Year: 1878

structed, and not the handiwork of nature, was made at what is known as Sheridan's drive, on a range of hills immediately to the west of Fort Leav- enworth. Within these mounds were observed traces of stone work, to all appearances as artistic and perfect as that of the present day, which led to the belief that the race or races which had inhabitated this portion of the country anterior to the advent of the white man were advanced in civiliza- ton, and knew more about the arts and sciences than the egotistical be- ings of the present century give them credit for. These mounds bear evi- dence of a superior workmanship, and display an intelligence and knowl- edge far beyond that which could be expected from the most intelligent savage. No attempts have yet been made to fully explore these mounds, but investigations which have already been made have brought to light de- velopments which tend to throw some light upon the former inhabitants of this great American desert, who are now almost wholly extinct. Some days ago a party proceeded to the mounds, and during the course of their investigations came across a sort of book of records, written, or tram scribed rather, upon pieces of bark, and placed together like the leaves Uf q book, and tied with smaller pieces of bark. Among the exploring party was a gentleman from Boston, who had made the language of Mexico a study, and who, upon examination of the records found in the mounds, found similarity between the writ ings in the records and the ancient language of Mexico during the time of the HonteZumas. The record was q history; chronicle of events hap pened long ago; DO dates were given, but from historical analogy it is to be inferred that it must have been about 1420, during the reign of the Monte Zumas in Mexico, when the emperors of that name had it all their own way in not only their own section of the country, but up this way as well. The records give the details of bloody fight, great battle which occurred in this vicinity, and in all probability upon the very spot where the metrop- oils of Kansas now stands-and here the ancients showed their good sense in military matters, for more favor ed spot could not have been picked upon. The lovely amphitheatre in, closed by the semi-circle of hills which engirdle the city is fairer pit than that in which the old gladiators fought; and while the records do not state definitely that this is the spot, il might have been, or else the scene Of the carnage was either upon the hills | themselves, or in what is now the fer tile and blooming Salt Creek valley But be that as it may, the records state that battle was fought between the tribes then inhabiting this coun- try and an immense force sent out from Mexico by the blOodthirsty, am. | bilious and adventurous MonteZuma, and that the tribes were vanquished, their primitive mode of warfare and unskilled weapons forming but com paratively small resistance to the well drilled legions and improved weapons of the Mexican monarch. The re. cords further state that the battle rag ed for three days, and that the ground was strewn with slain, thick as the leaves in the valley, and that after the conflict was over the vfctors, with the prisoners they had taken, reversed their steps and went back to Mexico, where the captives were to be offered up upon the altars as a sacrifice to their god of war. The records were evidently written by the victors and placed by them in the mou-ds where they were found. The records deal in the most extravagant praises of Mexi- can prowess, together with fervent thanks to their god of war who aided them in securing the victory. The names of the tribes are not given, they being spoken of throughout in the records as "the enemy" According to the statement of the records, forty great chiefs of the tribes were slain, together with thousands of their war riors, while tee MeXicans lost twenty three of their leading men, among them tue nephew of the Emperor MOnteZuma, who was in command of the expedition. The records chroni- cle the fact of the burning and des- truction of the great village of the tribes, and the capture of the women, who were to be taken to Mexico to serve as 5lavcs in the families of their conqucrors, together with large