Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-05-03

4 New World Discortrcti.-The Un-
known Nation of Central America, which
alr. Stephens received some in,imations
during his FIRST visit 10 the celebrated ruins
of our Continent. is also spoken Of by the
French traveller Waldeck. Mr.. Norman
thus spcuks of the reports concerning ii in
his reccn, work on Yucalan and the an
cicnt ruins:
"Thcre isa district Of country situated
between Guatemala, Yucatau. and CHA
pas, tha, has ucvcr yet been subdued.
This section is surrounded by mountains,
and is said to be inaccessible except by
one way, and that not generally known.
No one yet. who has the boldness to fol-
low the inhabitants 10 their wild retreat,
has eve, returned TO render an account Of
his Journey. The inhabitants are repre-
seuied as speaking tho Maya aud Teho!c
languages aud many Of them as conyersing
well in Spanish. From the latter c::..:um-
stance. they arc enabled To visit The near
est cities and sell their tobacco, the princi-
pal article they cultivate, and afterwards
return 10 their rclreats.-They are cons,i-
tutcd Of the Lacaudrons and other savage
tribes are expert warriers. remarkable
athletic and very cruel. They are wor-
shippers Of idols. and their religious cere-
monies are sail To have undergone lit'!e
or no change. :. :.
"Paleuguc is ia the neighbori,ood of
this seuIemeu,;. and, Wa!dcck, who says
he has cnnversod with some ni these pco'
pie, understood that they had white per-
sons among heui-bul whether they stay
voluntarily, or are detained az prisoners.
he has not mentioned. FhG came nntlon
is spoken Of by Mr., Stephens. Their
numi'er is estimated az thirty thousand !;
their secluded mode OF life makes il almost
impossible To arrive ri any thing like cor
rect impressions respecting them. The
Indians Of Yucaran and The isl'borins
province have been seen i'll conversation
with persons from this district; they, how.
ever, appear as others. Could i friendly
intercourse, ty any possibility. be cs.ab-
lished with this surprising country, ihcre
is scarcely doub, that u complete knowi-
edge OF the former inhabitants Of the i'm
mcusc ruins scattered throughout the pro.
vinces would he revealed. That their tent
Piles and rceords remain in safely. and arc
capable ofspeakins to pos'erity, there eau
SCARCELY bc 4 question.
IL doubt If The above be true estimate
Of their numbers, since ihey have been
enabled TO sastain themselves for ages tno
one knows bow lqpg) against enemies and
intestine wars an;l dissolution. would
be more reasonable 10 suppose that they
are the ou,cast OF Pclas:i Of somc invad-
ing ua,ion, aud the remnants Of n power
that once defended thuse wasted towns
that now lie. n huge mass Of scattered ru-
ius. The gs:hered fragments of Palen-
quo, and other conquered places Of equal
importance, may have concentrated their
broken strength within the boundaries Of
these hills, and, under tho strong impulse
Of desperation, they may have preserved
their nationality in defiance Of al! the force
tha, surrounded them. II may we'll ex-
cite universal asionishmen,. when the fact
becomes known, iia, there actually cx.
lists, within territory OF five hundred
miles, distinct people, tha, have govern
cd themselves for ages, aud tho. they con-
linue to do so without assistance or pro-
lection. II would be lesson 10 mankihd
TO ascertain how they have managed their
self.soveruing principles. aud how they
have preserved their nnlionai individual
~. Three centuries have uanspired since
the conquest nn.i, if neither Yankee nor
lrishman have fonnd his way among tho
Lacadronos before this, il deserves the
careful consideration both Of the psychpl.
ogist and the statesman"