262 THE Wr\ STERTOUS tTlTf. 



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

 from whence is thc^re origin ? 



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

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

 Here we are led to inquire, are they not the remote doscendante of somo 

 colony of ancient Romans ? 



That such 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, 

 rehgion, arts, civilization, and language of the Romans, to the condition io 

 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 mighty with propriety, be termed " hard cases." 



The interval of their stay was occupied in gambling, horse-racing, an^ 

 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 

 Beting of beaver, horses, traps, &c. 



Not uii frequently the proceeds of months of toil, suffering, deprivation 

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

 left without beaver, horse, trap, or even a gun. In such cases they borf 

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

 t .Ticernedly us though these were affairs of every-day occurrence. 



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

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

 € ?s as to involve in doubt their credibility. 



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

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

 1 2 it is, I fjannot refuse place to one (here for the first time related in my 

 I taring, v/hich has subsequently reached me from other sources) relative 

 I i a subject deeply interesting to the curious. 



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

 ISMsible tliat cities like those in ruins at Uxmal and Palenque, may yet 

 t»8t in the unexplored parts of the Mexican Republic, and be inliabited by 

 t people m all respects similar to that once occupying the before named. 



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

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

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



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

 mto an unfrequented part of tlie mountains forming the eastern boundary 

 •f Sonora. 



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

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

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

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

 tiiy 

 ^ At Uie p«&0 troai whence thit diicovery wu mftd*, the moiuitAiA-«id« 



