The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-01


terraces, affairs, and idols. Speaking Of the ig-
norance which prevailed respecting the an,iqui.
ties Of Spanish America, our author says:
The first new light thrown upon this subject
as regards Mexico, was by the great Humboldt,
who visited that country at time when, by the
jealous policy of the government, il was almost
as much closed against strangers as China is
now No man could have better deserved such
fortune. Al that time the monuments Of the
country Were not leading object of research
but Humboldt collected from various sources
information and drawings, particularly of Militia,
or the Vale of the Dead Xoxichalco, a noun
tain hewed down and terraced, and called the Hill
OF Flowers and the great pyramid or Temple Of
Chocula, he visited himself, of all which his
own eloquent account is within reach Of the
reader. Unfortunately, of the great cities be
yond the Vale of Mexico, buried in forests, ru-
med, desolate, and without name, Humboldt
never heard, or, at least, he never visited them.
IL is but lately that accounts of their existence
reached Europe and our own country. These
accounts, however vague and unsatisfactory,
had reused our curiosity; though ought per-
haps TO say that both Mr.. c. and were some
what skeptica and when we arrived at Copan,
il was with the hope, rather than the expecta-
ton, OF finding wonders.
prevailing theory has been, that they belonged
10 a race long anterior To that which inhabited
the country at the time OF the Spanish conquest
With regard TO Copan mention is made by the
early Spanish historians of place Of that name,
situated in the same region of country IN which
these ruins are found, which then existed as an
inhabited city, and offered formidable resist
ance TO the Spanish arms, though there are cir
cumstances which seem TO indicate that the city
referred 10 was inferior in strength and solldlty
of constructions and OF more modern origin.
Ii stood in the old province of Chlqulmula de
Sierras, which was conquered by the officers OF
Pedro de Alvarado, but not one of the Spanish
historians has given any particulars OF tins con
quest. In 1880 the Indians OF the province re-
VOTED, and attempted to throw oil the yoke Of
Spain. fernando de Chayes was sent TO sub
due them, and after many sanguinary battles,he
encamped before Esquipulas, pace OF arms
belonging to powerful cacique, which, on the
fourth day, TO use the words Of the caclque HIM
self, "more out Of respect to the public tranquil
lily than from fear of the Spanish arms, deter
mined TO surrender and, with the capital, the
whole province submitted again tc the Spanish
dominion
The cacque of Copan, whose name was 90
pan Cale, had been active in exciting the revolt
and assisting the insurgents. fernando de
Chaves determined 10 punish him. and marched
against Copan, then one of the largest, most
opulent, and most populous places of the king
dom. The camp of the cacique, with his aux
illaries, consisted of thirty thousand men, well
disciplined, and veterans in wal, armed with
wooden swords having stone edges, arrows,
and sings, On one side, says the historian, il
was defended by the ranges OF mountains Of
Chiquimula and Gracios Dos, and on the OPP
posite side by deep fosse, and al intrenchment
formed of strong beams OF timer, having the
interstices filled with earth, with embrasures and
loopholes for the discharge Of arrows. Chaves,
accompanied by some horsemen, well armed,
rode 10 the tosse, and made sigl that he wished
TO hold conference. The Cacique answered
with an arrow. A shower Of arrows, stones,
and darts followed, which compelled the Span
iards 10 retreat. The next cay Chayes made
an attack upon the inrenchment. The inian-
try wore loose coats stuffed with cotton: swords
and shields; the horsemen wofe breastplates
and helmets, and their horses were covered
The Copanes had each shield covered with
the skin Of the danta on his arm, and his head
guarded by punches of feathers. The attack
lasted the whole day. The Indians, with their
arrows, javelins and pixies, the heads OF which
were hardened by fire, maintained their ground.
The Spaniards we've obliged to retreat. Chaves,
who had fought in the thickest OF the battle,
was alarmed at the difficulties Of the enterprise
and the danger TO the credit OF the Spanish
arms, but received information that in one place
the depth Of the ditch which defended Copan
was but trlting, and the next day he proceeded
10 the spot to make an attack there. The Co
panes had watched his movements, and manned
the intrenchment with their bravest soldiers -
The infantry were unable to make odgment.
The cavalry came TO their assistance. ne IN
dams, brought up their whole force, and the
Spaniards stood like rocks, impossible TO pixies,
arrows and stones. Several times they attempt
ed to scale the lntrenchments, and were driven
back into the fosse. Many were killed on both
sides. but the battle continued without advantage
to either until brave horseman eaped the
ditch and, his horse being carried violently
with his breast against the barrier, the earth
and PALISADES gave way, and the frightened
horse plunged among the Indians. Other horse
men followed, and spread such terror among the
Copanes, that their lines were broken aud they
fed. Copin Cae rallied at a place where he
had posted body of reserve but, unable 10
resist longer, treated, retreated, and left Copan
10 its fate.
This is the account which the Spanish hlsto-
rams have given of Copan and, as applied TO
the city, the wall Of which we saw from the op-
poste side of the river, it appeared to Us most
meagre and unsatisfactory Tor the mas slve
stone structures before US had litle the air OF be-
longing 10 city, the entrcnchment OF which
could be broken down by the charge Of single
horseman. AT This place the river was not ford
able; we returned 10 our mules, mounted, and
rode to another part of the bank short distance
above. The stream was wide, and IN some
aces deep, rapid, and with broken and stony
bottom. Fordlng il, we rode along the bank by
a lootpath encountered with underground, which
Jose opened by cutting away the branches, un-
til we came 10 the foot of the wall where we
apa n dIsmOuntpd and tied orr mulpS
The wall was of cut stone, well laid, and in a
good state of preservation. We assembled by
large stone steps, in some places perfect, and in
others thrown down by trees which had grown
up between the crevices, and reached terrace,
the form Of which II was lmnosslbIe TO mako