of the United
States and the American people"
After finishing his work in Colorado
Mr.. Batres made a flying trip totNew
York and Chicago. making the best
possible use of his time in studying the
universities and museums.