The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-29
The Chovalier de P0ntelli's Discoveries
I'm Central America.
IN THE EDiTOR or rHR EKW YORx uuRAIn

I'm Central America.
10 THE EDITOR or THB NEW YORK HERALD.
NKw York, Sept. -, lsee
About three years ago received visit from perssa
wearing partLcolored ribbon In his button hole aaA
styiing himself an 10 ChsvAiier Leon de Pontei" whs
represented that he had made important geogrsghio
and other discoveries In the district Of Soconusco 10
Central America and in the adjacent State Of Chaps
he exhibited map, rather archaic in execution whish
was marked down his route OF travel aud the sites a
several extraordinary ruins which he proessed have
discovered. Although his story was well studied, aa6
told with much fuency IL difficult for one ~
quanted with Central Anerca and the character OF IL
ancient remains to perceive thA. although the man AaA
clearly been In the country ami picked up soma Of tAs
vague traditions current there, his pretended Journey
and discoveries alike fictitious The encourage
ment which he received from not such 70 Ia
drcc a second visit, and I next heard OF him IN
Washington, where he offered his map TO the gsv-
erDment, In confidential way, at very cheap rate
bagatele Of thousands Of dollars Tho ~
verDment, seems, did not have the high appreciates
Of the Chevaer's labors which and he
left in dhgust-no kaew whittier
An occasional paragraph the papers, reSerring
vaguely 20 the important discoveries 81 Cbevaier Pea
te nevertheless indicated great explorer had
turned up in Paris; and not long ago very ex
traoru mary enersvines accompanied by text still
arary made thor appearance in the French Is
and American illustrated papers the work the Oeao
bfatei traveller, Chevaer de Ponteip The story az
simple trip from soconusco through Chiapas which had
heard in 1867 had reached the dimensions Of wes-
derfu journey through region of Ill 900 square
mics oceopeo oy great nations Of astonishing srcheo
tura skill who could bring ak hundred thousand armed
into the Geld, etc, etc, TO say nothing OF maznid
cent beside which those Of Palsnque sank ins IN
eignihcsnce
Irid not first suppose that Pontells romance wouA
impose on even the yetest oe moche OF schoolcraftsn
capacity; but ind myself mistaken. the cre1ulty
which accepts the rude noian sculptures the oast
rtus limestone Of 81. Louis vertabe fossils, and
makes man ccnts mporary with the tiobite, at period
antdapg the coal formations; which swallows Morm0a
plates Grnss Creek ruins and does not stop Newark
Hebrew Inscriptions bias proved itself equal to the STRAIN
I'M pesed by Ponte The subjoned paragraphs from ths
Gaoeta De GlGmGia OF Augut therefore, may NOS -
out OF place. II only remains for Ponte 70 escape
the odum involved in his exposure BY blAndly an
tina, he intended his story received
exceptes effort OF the imagination, o take OF
antiquarian Oidbucks. Yours, &c, E. G. sQUIER
Translated from the Gsceta de Guatemala, August I'll
PRETENDED DISCOVERIES or NJ. PoNTKLLI.
We publish In another column conmun icstion on Ae
subject of the pretended discovery, In this republic, al
certain indiaa comm1nltes wn by
de Ponte who was in this city some years ago for
short time, giving lessons Ia tbography We saw, In
due caufs the articles giving an account o. bis marv
OF Pa IS, and subs qrcnty In the Coveo de UIu Mar.
aoi detect II them at cnce su,h papable improbable
having the oommonest kno Wedge Of the geography and
history u this country For this reason abstatnsA
from the rOmaAct9 OF POnteili, whose -
count sent oct with pictures o. the people and
ny he pretended 70 have discovered views Of wonderful
rpirs, sc.
We supposed that the exploded fable n the Aztec cAa
dren (wto only poor little Indians Of Usuutan, N
San svadol which took 90 lily 10 Europe not lsag
had Taught people caution In such Matters bat
tbs iEcin aton the marvellous Il seems stru0g
in q majority 0f minds 10 be resisted This n Pontsni.
with his territory Of 0o0 square leagues (more thaA
the area Of a Central Amcrica), bis go COO warriors
(nose than two thirds Of ths whole population Of GSat
nsa) his booted savages. with double barreed pistss,
&C., has made up romance which might perhaps b a.
lowed TO all up como odd column Of . uewspaper Q
work Of the Imagination but should no, dpd piA0c
Any FERROUS Connection he thrust the q
respectable persons - truthful record.