Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-01-09


here at very remote period of time, and
that this empire teemed with an immense
population, people highly skilled in the
mechanical arts, and in an advanced state
of civilization. The most extensive
ruins are to be found at Uxmal and
Palenque, in the southeast of Mexico
At Uxmal are immense pyramids, coated
with stone, and quadsangular stone edi-
fees and terraces. The highest of these
pyramids is 100 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 exact
ness and elegance. The hands are cross
ed upon the breast, the head is covered
in something like a helmet, about the
neck is garment of the skin of an alli-
gator, and over each body is figure of
deaths head and bones.
At Palenquo-a city of great extent
are immense ruins, with the remains of
a royal palace. One temple, that OF
Copan, 500 feet by $50, and supposed to
have been as large as St. Peters at
Rome. Another temple of great dimen-
sions is here, having an entrance by a
portico 100 feet long and 10 broad il
stands on an elevation of sixty feet The
pillars of the portico are adorned with
hieroglyphics and otherSevices. Differ
ent objects of worship Have been found
representations of the gods who were
worshipped in this country. These tenn
pies, 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 a
mighty empire This city has been de-
scribed as the Thcbos of America, and
travellers have supposed that it must have
been siaty miles in circumference, and
contained population of 5000, 200
souls.
Centuries must have elapsed, and dy-
nasties succeeded each other, before such
orders Of architecture ware introduced
and length of lime must have passed
before an empire would,beeome sufficient
ly powerful to erect such temples, and
possess a city of such vast extent. In
looking back to the past We feel interest.
ed in the imagination TINT this people
once in the MONDAY of glory, enjoying
all the fruits and luxuries Of an advanced
civilization, but when we behold these
ruins, n melancholy reflection must at
once seize our minds On the ground
where once nations met in their strength
and power wild beasts now roam, and
venomous serpents wend their way; and
over these vast cities, where once the
busy hum of industry and the voice OF
merriment resounded, grows the vast
cedar, on whose branches the owl chat
ters his discordant notes and the bat
sleeps at meridian. In this country is
exhibited the LARGEST nvramiA in tho
world-that of Colula, near Puebla. II
covers A acres, and is about 900 feet
high; on its summit was a temple, and
in the interior has been discovered a
vault, rooted with beams Of wood, con
tanning skeletons and idols; several
smaller pyramids surround this large one
1t appears to have been formed by cut
ting hill into an artificial shape. It's
dimensions are immense, being nearly
three miles in circumference, and about
400 feet high. it is divided into ter
races and slopes, covered with platforms,
stages and bastions, elevated, one above
the other. and all formed with large
stones skillfully cut and Joined without
cement. In some respects the style Of
architecture resembles the Gothic, being
massive and durable, while in other re-
spects it resembles the Egytian-yet the
general construction, manner and style
of architecture is different from anything
hitherto described in the world. In
Egypt, hieroglyphics on stone denote
remarkable events, which no man has
yet been able to decipher.
A dark shade rests on the antiduitief
of America, and few rays Of light en-.
liven the gloom. We have ancient his.
tory to inform us Of the events Of Egypt
how that empire was founded, and how
it prospercd and fell-we have the same
record of Babylon and Ninevah, of Greece
and Rome and Carthage; but not the
least information have we relative &c
those who erected these cities, what peo.
pie and whence they came; not ray Of
light to dispel the dark gloom which
seems to rest on the earliest history Of
America. Architecture, sculpture, and
painting, and all the arts that adorn
civilized life, have aourished in thi.
country, at period far remote There
is evidence sufficient to prove that these
cities were in ruins at least siateet 0,
eighteen hundred gears ago. In Palen.
que are the remains of an altar, oven
which grows an immense cedar, whose
powerful roots enshrine it. The whole
city is oyergrown with mahogany and
cedar trees, Of enormous size. The con-
centric circles of some Of these trees
the well known cycles for a year-haye
been counted, which showed thew were
more than 800 years old. and there were
indications Of another generation Of trees
having sprung up before them. How
few reflect on the fact that America
IS an old dolninion-the scat Of an an
cient, mighty empire. These facts are
opening themselves every day to the
eyes Of an astonished world, and it is
hoped that the spirit Of inquiry, which
seems at present to animate all classes Of
learned men, may throw light on the
early history Of this remarkable region.
E1" The transient day of sinful ploas-
ure is followed by dark and tempestu-