Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06

blood hounds which were ass Of the purest Spanish br(
The two leaders of this troop who Indians Of o.
mandng air and stature suddenly wheeled their hods
and gared upon the large party Of intruders with d
amazement Their followers eyinced equal surprise ht
forgot not to draw up in good military array while be
blood hounds leapt and ragged in their thongs"
One of the Indian interpreters here advised part
make instant retreat, the only of saving Dir
lives, otherwise they would certaiay be overcone md
their heads cut off and placed on poles asw thw ~
for this was said to be the fate of allS xhe tre
found within twelve leagues of kim 1ans md
Hammond were disposed to follow this Hp3as,
who the leader Of the party and whom t6Sy " G6
bound to obey utterly rejected the proposition Hhad
come far to the city, and see it he would d9d -
alive
While they debating what was to- be DONE th}Ixi-
mayan leader galfoped away toward the city, and the
second in command, with his troop Of fifty men, dahed
by them into the forest and took possession Of the ass
By which travellers had entered the plain and wie
they soon become sstirasd the only route byFhsA
81: !! Il Bs 80 szs%s,. s,,.ssss q y Y h
slrccf foufths y eir alttnde, which nowhere less
than thcassnd feet" In these straitened cifum-
stances what followed is thus recorded by the accurate
and fervid pen Of Velasquez
To retire into the forest mules copious
stream which rushed forth from it's recesse and recruit
own exhausted strength with food and rest
the current for convenient watering place. Antonio
covered that it issued from CAVERN which, though a
mere fssure exteriory was, within, of cathedral dimen
sions and solemny We all entered it and drank eager
ly from foamng basin, which it Immediately presented
to our fevered lips Our first sensations were those of
freedom and independence and of that perfect security
whis is the basis of BOTH 1t long since had slept
under roof of any kind. While here, few could
defend repose against assault from thousands but
it was horribly evident to my mind that few watchfu
assaans would suffice to reduce us to starvation de-
i'm aasI (brrca afof aY,a
freedom limited to its walls Happily however,
for the present hour this reflection seemed to trouble
one Objects of wonder and yeneration grew numeroY
to gaze. Gigantic statues of ancient warriors wt
round shields arched helmets and square breast plate
curiousy lattced and adorned stood sculptured in hi
relief with grave faces and massive limbs, and in the
gular order of columns around the walls of this gratd
mausoleum Many Of them stood arrayed in the crmSn
of the setting sum- which famed through the tail fssfe
into the cayern and the deep gloom into which long r
of Others utterly retired from vew presented scope
at once of mingled mystery and splendor. 1t was 81
IDENTIFY place of great and recent resort both for nn
and horses for plentiful supplies of fresh fodder for he
latter were heaped in stone recesses while the
numerous fires, mingled with discarded moccasns and %
ken pipes and pottery, attested domciary occupabn
by the former Further into the interior found sets
and sleeping couches of fine work aud in sh-
cious the entrance large collection Of tie
bones both of the and the deer, with hides also f
both, but newly iayed and suspended pegs by tie
horns These last evidences of good living had more e.
feet upon hungry Indians than all the and with
in an hour after dark while were seeking firs
sleep four fine deer brought in by about dozen
our party whom We supposed to have been faithfully
guarding citadel It is unnecessary to say that w
gladly arose to the rich repast that ensued for we had
eaten nothing but scant allowance Of tortas for
many days. and were in the lasstude Of famine"
After this welaome feast we leave the party their
nights repose in this remarkable cavern of Iximaya.
What followed the succeeding day be condens-
ed from the manuscript of Velasquez by the translator
g In the morning about the break of day. the Internal
4 of ofh h1ond-h c,ddo
the cavern and the party could scarcely seize their rifles
before many of the dogs who had driven in the aghted
Indians guard, sprngng at their throats. Mr.
Huerts however the American leader Of the expedition
with that presence Of mind which always to have
distinguished him, told the that rifles useless in
such contest and that the hounds must be dispatched
with their long knives fast they in while the
firearms be reserved for their This
nine butchery accomplished with but little difficulty
Of the party received any serious injury from their
angs; and the Indians exhilarated with victory
which chiefly conquest Of their fears These unor
tunate dogs il appears the advanced Of pack
perhaps merely few uneashed scouts to others held
in for no more or heard OF for some
time. Meanwhile Mr.. Huertis seems TO have struck out
brilliant scheme He collected his whole party into that
obscure branch of the its entrance which has
been described depository Of animal bones, and
derng them to sling their rifles at their backs, bade them
| stand ready with their knives"
almost instantly they observed party of ten dis
mounted natives in scarlet tuncs and armed with spears
enter the in single file; and il would seem, from
L
out again without venturng further search. In few
minutes however, they returned with forty fifty
in the uniform, headed by the younger Of the two
whom they had in command the previous
| evening As they well advanced into the
cavern and heard disturbing the tired mules, Mr..
Huers and his party marched quietly and seized their
horses which pcketed close by in charge Of two
three men, whom they disarmed. AT short distance
however, drawn up in good order, another squadron
Of horses which Mr.. Huertis determined instantly 70
charge. Ordering his whole party to mount the noble
L.l 4l~.~
he gave the word he veasquez and Hammond drew the
short sabres they had the march, and led the
attack"
At first the natives doubtless under the impression that
their comrades who had entered the all slan
fed in utter and great disorder. But,
meeting large reinforcement they returned in olcrabe
order and charged upon the ntruders The result was
perfect and brilliant victory Of courageous travel
lers Unfortunately Mr. Hammond received dangerous
wound in the right breast and Of their Indian guides
killed The poor natives had knowledge whatever
Of firearms, and could not stand moment against six
shooting rifles There longer any resistance 70
their entering the great city Of Iximaya And after va
rous conferences explanations and promises Of friend
ship the native chiefs led the way They found the city
to be paraeogram four miles long and three wide, and
enclosed by massive wall sixty feet high which is mi
nutely described Outside Of the walls Of the city there
was foss moat hundred feet wide nearly filed with
water and aboundng with waterfowl Crossing the foss
drawbrdge they reached the gate Of the city,
which was still closed but the keeper, receiving
whisper through aperture in the wall from the COM