Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1919-07-12

Probably it will never be definitely determined just where the American Indian originally came from. Ignat- jus Donnelly years ago published a book in which he advanced the theory that at least the Aztecs were descen- dants of immigrants from Atlantis who had departed from that ill-fated island some time before it sank be- heath the waves of the ocean. As part of his argument Donnelly en- deavored to show that the word Aztec was derivation of the word Atlantis, and he further traced connection between the Maya alphabet and an- cient alphabets of the old world. In a recent issue of the Detroit News there is brief account by John Breck, dealing with the origin of the Navajo Indians, which reminds one of Donnelly's ingenious argument It would indicate that the Navajos are transplanted Chinamen. They are different from the other Indian tribes ir the same region. Their dogs have an alien look, resembling Chinese elbows more nearly than coyote, and they possess relics that would indi- cate Chinese connection. Says Mir. Breck:
 The Navajo has tale that he came from the north and across water. He scorns the imputation that he is of the same blood as the Hopi. Certainly he treated the Hopi with far less than brotherly consideration before the Government put stop to his high handedness. He would not premit the Hopi to keep horses and he permitted him to keep sheep and goats only be- cause he could profit by occasionally running off handful. He did these things, not as a matter of theft, for the Navajo is a strictly honest man according to his lights, but as con querer exacting tribute.
 In one of the deserted villages a collector unearthed tiny corpse, a baby buried with it's little playthings and it's own little earthen bowl. With in the bowl was litle bell of ham, mered silver, carved to represent face. The bell had a tongue cut from the hard, black rock called mala- pi, which still tinkled sweetly. He snapt it on his watch-chain for a charm.
 One day Chinaman caught sight of it. "Where you get?" he asked. Then he laughed at the collectors story. 'Catchem lil bell China," he insisted. "Plenty lil bell all samee China"
 There the matter rested while the little bell was sent to the Archeologi- cal Department at Washington. In course of time it was reluctantly re- turned to it's owner. He showed it to an old Chinaman who had been very interested in the other relics taken from the ruins, especially the polished stone knives. He had also inquired about the burial customs, the three differently woven cloths in which the body was wrapt, and the traces of sanctuary for some parti- cular religious rites.
 At last he told curious tale. He said that there was a passage in Chinese history relating a revolt which was eventually put down and the leaders captured. There were, however, men of such consequence in the public eye that their execution was considered an impolitic move. The alternative was taking ships and set ting sail into the unknown ocean. According to his belief, they had land ed on the coast of Oregon and their descendants, adopting the nomad life of the Navajos of to-day, had drifted |
 overland, settling at last in these then