The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-27
The New York Commercial advertiser,

World, publishes, In advance OF their OH
cial appearance, the following papers,
which were read before the chronological
Society. The countries and people to
which they relate are becoming objects Of
great interest to our own. Besides the
information they contain of practical
work-day character, they contain matter
for romantic and speculative musings, as
well as for the more serious and reconcile
elaboration Of antiquarians and philosophi-
cal societies generally
From the Literary World.
American chronological Society.
The first meeting of the American chronological
Society, this season, took place Wednesday eve
ming, the 18th instant, at the house of the Hon.
George Folsom The Rev. DR.. Robinson, vice
president of the society, took the chair. The meet
ing was fully attended, and a number Of strangers
We're present The secretary, John r. Bartlett
then proceeded to read the letters and communica-
tons received during the summer recess.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
An extract from letter was read from the Hon
+. George Squer, Minister of the United States to
Central America, giving brief account of some
antiquarian researches in which he has been en-
gagged;
g Although have been much occupied with Off
ca business" says Mr.. Squer, 60 have, in the in
tervals which offered during the progress of my
gotiations, and since their termination, been able
to pay some attention to the antiquities OF the
country
90 have succeeded to an eminent degree in OBJ
tanning the confidence of the Indians and have
cured some Of their vocabulares In fact the In
dian pueblo of Subtiava has presented me formal
address, written in the aboriginal tongue, and
would rise in arms to morrow at my call. In pre-
senting it. the spokesman exclaimed, with start
ling emphasis, The Spaniards have had their feet
on our necks very long we hope the sons of Wash
ington will overwhelm them they have us
hate themn II sounded strange to hear the Indian
talk of Washington but his name is familiar in
every rancho, and Hail of Washin gton p is
a common salutation from barefooted mosos on the
road. The Indians OF Subtiava have dug up for me
number of their buried idols, and ex
huming more They impose but one condition
that shall have no Spaniard with me when go to
see them, and shall keep the localities secret.
These idols, though much smaller closely resem
BILE those of Copan in workmanship, and were
doubt dedicated TO the same or very similar pur-
poses. ] 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 fanatca zeal OF the early Spaniards, who waged
war of determination upon the superstitons of
the aborigines They did not, however, succeed in
Graduating them; for they blended in ingular
manner, and in no inconsiderable proportion with
the Catholic rites imposed by the conquerors. Many
Indian, within the sound of the bells of the ca
thedral offers his bation of tiste (ground parched
corn and sugar mixed with water) to the gods of
the fields, for the success of his crops and secretly
burns gums from the forest before an earthen idol
or carved stone, carefully hidden from the scrutiny
of the priests, in some obscure corner of his hut.
Upon these matters they however maintain all the
of the Indians of the North ngthened by
fear of exposure to the rigors of the priesthood.
Some Of the statues 10 which have referred have
the same elaborate head dresses with others of Co
pan: one bears shield upon his arm; another has
girdle TO which Ii suspended head; and still an
other has rising above its head the sculptured Jaws
of an alligator.
'All are very ancient, and the places of their de-
posite have been handed down from one generation
10 another. The fragments of many TO be found
within few miles Of Leon, and there must orgi-
nally have been great number scattered the
country. Perhaps the most remarkable locality,
with the exception of the island of Ometepe. in
Lake Nicaragua, is the island of Momotombita in
the Lake OF Monogua. ! paid visit to this island
carly In July Ii is beautiful volcanic cone, rising
with all the symmetry of a sugar-loaf from the
midst Of the lake. Before it towers the giant vol
cano VI Momotombo, from the bare and blacklist
summit OF which still rises the smoke Of Internal
fires. Mornotombita ia indeed remar kabie island,
aud the traveller who gazes upon it from the shore
Of the lake is not surprised learn that under the
shadows and amidst the gloom of its dense forests,
-iringed by the stems of ages, stand the rude and
irownng statues Of the gods of aboriginal supersti
ton Many of these have been removed, and arc
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 days hard
labor, and at great risk in passing fifteen miles
upon the lake, in a gusty night and a boat scarce
able 10 sustain the great weight This had resisted
the e1ertions of twelve men occasion; after
moving II few rods, they had abandoned it in de-
spsir. The boatmen thought Inc mad, and crossed
themselves devoutly when proposed 10 carry it
hpU rlra mt he Ia 10
vows. After breaking down two carts,
finally got il TO this city in safety, and shall ship it,
with ten or a dozen more, via Realilo and Cape
Horn, for Washington. But to return. 1t seems
that there were originally some thirty or forty of
these statues of various sizes, and more less eab
orately carved, arranged in one place, in the form
OF u square, all looking inward. The dimensions
of the square cannot now be ascertained, but the
few remaining figures and fragments show that the
statement is correct. Ii is singular fact, and an
other evidence Of the prevalence in America Of the
doctrine Of the two reciprocal principles Of nature
Che active and passive, male and female,) that
these figures were represented, some as male and
some as female
"'Tbe Indians Of Honduras, says Herrara, 'wor-
shipped two images, male and female which they
called the great father and the great mother, and
of which he says little farther on, the and the
moon were also representatives have heard Of
other localities, similar to this, which propose 10
visit and shall, therefore, not repeat what is told
me concerning them. must not, however, forget
10 mention bhcft Deen Uncovered,
the province of Vera Paz. one hundred and fifty
/ miles northeast Of Guatemala, buried in a dense
forest and far from any settlements, ruined city
surprising Copan or Paenque in extent and mag
nifcence, and displaying degree of art to which
none Of the structures Of Yucatan can lay claim.
! The government of Guatemala sent a commits
sion 10 examine it, but their Investigations were
soon interrupted by the civil commotions of the
! country, and they were only able to bring away
some rude specimens and imperfect drawings.
| II shall go there as my duties will per-
| nit ] learn also of other interesting monuments
| near by, ia Honduras and San Salvador, of which
no public mention has yet been made. shall pay
all the attention 70 these although there is
much for man to hope 10 do well. But 'here
| goes notwithstanding
THE INcA Of PERU.
| Mr. Bartlett then said that the President OF the
! United States had kindly placed in his hands, 10 be
read 10 the American chronological Society the fol-
lowing interesting letters which had been addressed
1 10 him The first was from Samuel G.. Arnold,
esq, Of Providence, gentleman who, in the course
of an extensive exploratory tour through South
! America, had paid visit TO Cuzco, the ancient
capital Of the lncas OF Peru
10 the President Of the United States.
Providence, May 7, 1919
sn: In the course Of an extensive tour through