Litchfield Enquirer

Extraordinary Indian City.

The New Orleans National, in its sketch of Col. Doniphan's late remarkable expedition, gives the following:

"The Navajo Indians are a warlike people have no towns, or houses, or lodges - they live in the open air or on horseback, and are remarkably wealthy, having immense herds of horses, cattle, and sheep. They are celebrated for their intelligence and good order. They treat their women with great attention, consider them equals, and relieve them from the menial work. They are handsome, well made, and in every respect a highly civilized people, being as a nation a higher order of beings than the mass of their neighbors the Mexicans. About the time Col. Doniphan made his treaty a division of the command was entirely out of provisions, and the Navajos supplied his wants with liberality. A portion of the command returned to Cuervo. Major Gilpin's command, together with Col. Doniphan, went to the city of the Sumai Indians, living on the Rio Pescow which is supposed to be a branch of the Gila, made a treaty of peace between the Sumais and Navajos, and then returned to the Rio del Norte.

"These Sumais, unlike the Navajos, live in a city containing probably 6000 inhabitants, who support themselves entirely by agriculture.

"The city is one of the most extraordinary in the world. It is divided into 4 solid squares, having but two streets crossing the centre at right angles. All the buildings are two stories high, composed of sun-burnt brick. The first story presents a solid wall to the street, and is so constructed that one house joins, until one fourth of the city may be said to be one building. The second stories rise from this vast structure, so as to designate each house, leaving room to walk upon the roof of the first story between each building. The inhabitants of Sumai enter the second story of their buildings by ladders, which they draw up at night, as a defence against any enemy, that might be prowling about. In this city were some 30 Albino Indians who have no doubt, given rise to the story that there is a tribe of white Indians in the Rocky Mountains. The discovery of this city of the Sumai will afford the most curious speculations among those who have so long searched for a city of the Indians, who possessed the manners and habits of the Aztecs. No doubt, we have here a race living as did that people, when Cortez entered Mexico.

It is a remarkable fact, that the Sumaians have, since the Spaniards left the country, refused to have any intercourse with the modern Mexicans, looking upon them as an inferior people. They have also driven from among them the priests and other dignitaries, who once had power over them, and resumed habits and manners of their own - their Great Chief, or Governor, being the civil and religious head. The country around the city of Sumai is cultivated with a great deal of care, and affords food, not only for the inhabitants but for large flocks of cattle and sheep."