296 TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



over, and carefully figured in books as relics of a past age and 

 a civilized people ; samples of which, in no way diiferent, may at 

 any time he obtained by brealving a " tinaja," which can be procured 

 from any pueblo for half a dollar. The ardent and laudable de- 

 sire shown to trace the orio;in, divisions, and resting-places of this 

 people, have, we think, taken a wrong direction, and that their 

 language alone can be of service in tracing them, if they can be traced 

 at all. It is impossible to learn anything from the people themselves, 

 as they have no traditions. A volume of no mean size might be writ- 

 ten, were all the stories of interpreters taken for truth ; but it would 

 be found one mass of contradictions, and of no value wliatever. If ever 

 these people possessed the art of making pottery they have lost it, for 

 they certainly make none now. They cultivate no cotton, neither do 

 they produce any fabrics of that material, nor do they make any feather- 

 work. Though we have had an abundant opportunity, we have never 

 seen anything approaching, in the slightest degree, the description of 

 the feather-work of the ancient inhabitants of Mexico. Almost all 

 the arts they possess, and which are very few, may be accounted for 

 by the occupation of New Mexico by the Spaniards-. With minds filled 

 with one absorbing idea — that of discovering the stopping-places of the 

 renowned race found by the conquerors in the valley of Tenochtitlan — 

 this country has been hurriedly traversed, and old buildings have been 

 restored in drawings by enthusiastic imaginations, and filled with the 

 ancestors of these people. A unity of origin of different races has been 

 deduced from manners and customs that are common to humanity. 



We have ventured to suggest, that the language must be studied to 

 discover a common origin, if such ever existed. To trace it in their 

 habits, or in their arts and customs, or by catechising Indians, is, we 

 think, entirely out of the question. It is a matter of no great diffi- 

 culty to learn from intelligent Pueblo Indians that one day they ex- 

 pect to see Montezuma ; that they worship him, and keep fires con- 

 stantly burning to await his coming. Indians are proverbially shrewd 

 in these things, and unless questions are put with extraordinary tact, 

 they are keen enough to see what answers would be well received, and 

 answer accordingly. As well might the origin of the tribes in New 

 Mexico, because some of them keep a constant fire, (upon which so 

 much stress is placed,) be ascribed to the inhabitants of ancient Persia 

 or of Rome, as to any other. It has been no uncommon custom among 

 nations in different periods of the world's history to kindle sacred fires; 

 so that we think little reliance can be placed upon this coincidence ; 

 and we believe just as little can be placed in the statements of the 

 comings and goings and miraculous interpositions of Montezuma. 

 The so-called hieroglyphics are equally unsatisfactory. Many of the 

 pictures (which arc very rude) were evidently drawn for mere pastime, 

 and with reference to»past, present, or future events, have no signifi- 

 cance whatever. The figures drawn upon pottery are only the result 

 of a rude taste common to uncultivated people. Those sketched upon 

 rocks are of a similar character ; some, however, seem to have been 

 engraven for the purpose of giving a visible embodiment to the lech- 

 erous imaginings of an uncivilized people, whose inclinations in many 



