THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 313 



the penalty to be torture and death to any one who should again make 

 known their locality. 



Old Mr. Chavis, who overtook us soon after our arrival at Gran 

 Quivira, informed Major Carleton that he had been told, when in his 

 youth, by very old people, that a tribe of Indians once lived here called 

 the Piiehlos of Quivira ; that the Spanish priests came and lived 

 amongst them, in peace and security, for twenty 3^ears ; that during 

 this period these large churches were erected ; and that at the time of 

 the great massacre there were seventy priests and monks residing 

 here — all of whom were butchered excepting two, who contrived to 

 make their escape ; that, previous to their massacre, the priests had 

 had intimation of the approaching danger, and had not only buried the 

 immense treasures which had been collected, but had concealed hke- 

 wise the bells of the churches; that many j^ears afterwards the people 

 of Quivira died oH" until but few remained ; that one of these, a de- 

 scendant of the chief, knew where the treasures were buried ; that the 

 remnant of the tribe afterwards emigrated and joined other Pueblos 

 below El Paso ; and that many years ago an old man, one of the last 

 of the tribe, had told in what direction from the church these great 

 treasures had been concealed. So far as the building of the churches 

 and the massacre of the monks and priests are concerned in this ac- 

 count, as well as the final decrease and removal of the people who 

 once lived here, there is no doubt but the story told by Mr. Chavis is, 

 in the main, correct. The account of the depositories of the bells and 

 the treasure is said to have been written down as given from the lips 

 of the last cacique of Quivira, who, at the time he made the disclosure, 

 was living away below Mesilla, on the Mexican side of the river. A 

 copy of this paper has been secured, and is here inserted in the original 

 language, tor the benefit of those who may take an interest in such 

 matters. 



"En el Semetario de la Parroquia granda en el centro del costado 

 derecho segun la figura numero uno esta una entraiia escarbando estan 

 dos campanas tomando la linea de la abertura que dejan las dos cam- 

 panas se bera al oriente para el callejon que deja la eglesia vieja y el 

 pueblo una lomita a distancia de tres cientas varas mas o menos que 

 no hay otra que forme linea con las campanas debajo de dicha loma 

 hai un sotano de diez o mas varas retacado de piedras el cual tiene el 

 gran tesoro. 



"Nombrado por Carlos quinto de la Gran Quivira."* 



The grammar of this document is preserved, as in the original. 

 There can be no doubt but the belief that a large amount of gold and 

 silver has been buried here, has for a great number of 3'ears been 

 seriously entertained. We find in the cathedral and in the chapel, in 

 every room in the monaster3S in every mound of stones in the ^neigh- 

 borhood, and in every direction about the ruins, large holes dug, in 

 many places to the depth of ten feet, by those who have come from 



)^*" In the cemetery of the great parish church, in the centre of the right side, according to 

 figure number one, there is a pit, and by digging will be found two bells. By taking the line 

 of the opening left by the two bells, there will be seen to the east, along tlie lane left by the 

 old church and the town, a hill, at the distance of three hundred yards, more or less, which 

 forms precisely a Hue with tlie bells. At the foot of said hill is a cellar often yards or more, 

 covered with stones, which contains the great treasure. 

 "Mentioned by Charles Fifth of Gran Quivira." 



