Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-05
CRUDE PICTURES
REVEAL HISTORY Of
ANCIENT AZTECS
Campaigns Of Pre- Historic
Warriors Are Described
From COlOred Scrolls.

Ell Paso, Texas.-(Correspondence
of the Associated Press)-Archeology
is revealing that just as Egypt was a
great center of civilization in the an
cient world, so was the southwest in
the western hemisphere. The presence
of great pyramids in Mexico, n the
discovery of a wealth of ancient ruins
has brought about the opinion, that
there at some time before the coming
of Cortez and his Spanish army. a
great civilization had advanced and
fallen far in the path of decay when
the Europeans landed.
Among Ell Pascoans who have studl-
ed ancient Mexico closely and come to
this view is s. NJ. Aguirre, whose
mother. the late Mrs. NJ. B. Aguirre.
was teacher of archaeology, Spanish
and ancient history in the University
of Arizona, from 1895 to 1905. From
her Mr.. Aguirre first heard of wonder
full stories Of the Azteo-Toltec races,
and their interesting legends theology
and traditions.
Mr.. Aguirre has continued the study
of Mexican archaeology to the present
time and has learned the art of trans
lating into English stories the legends
told in hand painted picture scrolls of
the race conquest by the Spaniards.
Wonderful Plcture Scrolls
Among the relics restored by the
Mexican government are several of the
wonderful picture scrolls. two of which
have been copied and painted in the
original colors by Mr.. Aguirre. The
ancient races had no written language
composed of phonetic symbols and the
tribal historians had to resort to pic
ture writing. Their product while not
ent passed an element of art not found
in any other kind of records.
These scrolls which are read from
right to left tell stories of Indian
tribes on the march. They are about
seven inches wide, enough to show the
path of march, indicated by footprints
between parallels but m~eandering lines.
and pictures in and about the line of
march showing just what adventures
the forces met.
The scroll reproduced by Mr.. Aguirre
is two chapters in the adventurous life
of a migrating army led apparently by
a famous warrior named Ma-Olin.
Various symbols appear in the scrolls
which have not been entirely decipher-
ed. most of them being next TO the
pictures of, and evidently m Of
leading characters. The story opens
with the sacrifice Of a woman. the kill
ing of q human being considered an
suspicious way of starting a journey
of conquest.
Mobiles XIII Victim
The unfortunate victim is tied to
the top rungs of a ladder and feud
mobiles. their rank indicated by their
ear ornaments. are pouring arrows into
the body. Elevated platforms contain
the figures Of four men thought to be
priests. witnessing the cremoney in a
ritualistic manner.
The army then moves on, undecipher-
ed symbols seeming to indicate that
the direction was to the south. They
reached a river and an arrow pointing
in the direction of travel shows that a
victory was won at this point. Two
more victories. one at a lake and one
on a mountain follow rapidly.
An actual battle is next pictured.
One group of fighters is shown cap
turing a prisoner. while the chief and
his main force are pictured on a noun
tain which they had taken and against
which a r~allying enepy is making an
At the side of the mountain is shown
the captured or slain body of a priest
of the enemy's forces. This individual
has a large white mask, the head COW
cred with curls. Likewise. one of the
enemy's rallying forces is shown dead
at the foot of the mountain. Another
fight follows and there is apparently a
halt for religious festivity for a per
sonage who from the symbol painted
nam hin, annnarG IN ho tho traditional |
son of the goddess of earth, Is shown
in conversation with n woman seated
in a house. apparently a temple.
Warriors Take Captive
More fighting follows and Ma-Onin's
are shown leading a captive
to him. a man apparently a noble Of the
opposing forces. The captive is in the
act of delivering his personal emblem
to the conqueror. Three of the enemy
are shown dead in battle. Here the
first scroll ends.
Scattered through It are signs and
dots indicating dates, but their exact
translation is unknown. There are
symbols which the psychologists
say indicate either direction or seasons.
the manuscript is broken in several
places on account of the wear of ages.
but enough has been patched together
TO make a good running story.
One feature attracting notice, Mr..
Aguirre said, is that the remnants
show a brightness of color that has
lost nothing during the ages. Indicating
the old Indians were adapt at dye
making.
The second scroll tells of another
journey by Ma-Ollin and other chiefs.
this one, too. opening with a human
sacrifice. the victim being a man. slain
on the banks of a river by two war
riors. one with a knife and the other
a battleaxe.
Hold Council of War
A council of war seems to follow. two