The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-28
Asnerica-Its Antiquities.

Inc existence of numerous and immense
runs IN America of what were once large cities
is nxed fact, and we must be content to re.
main IN utter ignorance Of the epoch in which
| 'hey nOurlshed The most extensive of these
ruins are to be found at Uxmal and Palenaue
IN the southeastern part Of Mexico. At Tx
maj are immense pyramids. coated with stone
ana M quad. angular stone ediiices and terraces.
Ihe highest Of these pyramids is l3O feet, and
on tne summit it supports temple on one Of
the tacades of the temple are four human figures
cnt IN stone with great exactness and elegance.
The hands are crossed upon the breast, the head
is covered in something like helmet, about the
neck is garment Of the skin of an alligator.
and over each body is figure of death s-head
and bones.
| AT Paenque are immense ruins, q citv of
great extent with the remains of a royal palace.
One temple, that of Copan, was $40 feet bv
$50, and is supposed to have been as large as
st. Peters at Rome Another temple of great
dimensions is here, having an entrance by a
portico 100 feet long and 10 feet broad it
stands on an elevation of 60 feet The pillars
OF the portico are adorned with hieroglyphics
and other devices. Different objects Of worship
have been found, representations of the gods
who were worshiped in this country. These
temples, with fourteen large buildings and many
other objects Of curiosity, stand here as n1onu-
ments of ancient greatness, to remind us of the
remote origin of a mighty empire. This city
has been described as the Thebes of America,
and travellers have supposed that it must have
been sixty miles in circumference and contained
population of 100000 of souls.
1t is in Mexico that we must seek the largest
pyramid in the world The tourists, the histo-
rians and the geographers have made us famil-
lar with the pyramids of Egypt, among which
that Of Cheops looms up q wonder among
wonders. But Cheops is a pigmy compared
with that Cholula. in Mexico.
The pyramid of Cholua is described as
covering forty-four acres of ground. On its
summit was temple, and in the interior has
been discovered vault, rooted with beams of
wood, containing skeletons and idols Several
smaller pyramids surround this large one. 1t
appears to have been formed by cutting hill
into an artificial shape Its dimensions are
immense, being nearly tlsee miles in circumfer-
ence and about four hundred feet high. 1t is
divided into terraces and slopes, covered with
platforms, stages and bastions, elevated one
above the other. and all formed with large
stones skillfully cut and Joined without any
cement. In some respects the style of architec-
ture resembles the Gothic, being massive and
durable; in other respects it resembles the
Egyptian ; yet the general construction, man.
ner and style of architecture are different from
any thing hitherto described in the world.
The wave of emigration which has planted
the Anglo-SaAon race on the shores of the Pa
cific can not fail to be favorable to the advance
ment Of knowledge among men. The well
known activity, enterprise, and inqnisitive
character of the race will naturally prompt
them to explore the ruins which are so pro-
fusely scattered over Mexico and South Amer
ica and it yet may be the destiny Of some rest
less Yankee to trace in the ruined temples and
cities of this strange land history which has
hitherto laid hidden under the rubbish Of count
less centuries. Louisville Journal.