Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-04-21
America-Its Antiquities.
existence of numerous and immense ruins

The existence OF numerous ana immense ruins
in America of what were once large cities Is fixed
fact, and must be content to remain In utter
ignorance of the epoch in which they tourished.
The most extensive OF these ruins are to be found
at Uxmal and Palenque in the south eastern part
of Mexico. At Uxnal are immense pyramids,
coated with stone, and quadrangular stone edifces
and terraces The highest of pyramids is $50 feet,
and on the summit it supports temple; on one
of the facades of the temple are four human figures
cut in stone with great exactness and elegance
The hands are crossed upon the breast, the head
is covered in something like a 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 Palenque are immense ruins, city of great
extent with the remains of royal palace. One
| temple, that of Copan, was $40 feet by ESQ., and Is
supposed to have been as large os St. Peters at
Rome. Another temple of great dimensions is
here having an entrance by 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 worshipped in this country. These
temples, with fourteen large buildings and many
other objects of curiosity, stand here as monuments
Of ancient greatness, to remind us of the remote
origin of mighty empire. This city has been de-
have supposed that it must have been sixty miles
in circumference and contained a population of
| 100000 of souls.
| 1t is in Mexico that we must seek the largest
pyramid in the world The tourists, the historians,
| and the geographers have made familiar with
| the pyramids of Egypt, amongst which that OF
Cheops looms up wonder among wonders. But
Cheops is pgmy compared with that Cholula, in
Mexico.
| The pyramid of Cholulu is described as covering
| forty-fou acres of ground. On its summit was a
temple, and in the interior has been discovered a
vault, rooted with beams of wood containing skele-
tons and idols. Several smaller pyramids surround
this large one. 1t appears to have been formed
by cutting hill into artificial shape. Its dmen-
sons are immense, being nearly three miles in Cir
conference and about four hundred feet high. 1t
is divided into terraces and slopes, covered with
platforms, stages and bastons elevated one above
the other, and all formed with large stones skfully
cut and joined without any cement. In some
| respects the style of architecture resembles the
Gothic, being massive and durable; in other re
spects it resembles the Egyptian; yet the general
construction manner, and style of architecture are
different from anything hitherto described in the
world
| The wave of emigration which has planted the
Angio-Saxon race on the shores of the Pacific, can
| not fail to be favorable to the advancement of
knowledge among men. The wel-known activity,
enterprise and inqusitive character of the will
naturally prompt them to explore the ruins which
are so proflseIv scattered over Mexico and South
America, and it yet may be the destiny OF some
restless Yankee to trace in the ruined temples and
cities this landa history which has hitherto
| laid hidden under the rubbish of countless CEN
| tries II 0uisaiEke Journal