The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-08
Wonders Of Central America.
LETTER FROM THE INCA or PERU

Wonders of Central America.
LETTER FROM THE INCA OF PERU,
TO GENERAL TAYLOR. a
"Athough have been much occupied
with official business says Mr.. Squier,
Il have. in the intervals which offered dur
ing the progress Of my negotiations, and
since their termination, been able TO pay
some attention to the antiquities Of the
country. have succeededto an eminent
degree in obtaining the confidence of the,
Indians. and have secured some OF their.
vocabulares. In fact, the Indian Pueblo
Of Subtiava has presented me formal adj
dress, written in the aboriginal tongue, and
would rise in arms tomorrow at my call
In presenting it, the spokesman exclaim-
ed, with startling emphasis, ''the Span.
iards have had their feet On urnecks very
long; we hope the sons of Washington
will overwhelm them as they have us; we
hate them!' 1t sounded strange to hear
the Indian talk Of Washington; but his!
name is familiar in every rancho, and :
"Hail! Sons of Washington is COM
mon salutation from barc-footed mosos on
the road The Indians of Subtiava have
dug up for me number Of their buried
idols, and are now eyhuming They
impose but one condition, that shall have
no Spaniard with me when Igo to see
them, and shall keep the localities secret.
These idols, though much smaller, closely
resemble those Of Copan in workmanship.
and were no doubt dedicated to the same
Or yory similar purposes have eight in
my possession, ranging from five and a
half to eight feet in height, and from four
to five in circumference. The faces Of
most are mutilated-an evidence of the
ianatical zeal Of the early Spaniards, who
waged war Of determination upon the
! superstitions Of the aborigines. They did
not. however. succeed in eradicating them;
for they are blended in singular manner;
and in no inconsiderable proportion, with
the Catholic rites imposed by the con-
querors. @ag tTE $50
"Many an Indian, within the sound of
the bells of the Cathedral, offers his liba-
ton of tisc ground parched corn. and
sugar mixed with water) to the gods ofthe
fields for the success of his crops, and Sc
cretiy burns gums from the forest before
an earthen idol or q carved stone, careful
ly hidden from the scrutiny Of the priests
in some obscure corner Of his hut. Upon
these matters they, however, maintain all
the reserve of the Indians of the north,
strengthened by fear Of exposure to the
rigor Of the priesthood. Some of the stat.
ues to which have referred have the same
elaborate head-dresses with others ofCo-
pan; one bears L shield upon his arm; an
other has girdle, to which is suspended
a head and still another has rising above
its head, the sculptured jaws of an alli-
gator All are very ancient and the
places Of their deposit have been handed
down from one generation to another.--i
The fragments Of many are to be found
, within few miles Of Leon, and there
must originally have been great number
scattered over the country Perhaps the
most remarkable locality, with the cxcep. :
ton Of the Island of Ometepe, in Lake
| Nicaragua, is the Island of Momotombita,
in the Lake Of Monagua. paid visita
to this island early in July. 1t has a beau-s
tiful volcanic cone, rising with all the SYM
mctry of sugar loaf from the midst of
the lake. Before it towers the giant vol.
cano of Momotsmbo, from the bare and
blackened summft-of which still rises the
smoke of eternal fires 8I4 a3 egs b
.Momotombita is indeed remarkable 4
island, and the traveller who gazes upon'it B
from the shore Of the lake is not surprised
to learn that under the shadows and amidst
the gloom of its dense forests, fringed by
the stems of ages, stand the rude and
frowning statues of the gods of aborigi-.
nal superstition. Many of these have :
been removed, and are scattered over the
country; and some, believe, have been 4
sent abroad A number still remain, but
the largest of all | brought away with me.
at the cost of days hard labor, and at
great risk in passing fifteen miles upon 4,
thelake, in a gusty night and boat scarce
able to sustain the great weight. This had
resisted the exertions of twelve men on
one occasion; after moving il few rods,
they had abandoned it in despair. The,
Eboatmen thought me mad. and crossed
themselves deyoutly when proposed to
carry it away. They offered prayers on
the lake, and made VOWS, AAer breaking
down one or two carts, finally got it to-
tb;s citv in safety md shall chin - ,,,.L