Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-11-15

| WlCnln lew miles OF Leon, and there
originally have been great number
scattered over the country. Perhaps the
most remarkable locality, with the ex-
ception of the island of Ometepe in Lake
Nicaragua, is the island of Momotombita
in the Lake of Mongua. l paid a visit
to this island early in July. 1t is beau
tiful volcanic cone, rising with all the
symmetry Of sugar-loaf from themidst
of the Lake. Before it towers the gil
gantic volcano of Momotombo, from the
bare, and blackened summit of which
still rises the smoke of internal fires.
Momotombita is indeed remarkable
island, and the traveller who gazes on it
from the shores of the lake is nor sur
prised to learn that under the shadows
and amidst the gloom of its dense for
ests fringed by the stems of ages, stand
the rude and fFowning statues Of the gods
of aboriginal superstition.
Many of these have been removed, and
are scattered over the country and some
believe have been sent abroad. A
number still remain; but the largest
broug hit away with me at the cost of a
days hard labor, and at great risk in
passing Is miles upon the lake, in a
gusty night and the boat scarce able to
sustain the great weight. This had re-
sisted the exertions of IL men on one &C.
casion after moving it few rods, they
had abandoned 1t in despair. The boat
men thought me mad, and crossed them
selves devoutly, when proposed to car
ny it away. They offered prayers on
the lake, and made VOWS. After break
ing down one or two carts, finally got
it to this city in safety, and ship it with
ten or dozen more, via Rialejo and
Cape Horn for Washington. But to re-
turn.
It seems that there were originally
some thirty Or forty OF these statues, Of
various sizes, and more or less elaboratey
carved, arranged in one place in the form
of a square, all looking inwards. The
dimensions of the square cannot now be
ascertained, but the few remaining fig
ures or fragments, show that the state
ment is correct.
1t is singular fact, and another evil
dence Of the prevalence in America OF
the do trine of the two reciprocal prin-
ciples of nature (the active and passive,
male and female that these figures were
represented, some as male and some as
female, THE Indians of Honduras
says Herrera, 'worshiped two images,
male and female, which they call the
great father and the great mother, and
Of which, he says, little further on, the
sun and the moon were the representa-
tives. / have heard of other localities,
very similar to this, which l propose to
visit, and shall therefore not repeat what
was told me concerning them.
must not, however, forget to men
ton that there has lately been discover
ed in the province of Vera Paz, $50
miles N. Z. of Guatemala, buried in a
dense forest and far from any settlements,
ruined city surprising Copan and Pal.
enque in extent and magniGcence, and
displaying degree Of art to which none
of the structures of Yucatan can lay
claim. The government Of Guatemala
sent commission to examine it; but
their Investigations were soon interrupt
ed by the civil connections of the coun-
try, and they were only able to bring
away some rude plans and imperfect
drawings. l shall 60 there as soon as
my duties will permit. I learn also OF
other interesting monuments near by, in
Honduras and San Salvador, of which
no public mention has yet been made.
/ shall pay all the attention l can, to
these, although there is too much for one
man to hope to do well. But 'here
goes Notwithstanding.
THE INCA OF PERU.
Mr.. Bartlett then stated that the Pres
ident of the United States had kindly
placed in his hands, to be read to the
American chronological Society, the fol-
lowing interesting letters which had been
addressed to him The first was from
Samuel G.. Arnold, Esq, of Providence,
a gentleman who, in the course Of an ex-
tensive exploratory tour through South
America, nau pdiu q SiSAO w Ou~oo' 0AS
ancient capital Of the 1ncas Of Peru.
To the President Of the United States !:
PROVIDENCE, May 7, 1s49.
S1R.-In the course of an extensive
tour through the interior of South Amer
lea, during the past year, I visited Cuz-
co. That city, renowned as the capital
of the Inca Empire and the limit of the
conquests Of Pizarro, is among the most
interesting places l have seen in any part
of the world. The extreme difficulty of
reaching it, owing to its distance from
the coast end the lofty chain of Andes,
intervening, appears to be the chief rea'
son that this celebrated city is SO little
known to ear countrymen. 1t abounds
in stupendous monuments of art, attest
ing a civilization quite equal if not SUI
perior to that Of the Aztecs. But amid
these remains of ancient days there ex-
H.. ~o1;n IS kLa v1oak Souna chopf