The Polynesian., 1841-10-09
From the N. Y. Albion Of Mays.
ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Attention having of late been called J.,
the rumored wonders Of Central Ame,;c,
and suggestions having been raised ,h,,
through the numerous and astonish;D,
monumental treasures that lie widely ,c,,
tered about that region, the correct trscs]
might be found Of the manner in which,
this vast continent was originally peop|ed
two gentlemen undertook the difficult ,ad)
of exploring that part of central Amerjc,
Tor Gautimala as it was formerly called
in which those monuments were mo,
abundant, and to give their Observable,
and experience to aid in the solution nj
that interesting and very important prob.
lem.
There are few perhaps to be found better
fitted for so difficult mission as this, than
Messrs Stevens and Catherwood, the gen.
,lemen TO whom we have here alluded
The labors and enquiries Of the former
are before the world in that agreeable and
every way well written work called "In.
cidents of Travel" in which Mr. Steven,
has well exhibited his aptitude in explor1
ing all that is curious, in relating eyery.
thing that is new or unusual, and PLACING
before his readers, as in glass, the subj
jects Of his pen, as though the matters
were present to their view. Mr. Gather
wood also, to the researches of the phl
Iosopher and the scholar, brings the eve %
the artist, the profound reflection of ,he|
antiquarian, the just comparisons Of the|
practised critic in these things, and much
Of the practical knowledge Of the civil en-.
gineer. Oh these qualities he has given
abundant proof in his lectures on Palestine
aud Egypt in general, and on Jerusalem
and its environs in particular.
The results of their travels will bel
shortly published, from the pen of Nj
Stevens, ably and extensively illustrated
by plates from drawings mode on the spot
by Mr. Catherwood.
The travellers proceeded from hence
to the Bay of Honduras, aud, upon land.
ing, their first hating place in the way of
their task was Copan, the ruins in the vi.
cinity of which, were both extensive and
magnificent. Mr. Catherwood exhibited
a drawing of temple at Copan, which
seems to have been upon an extensive
scale, one front of it being in length about
$50 feet, and its side face about $50 feet
The interior Of the temple is laid out with
all the skill and regard to convenience, Of
the most practised architect, and the ez'
terror presenting an elaboration Of orna'
ment as well as a refinement in sculpture,
which altogether astonished the travellers,
as IN fact so did the drawing astonsh
those before whom it was placed at the
lecture. There were many single COL
nmns most deliberately wrought, the work
was deeply cut, and all in mastery style.
From Copan the travellers proceeded
to kuirisui, where they found many mo-
numents, chiefly of the same character as
those at Copan, only the latter were much
longer than those which were first visited
From thence they proceeded to Santa
Cruz del Cuiche, to Guequetenango, TO
Ocoslngo, to Palenque, and to Uxma
!he whole forming circuit of nearly
three thousand miles in perimeter, and
the greater part of which was thlcky
studded with extensive ruins, all of which
were perfectly onolorouS IN o,ch other