The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-16

mountains, Mr.. R. X. Montmorency, al
| English anthropologist recently discov
cred tribe of white Indians. HitheIt
a swarthy complexion has been consid
cred the most characteristic feature o
the true Indian. and consequently TIL
phrase, white 1noian' may at first seen
| to involve a contradiction IN terms.
! Nevertheless, the Muncnes, as the trib,
is called. are genuine aborigines. and a:
such are fully entitled to call themselve.
Indians, even though their skins are, il
anything. a trife fairer than those Of
Europeans, and their Forms are equally
| II not more, graceful
The tribe is to be found in the. Mexican
| province OF Sonora, Just south of Arizona
not far from the United States boun
dairy. The lefty peaks of the Sierra dc
los Nimbros completely surround the part
Of the country in which the Munchies
have taken up their abode, and although
the valley is not large. IT is well watered
and extremely fertile.
The six hundred men and women OF
which the tribe is composed engage most
ly in agricultural pursuits, and owing 10
the favorable climatic and natural con-
ditions, are able to raise sufficient horses
cattle and sheep to answer their own
needs, and many of the comforts and
even the Injuries of civilized life are by
this primitive race
The old men of the tribe exercise SUI
preme control over it both in the enact
mcnt and in the enforcement OF the laws.
and thus the tribe of white Indians pre-
sents to the civilization of the twentieth
century a unique example of the ancient
patriarchal form of government The
laws are of very simple character. tend
ing merely to conserve the general in
terests of the community All the males
more than seventeen years of age are al
lowed to vote, a concurrent majority Of
the seniors in council being necessary to
enact law
Offenders against the laws are tried in
the same way, the seniors in council act
ing as both judge and jury, first finding
the verdict and then prescribing the pun
ishment
The temperament of the Munchies is ex-
ceedingly peaceful, but otherwise their
religion and code of morals differ but lit
tie from those of other Indians. They
suffer considerably from the incursions of
surrounding nations. but so averse are
they TO bloodshed that they submit to the
most wantom cruelties and injustice
without offering the slightest resistance.
They believe in the theory that 'discre-
ton is the better part OF valor." and in
variably retreat with thStr cattle, sheep
and horses and other vaiuables to the
mountain caverns whenever an enemy
appears. there to remain until all dam
ger of bloodshed is past.
The origin of this tribe of white Indians
has yet to be ascertained, and the prob
lem is rendered exceedingly difficult in
view of the fact that they themselves
have absolutely no knowledge as to their
early existence, and there does not seem
TO be any tradition prevalent among them
it. Arguing from the fact that
their complexion is so unlike that of 9TH
er Indians, it has been concluded in some
quarters that they are descended from
some European race, probably, some col
ony of ancient Rome, for their customs
and manners render it extremely unlike
ly that they could have been descended
from modern Europeans
This theory can be sustained however
only upon the supposition that the trans
formation of the Munchies from the hab-
its, customs character and language
Of the Romans to their present condition
has taken place within a comparatively
short space of time; and while the elm
ate and environment of this hemisphere
might account for much of the change,
The theorypof a Roman ancestry Is not a
very strong one
But however this question of origin
may he settled ultima 1ely, the fact re-
mains that where the Munchies have the
of the pale face they are
FULLY entitled to the name of Indians and
80 far as is known they bear in addition
he proud distinction of being the only
tribe of white Indians on the face Of the
York Herald