WHITE INDIANS. 261 



Mvely, taking themselves as the true representatives of that race, when in 

 reality their own color, by constant exposure to the weather, had acquired 

 a much darker hue than ordinary; then drawing theii conclusions from a 

 false standard, they were led to pronounce the fair natives much fairer, as 

 a body, than the whitest 



By information derived from various sources, 1 am enabled to present the 

 following statement relative to this interesting -people : 



The Munchics are a nation of whife aborigines, actually existing in a 

 valley among the Sierra de los Mimbros chain, upon one of the affluents rf 

 the Gila, in the extreme northwestern part of the Province o: Sonora. 



They iiumber about eight hundred in all. Their country is su rounded 

 by lofty mountains at nearly every point, and is weh watered and very fer- 

 tile, thougli of hmited extent. Their dwellmgs are spaciou • apartments 

 nicely excavated in the hill-sides, and are frequently cut in the sohd 

 rock. 



They subsist by agriculture, and raise cattle, horses, and sheep. Theii 

 features correspond with those of Europeans, though with a complexion, 

 perhaps, somewliat fairer, and a form equally if not more graceful. 



Among them are many of the arts and comforts of civilized life. They 

 spin and weave, and manufacture butter and cheese, with many of the lux- 

 Uiies known to more enlightened nations. 



Their political economy, though much after the patriarchal order, is purely 

 republican in its character. The old men exercise the supreme control in 

 the enactment and execution of laws. These laws are usually of the most 

 simple form, and tend to promote the general welfare of the community. 

 They are made by a concurrent majority of the seniors in council, — each 

 male individual, over a specified age, being allowed a voice and a vote. 



, Questions of riglit and wrong are heard and adjudged by a committee 

 solscted from the, council of seniors, who are likewise empowered to redress 

 the iiijured and pass sentence upon the criminal. 



In morals tljey are represented as honest and virtuous. In religion they 

 differ but little irom other Indians. 



They are strictly men of peace, and never go to war, nor even, as a com- 

 mon thing, oppose re^^istance to the hostile incursions of surrounding na- 

 tions. On the appearance of an enemy, they immediately retreat, with their 

 cattle, horses, sheep, and other valuables, to mountain caverns, fitted at all 

 Jtimes for their reception, — where, by barricading tlie entrances, tliey are at 

 once secure Vvdthout a resort to arms. 



Jn regard to their origin they have lost all knowledge or even tradition, 

 (a thing not likely to have happened had they been the progeny of Europeans 

 at any late period, — that is, suace the time of Columbus ;) neither do their 

 characters, manners, customs, arts, or government savor of modern En 

 rope. 



^ Could a colony or party of Europeans in the short period of three centu- 

 ries and a hah' lose all trace of their origin, religion, habits, arts, civilization* 

 &nd government ? Who, for a moment, would entertain an idea so estranged 

 to probabil" ty ? 



And yet the Munchies cannot be real Indians, — they must be of Euro- 

 pean doRcent, though circumstances other tlian complexion aflcni no evi 



