New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-04-12
THE TRIBU N e.
llterarn Notices.

i I
lsoiI' AsTEPHENs (second Notice)
We noticed some days since the appearance OF
Loco snlendid volumes, and indicated, as much at
,s,ah as our space would allow, the general
.hsnacter of their contents, with somewhat de-
tailed account of the progress Of the adventurous
tare'ers up to the time of reaching Uxmal. VI
,be wonderful ruins explored at that place we
pesented hasty description, and were iofceu
there TO leave the work. We are under some ap-
,,ebension that mean time many OF our reaoefs
NAV have taken occasion TO read the ='oiun'c'
themselves, and that any farther notice OF .her'
.ontents y; he useless and undressing. otlii'
,,oma;n mart of the work was then left untouched;
and as some may not yet have found leisure or
,,,ortnnty to become acquainted with the nara
~, itself we deem it best TO complete the nasty
review which we then commenced
sessrs STEPHENS and CATHERwooD left Tx
nal with exceeding joy-for their stay seems to
have been far from agreeable-on New Years
dsy--observed as fete day by the natives, who
celebrate the occasion very much as their more
Christian brethren do, by making themselves glo-
nousy drunk in honor thereof. Their journey is
alivened by graphic accounts of political cleo
ton which occurred just at that time, of the IN
staIla.ion of the newly chosen officers, and such
other incidents Of personal adventure as bclcl thcm
The Minis of Xcoch were the next they visited.
Thenost interesting object met with there was
wonderful natural cave, probably used to supply
the CITY with water. In exploring this remarka-
Die pace, after entering at cavity three feet
high and four wide, they pursued their way, de-
sending at an angle of about fifteen degrees, for
nearly two hundred feet, being forced to crawl
most Of their way upon their hands and knees,
and emerging then into an irregular cavern forty
or fifty feet wide and ten or fifteen high. Passing
from this into other adjacent caverns, they pur-
sued their way still downward, sometimes climb
ing and sometimes crawling, until they came at
3ast to large basin of clear and inviting water.
From this immense depth they suppose the ancient
inhabitants of the adjacent city procured with I'M
mensc toll all the water which they used.
The ruins of Nohpat were next visited and
here were found great numbers of sculpturcd
sones-somc models cut into the figure of man
while upon others were cut in bas-relief long
succession of repetitions of tho skull and cross
bones Thence the travellers pursued their way
to Kabah where, greatly to their surprise, they
found ruins of equal interest with any they had
yet examined. Of these decaying structures
full description is given by Mr.. STEPHENS with 8
great number of engravings by Mr.. GATHER
WOOD: and as without the last no adequate or even
correct notion of the aspect or character Of the
ruins could be formed we shall not attempt any
outline of tho former. One of the objects found
there, however, was SO singular and significant
that some farther alluson to it may be demanded.
twas the Intel Of doorway to one of the great
sG6ces which they explored: it consisted of two
beams of wood about ten feet long laid side by
side and completely covered by elaborate carving
Of which Mr.. STEPHENS gives this account:
1.-THE subject is human figure standing upon serpent.
TIE face scratched worn and obliteated the head.dres
plume feathers and the general aspect of the figure
nd oamcnts the with that OF the figures louhd on
he walls Paenqne II was the FIRST subject We had ds
covered bearing such striking resemblance III details and
connecting closely together the builders OF these distant
cites.
a3ut the great interest of this Intel the carving
The beam covered with heroglyphics Uxma faded
nd worn This was still excellent presentations; the
hoes clear and distinct and the cutting under any test
@ without any reference the people by whom was ex'
seated would be considered indicating great SIKH aud pro-
asncy In the art of carving upon wood
Several other most curiously sculptured remains
we're discovered here, all exhibiting the same head
dress, and one of them picturing man, holding
sveapon in his hand, kneeling to another. The
weapon here engraved is said by MIR. STEruENs
closely to resemble that described by Father Her
sa as being in general use among the Indians,
The figure first alluded to, however, possesses
By far the most interest, from the symbolic mean
ng which mas been attributed to it. Our read
els will remember that it was referred to and ITS
sgnifcation pointed out by DIR. HAWKS in his Lee
tue last winter. The first volume closes with an
account of a great charncl house at kabah, and
the festivities which were generally observed
al the time of Mr.. SrEPHENs's visit. In the
q cClal ground rows Of skulls were curlously ar
aassed, each bearing some inscription designating
& ue name and something of the history of him to
WON 1t had belonged. Sickness was very pre-
'aent and deaths among the natives frequent at
aa1 particular time; but with these people, says
al. s., death is merely ore of the accidents of
Is: am going to rest ; my labors are ended
ae The words of the Indian as he lies down to die"
pais' professions and feteS of all kinds diverted
a'en'ion from the scenes of death going on around
a a,s!c hlied the air, and, says MIR. STEPHENS,
us whole village seemed given up to the pleas
NC Oh the moment. There were features to of
.l.0 ''e SIGHT and taste, but there were pretty
~ealen prethly dressed in all there was an air OF
,nent and freedom from care that enlisted
n,.sss .s,s feeling; and as the padrecto and
=. ,''Ssaed to the Convent, the chorus reached
81 va a's SIPS. soft and sweet from the blending
tho 800, solses' and seeming to spring from