The Georgetown news., 1855-06-28

lary the effects OF the above result. but lind
that this is already extended further than
intended"
America--Its Ages and its Antiquities.
The antiquities of America extend from
the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, and from the great lakes and British
Provinces to Peru and Brazil, in South
America. These ruins are not illustrated,
or even alluded to, by any written history
Their origin is lost to view behind the i'm
penetrabe veil imposed by unnnmbered
cycles of unchronicled centuries. Immense
forests growing over the ruins of large cit
les, and the gigantic size of the trees, with
indications that other generations of trees
sprung up and grew and decayed before
them, prove that these ruins preceded the
Christian Era. Neither history nor tradi-
tion indicates the origin or the rise of those
vast mounds that are scattered over the
North American continent. They stand in
silent grandeur, monuments Of a race of peo-
pie that have long since passed away leav-
no other trace of their existence
1t is fashionable to speak of the Eastern
continent as the Old World, yet it is not
known to be entitled to this appelation.-
Who can say that the Andes and the Sierra
Nevada are not the seniors Of the Alps and
Himalaya? Who is prepared to prove that
the ruins of Uxmal and Palenque, and the
pyramids of Chulula, in Mexico, do not take
precedence in age Of the spinxes and pyra-
mids of Egypt, or the winged lions Of AS
syria? History traces the rise and fall of
Nineveh, of Babylon and of Thebes; but we
have no record Of the rise, progress, or fall
of those great cities in Central America,
which the labOrious researches of Stevens
and Catherwood brought to light There.
the husnan-faced bulls and the winged lions
of Nineveh find their equivalents in the gro
tesque carving in stone of hideous forms of
men and animals. Who can say that these
rude scul ptures of America did not precede
those of Asia.
But we will not speculate on a subject
that offers no basis on which even plausi-
bic argument can be erected. The exist
ence Of numerous and immense ruins in
America of what were once large cities is a
fixed fact, and we must be content to remain
in utter ignorance of the epoch in which
they flourished The most extensive of
these ruins are to be found at UXmal and
Palenque, in the southeastern part of Mex
leo. AT Uxmal are immense pyramids,
coated with stone. and quadrangular stone
edifices and terraces. The highest of these
pyramids is l30 feet, and on one of the ia
cades of the temple are four human figures
cut IN stone with great eXactneSs and ele-
gance. The hands are crossed upon the
breast, the head is covered with something
like helmet, about the neck is a garment
of the skin of an alligator, and over each
body is figure of Deaths head and bones.
At Palenque are immense ruins-a city
OF great extent, with the remains of a royal
palace. One temple, that of Copan. was
$40 feet by $50, and is supposed to have
been as large as st. Peters at Rome An
other temple Of great dimensions is here,
having an entrance by portico 100 feet
long and 10 feet broad; it stands on an ele-
vation of 60 feet. The pillars of the porti-
co are adorned with hieroglyphics and 9TH
er 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 monuments of ancient greatness, to re-
mind us of the remote origin of mighty
empire. This city has been described as
the Ihebes of America, and travellers have
supposed that it must have been sixty miles
IN circumference, and contained a popula-
tiOn of 100000 souls
1t is in Mexico that we must seek the
largest pyramid in the world. The tourist.
the historians, and the geographers have
made us familiar with the pyramids of
Egypt among which that of Cheops looms
up wonder among wonders. But Cheops
IS plgmy compared with that of Chulula
in Mexico.
The pyramid of Chulula is described as
covering forty-four acres of gronnd. On its
was temple, and in the interior
has been discovered vault, rooted with
beams OF wood, containing skeletons and
dolls. Several smaller pyramids surround
his large one. 1t appears to have been
ormed by cutting hill into an artificial
shape. Its dimensions are immense, being
learly three miles in circumference, and
lbout four hundred feet high. 1t is divided
nto terraces and slopes, covered with plat
orms, stages and battons, elevated one
lbove the other, and formed with large
tones skillfully cut, and joined without any
,ement In some respects the style OF arch
resembles the Gothic, being massive
md durable; in other respects it resembles t