200 THE MYSTERIOUS CITY 



dence of identity with eitlier race. Where, then, shall we place them ? — 

 from whence is there origin ? 



We are forced to admit the weight of circumstantial testimony as to 

 their having settled upon this continent prior to its discovery by Columbus. 

 Here we are led to inquire, are they not tlie remote descendants of some 

 colony of ancient Romans ? 



That sucli colonies did here exist in former ages, there is good reason 

 for believing. The great lapse of time and other operative causes combined, 

 may have transformed the Munchies from the habits, customs, character, 

 religion, arts, civilization, and language of the Romans, to the condition in 

 which they are at present found. 



Among the visitors at the Fort were several old trappers who had passed 

 fifteen or twenty years in the Rocky Mountains and neighboring countries. 

 They were what might, with propriety, be termed " hard cases." 



Tiie interval of their stay was occupied in gambling, horse-racing, and 

 other like amusements. 



Bets were freely made upon everything involving the least doubt, — some- 

 times to the amount of five hundred or a thousand dollars — the stakes con- 

 sisting of beaver, horses, traps, &c. 



Not unfroqiiently the proceeds of months of toil, suffering, deprivation, 

 and danger, were dissipated in a few hours, and the unfortunate gamester 

 left witliout beaver, horse, trap, or even a gun. In such cases they bore 

 their reverses without grumbling, and relinquished all to the winner, as un- 

 concernedly as though these were atfairs of every-day occurrence. 



These veterans of the mountains were very communicative, and fond of 

 relating their adventures, many of which were so vested with the marvel- 

 ous as to involve in doubt their credibility. 



Were it not for extending the limits of this work too far, I should be 

 tempted to transcribe the choicest of them for the reader's amusement ; but, 

 as it is, I cannot refuse place to one (here for the first time related in my 

 hearing, which has subsequently reached me from other sources) relative 

 to a subject deeply interesting to the curious. 



Stevens, in his " Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," admits it to be quite 

 possible that cities like those in ruins at Uxmal and Palenque, may yet 

 exist in the unexplored parts of the Mexican Republic, and be inhabited by 

 a people in all respects similar to that once occupying the before named. 



Those acquainted with the nature of the country embraced in the moun- 

 tainous portions of Mexico, must admit the possibility of such a thing. 

 With this premise I give, the story as I heard it. 



Five or six years since, a party of trappers, in search for beaver, penetrated 

 into an unfrequented part of the mountains forming the eastern boundary 

 of Sonora. 



During their excursion they ascended a lofty peak that overlooked an ex- 

 tensive valley, apparently enclosed upon all sides by impassable mountains. 

 At ft^ long distance down the valley, by aid of a spy-glass, they could 

 plainly distinguish houses and people, with every indication of a populous 

 city. 

 ^ At the point from whence this discovery was made, the mountain-side 



