The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1859-04-13

| AMERIcA-lTs ANTIQUIrEs.-T exis-
tence 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 ilourished. The most extensive of these
ruins are to be found at Uxna Palenoue. in
the southeastern part Of Mexico. At Uxmal
are immense pyramids, coated with stone,
and quadranguiar stone cdifices and terraces
Tie highest of these pyramids is 1870 feet,
and on the summit it supports temple on
one Of the facades of the temple are four hu
man figures cut in stone with great exactness
and elegance. The hands are crossed upon
the breast, the head is covered in something
like z helmet, about the neck is a garment
'of the skin Of an alligator, and over each
body is figure Of dcatL'shead and bones.
At PalenQue are imm ense ruins. city Of
great extent, with the remains of royal
palace. one temple, that of Copen, was
$40 feet by Co0, 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 portco 100 feet
long / Q teet broad; it stands on an elevation
Of 80 feet The pliers Of the portico are
adorned with hierogIyphics and other devi-
cos. Different objects Of worship have been
found representations Of the gods who were
worshipped in this country. These temples,
with fourteen slarcc buildings and among 9TH
er oh)ecs OF curiosity, stand here as monu-
ments of ancient greatness, to remind US of
a remote origin OF a mighty empire. This
city has been described as the 1hebes of
America, and travellers have supposed that
it must haze been sixty miles in circumfcr-
ence and contained population of 3,o0o,
coo OF souls.
1t is in Mexico that we must seek the lar
gcst pyramid in the world. The tourists,
the historians, and the geographers have
made us familiar with the pyramids of Egypt,
amongst which that Of Cheops looms up
wonder among wonders. But Cheops is
pgmy compared with that Of Cholula, in
Mexico.
The pyramids Of Chonla is described as
covering forty four acres Of ground. On its |
summit was a temple, and in the interior has |
been discovered vault, rooted with beams
Of wood containing skeletons and idols. Sey-
efal smaller pVfainiCo surround lhlS large |
one. Itappears to have been formed by cut
ting a.largc hill into an artiticio shape. It's
dimensions are immense, being nearly three |
miles in circumference and about four hun
dred feet high. 1t is divided into terraces
and slopes, covered with platforms stages and
pa,tions, elevated one above the other, and
AL formed with large stones skilfuly cut and |
joined without any cement In some res
poets the style OF architecture resembles the
Gothic, being massive and durable; in other
respects 1t 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 plant
ed the Anglo-SaXon race on the shores of the
Pacific, cannot fail to be favorable to the adj
Of knowledge among men. The
Il-known activity, enterprise, and inquisi-
live character Of the race will naturally
prompt them to explore the ruins which are
50 protuscy scattered over Mexico and South,
America, and it Yet may be the destiny Of
o;ne restless Yankee to trace in the ruined
cmples and cities Of this strange land a
history which has hitherto laid hidden un- f.;
lcr the rubbish OF countless ccnturee.