The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-10
Central Amertca.

Central America,
We are indebted to the Literary World
of the current week for the following ex-
tract from the communication read before
the chronological Society on the 17th
instant, by the Hon. E. G. Squier, Change
of the u. S. to Central America:
although | have been much occupied
with official business" says Mr.. Squier, 81
have, in the intervals which offered during
the progress OF my negotiations, and since
their termination, been able to pay some
attention to the antiquities OF the country.
have succeeded to an eminent degree IN
obtsining the confidence Of the Indians,
and have secured some Of their vocabu-
laries. In fact, the Indian Pueblo Of Sub
tiava has presented me formal address,
written in the aboriginal tongue, and would
rise in arms tomorrow at my call. In
presenting it, the spokesman exclaimed
with startling emphasis, the SPsniards
have had their feet on our necks very long
We hope the sons Of Washington will over
whelm them as they have US; we hate ihemp
II sounded strange to hear the Indian talk Of
Washington; but his name is familiar in
every rancho, and Hail Sons of Wash
ington,' is a comm"n salutation from baIe-
footed mosos on the road The Indians of
Subtiava have dug up for me number OF
their buried idols, and are now exhuming
more. They impose but one condition,
that | shall have no SpaniaId with me
when go 10 see them, and shall keep the
localities secret. These idols, though much
smaller, closely resemble those Of Copsn in
workmanship, and were no doubt dedicated
to the same or very similar purposes. have
eight in my possession, ranging from five
and half to eight feet in height. and from
four to FIVE in circumference The faces
Of most are mutilated-an evidence Of the
fanatical zeal Of the early Spaniards,
who waged war Of determination upon
the superstitions Of the aborigines. They
lid not, however, succeed in eradiealing
them; for they are blended in a singular
manner, and in no considerable proportion,
with the catholic rites imposed by the con-
querors.
"Many an Indian, within the sound OF
the bells Of the Cathedral, offers his liba-
ton Of tiste ground parched corn, and sugar
mixed with water,) TO the gods Of the field
for the success Of his crops. and secretly
burns gums from the forest before an earth
en- idol, or carved stone, carefully hidden
from the scrutiny Of the priests in some OBJ
scure corner Of his hut Upon these mat
tara ,bav boua,ar n,ain,a,, oil a., -
serve Of the Indians Of the North, strength
ened by fear Of exposure to the rigors OF
the priesthood. Some OF the statutes 10
which have referred, have the same elabo-
rate head-dresses with others of COpan; one
bears shield upon his arm; another has
grdle, to which is suspended head; and
still another has. rising above its head, the
soul ptured Jaws Of an alligator. All are
very ancient, and the places Of their de-
post have been handed down from one
generation to another. The fragments of
many are to be found within few miles of
Leon, and there must originally have been
a great number scattered over the country.
Perhaps the most remarkable locality, with !
the exception OF the Island Of Ometepe, in |
Lake Nicaragua, is the Island of Mono |
tombita, in the Lake OF Monagua. | paid |
visit TO this Island early in July. Ii was
beautiful volcanic cone, rising with all !
the symmetry Of sugar-loaf from the
midst Of the lake. Before il towers the |
giant volcano Of Momotombo, from the bare
and blackened summit of which stiIl rises
the smoke Of eternal fires.
"Mohotombita is indeed a remarkable |
island, and the traveller who eazes upon it
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 aboriginal
superstition. Many Of these have been re.
moved, and are scattered over the country;
and some, believe, have been sent abroad.
A number still remain; but the largest OF
all brought away with me, at the cost OF a
days hard labor, and at great risk in pass
ing fifteen miles upon the lake, in a gusty
night and boat scarce able 10. sustain the
great weight. This had resisted the exer-
tons oil twelve men on one occasion; after
moving it few rods. they had abandoned
/ in despair. The boatmen thought me
mad, and crossed themselves devoutly when :
proposed to carry it away. They offered
prayers on the lake, and made vows. Az.
Ter breaking down one or two carts, final
y got it to this city in safety, and shall ,
hip it with ten or dozen more, via Rialeio
md Cape Horn, for Washington. But TO |
eturn. Ii seems that there were original.
y thirty or forty Of these statues, of various
lies, and more or less deliberately carved, !
arranged in one place. in the form Of a square, i
MI looking inwards. The dimensions OF
he square cannot now be ascertained, but !
he few remaining figures and fragments
how that the statement is correct. Ii isa
singular fact, and another evidence Of the 5
prevalence in America Of the doctrine Of
he two reciprocal principles Of nature (lhe i
lctive and passive, male and female,) that
hese figures were represented some as male
md some as female. l.
"'The Indians Of Honduras, says Her. c
ara, 'worshiped two images, male and fe .
male, which they called the great father and !;
ne great mother, and Of which, he says, a a
title farther on, the sun and the moon were n
lso representatives. have heard Of other :
ocalities, similar to this, which propose !,
o visit, and shall therefore not reneat what !.