Litchfield enquirer., 1843-02-02

uioNC lit HtISHDoTuOOG, was compelled 10 cut my way through an almost impermea ble thicket of under brush, inteflaced and bound together with strong tendris and vines; in which labor was assisted by my diiigent aid and companion, Jose. l was finally en- abled to effect passage; and, in the course ot few hours, found myself in the presence of the ruins which l sought. For five days did l wan,i~r up and down among these crumblIng n1"mumcnts Of city which ha- gard little I3 saying must have been one of the largest the world has ever seen. l be- held before me, for circuit of many miles Tn diameter, the walls of palaces and tenn pies, and pyramids, more or less dilapidated
 The earth was strewcd, as far as the eye could distinguish, with columns, some bro- ken and some nearly perfect, which seem- cd to have been planted tEere by the genius ot dcsoation which presided over this aw- full solitude. Amid these solemn memorials ot departed generations, who have died and left no marks but these, there were no indi- cations of animated existence save from the bats, the lizards, and the reptiles which now and then emerged from the creviceA of the tottering walls and crumbling stones that were strewed upon the ground at their base. No marks of human footsteps. no signs of ] previous visitors. were discrrnihln. nor is 1 there good redsonto Believe that any person, whose testimony of the fact has been given to the world, had ever before broken the si- lcnce which reigns over these sacred tombs of departed civilization. As I looked about me and indulged in these reflections, felt awed into perfect silence. To speak then, had been profhne. A revelation from heaven could not have impressed me more profoundly with solemnty of its commun- cation, than was now impressed on finding myself, the first, probably, of the present generation of civilized men, walking the streets of this once mighty city, and amid 1 Those temples, palaces and piles stupendous, l Ot which the very ruins are tremendous.'
 For a long time I was so distracted with the multitude of objects which crowded up. on my mind, that l could take no note of them in detail. It was not till some hours had elapsed, that my curisoity was sutfi- ciently under control, 10 enable me to exa- mine them with any minutcness. The In- dians, for many leagues around, hearing of of my arrival, came to visit me daily; but the object of my toll was quite beyond their comprehension. They watched my every motion, occasionally looking up to each other with an air of unfeigned astonish- mcnt-but whether to gather an explana- tion from the faces of their neighbors, or to express their contempt for my proceedings, l have permitted myself to remain in doubt up to this day. Of the builders or occu- pants of these e6ifices which were in ruins about them, they had not the slightest idea nor did the question seem to have ever oc- cured to them before. After the most care full search, could discover no traditions, no superstitions, nor legends of any kind.- Time and foreign oppression had paraly- Zed, among this unfortunate people, those organs which have been ordained by the God of nations 10 transfer history into tra- dition. All communication with the past here seems to have been cut off. Nor did any allusion to their ancestry, or to the for mer occupants of these mighty palaces and monumental temples, produce the slightest thrill through the memories of even the old- est Indians in the vicinity. Defeated in my anticipations from this quarter, addressed myself at once to the only course of proce- dure which was likely to give me any solu- 1 ton of the solemn mystery. determined to devote myself to careful examination of these ruins in detail"
 This general view is then illustrated by minute description of the architectural de- tails of the various crumbling ruins which went 10 constitute this general picture of past grandeur but present desoiation, soli- tude and decay-but into which the space into which notice ot this kind must be limited, does not allow us to enter or copy 1; and which would also be dcstitue of tho fine drawings by which they are accompanied, and are necessary to give them their full effect. Suffice it to say, that the principal building amongst this mass of almost over- grown ard alf-buried ruins, is four hun dred and fifty feet in length, two hundred and fifty feet in breadth, constructed of large stones, beautifully hewn, and laid in fillet and molding work, the walls standing upon an elevated foundation of about sixteen feet, of the heighth of fifty, and sixteen thick, with pillars of about two feet in diameter 1; the interior showing broken rooms, and ceilings not entirely defaced, some quite perfect, finely finished with smooth stone, cut uniformly in squares of about two feet The walls are surrounded with masses of sculptured and hewn stone, broken columns and ornaments which had fallen from the walls, and which are covered with u rank and luxurant vegetation. and even with trees through which he was obliged to cut his way over large masses of broken ruins consisting of pillars, and carved images, and figures of men and animals as large as life, with profusion of warlike instruments and personal ornaments; and all these walls covered with vegetation and trees to the ve- ry top, being themselves in many instances composed of immense blocks of stone, laid with the greatest regularity and precision. Another sample of these ruins was pyra- mid one hundred and fifty feet square at its base, one hundred in height, and regularly diminishing to it's top. Tie base as in other cases, piled up with other fallen ruins, and overgrowL with vegetation. In the inside of this structure were rooms and halls of