New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-10-18
ANTIQUITIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA

An Urr1bIished Letter from Alex. Won Humboldt.
Mr. Hesse, the Prussan Charge TO Central America,
dutipe lis residence in Guatemala in 1852 took great
interest in archaeological researches in that part Of
cur Continent and wrote very interesting report 10
the King Of Prussia some ruins and ancient monu-
neIts lately discovered there.
Colonel Modesto Mendez, the Corregidor OF Flores
on the lake Of PetenItza had in February and March
Jas, explored the ruins of Tikul, and his report
thereof to the Government of Guatemala published
in the Gaceta de Guatemala ofApr l6 aud March Il aud
% ofIs4s In 1852 he again visited these ruins (which
are situated some fifteen leagues the north of Flores
at the foot of tie Sierra de Yucatan) and saw also
those Of Dolores southeast of Flores and undoubtedly
the same which were seen by Captain d. Melchior
Rodriguez Macarega, in 1886 Mr.. Hesse met Col
Neudez in Guatemala, got full description OF his dis
eoyeries from him. and had also the drawings made by
Mendez faithfully copied by DR. Ahrendt, German
pbyscian resident in that country.
At the same time the Belgian Engineer MI Wander
Geschachte of ST. Thomas, communicated to Mr..
Hessc the results of his explorations along the Mota
qua River and the ruins and monuments discovered by
him at ChapulcO and at Chinamita
From these communications Mr.. Hesse made his
report 10 the King, and DIR. Ahrendt added to 1t
critical expose from his own pen on the ancient monu-
mepts of the aborignes of Central America.
The King. who takes great interest in such re-
searches communicated the whole TO his learned
friends Alexander Won Humboldt and c. Ritter the
reoerapher and ordered the drawings to be engraved
40 tint We may expect to tie document and lis
illustrations printed within short time
On occasion Of Mr. Hesse's report, Alexander Won
Humboldt wrote TO DR.. Ahrendt in Guatemala, the fol-
lowing letter of which a German gentleman OF this
City las kindly communicated TO us Translation;
TO FRIEDRICH AHRESDT ND, AT GUATEMALA.
feel compelled. my dear Doctor TO send YOU my bss
thanks to 80 far and fair a region which unhapPly was
never visited by The great interest take IN the monu
men:s Of the American aborgnes has been much grathed
by the reros of our excellent Prussan Charge Mr. Hesse
gentleman of the most comprehensive culture to which
report your undoubtedly faithful copies Of statues relieis
md ipscriptions have given much attraction The King
who took the greatest interest in this report and the draw
pcs lof complicated even oyercharged ornaments has
communicated both to great geographr Ritter and to
me The remarkable hierogyphics added to the reief'
ard often placed perpendcuary one under the other or
like phonetic signs put separately them are partica
larry interesting. Can they be Calendar signs
For the honor of our common German atherland pray
YOU to continue your ardor investigate these myser
Gus relics OF peoples who to have immgrated from the
Norh to the South The calendar of Chapas Totec
and the of the twenty days Of Their months were TO
tally different from the like Aztec In Chiapas and
Soopusoo where the year had months OF 20 days each
and supplementary days (which in oil make 1863 the Iol