A STRANGE PEOPLE.

Evening Star, Issue 3659, 13 November 1874, Page 3

A STRANGE PEOPLE.

The ‘ Denver News ’ says:—“ Capt. W. C. Manning gives some interesting particulars of his vis-lt to the village of tt curious ra.ee of people in northwestern, New Mexico, just south of the border line between that territorv and Colorado. A strong wall surrounds it Within are houses for about 4000 people. The population has dwindled, however, to about 1,800. The language resembles Chinese. Homo of the minor customs corresponds to those of the Chinese. The women are of the true Celestial type—almond eyes, protuberant bodies, little feet, the. They d:ess their hair and themselves in Chinese fashion. Iheir religion is barbarously magnificent. Montezuma is their deity. His coming is looked for at sunrise each day. Immortality is part of their creed. The priests have heavily embroidered robes used for unnumbered years. The ceremonies of worship are. formal and pom nous. The morality of this strange people, so fiv at least as foreigners are concerned, is irreproachable. It is probable that they keep a record of events by means of tying peculiar knots in long cords. This, if true, seems to establish some kinship or remote acquaintanceship with them and the Aztecs. Their government is a Conservative Republic. Power is invested in a council of thirteen caciques. Six of them are selected for life. Old men are generally chosen, in order that their terms of office may not be inordinately long. The remaining seven are selected from time to time. One of them is the executive. Another is a sort of vice-presi-dent. There is a war chief, a chief of police, etc. These seven caciques are usually young men. They serve but a few months. Suffrage is universal. Woman is not a beast of burden among i4iem, as she is with all Indian tribes. She is held in high respect. Her tasks are confined to those of housekeeping. This isolated community has maintained its traditions unbroken for at least three and a-half centuries.”