The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-08
Historical Society.

the Historical Society," ut ,s monthly meeting last evening,
by Hon E G. SoumR, on The UnexplOred Regions
Cen'ia America The audience was large aud aporeca
tive, and listened with marked attention The lecturer
commeLced by say ing that notwithstanding the al
energy with which geographical inquiry had pushed
forward during the last quarter Of century, solving the
mysteries u he polar regions and many OF the epgmss
Of Arca yet that there cOnss portions OF
our own continent, almost al DOORS rich
raj wealth, trsversed by nsvgabe rivers, occupied
by s,rarge peoples, which renamed complete sol
ion and erveloped 10 as profound ms stery the time
Ct the discovery. There two notable instances In
Central America: FIRST the Boisca the Guatuscs fail
ing partly Id Nicaragua partly Costa Rca aad CON
prispg the entire valley Of the Rio Frio prnci
pal streams falling into the Lake OF Nicaragua. This
valley hes between the true Cordileras OF the continent
and the volcanic Pacific range Of mouutsins and s
estimated by Mr.. Squer at one hundred nf.y mss
penetrated by civilized man. Various attempts we're
made by the church and the civil and military authorities
bring them under the spanish authority; ba, all S.rs
ehsCtualy repeled, as have been also the few eeDle
efforts TO explore the region made since the indie
peudence W the Indians, called Guatusos, inhabiting
this district, Of whom nothing is positively known,
the most extraordinary notions entertained by the
people Of the adjacent States They are reputed TO be
above the ordinary stature, with comparatively light
compile xioDs and red hair and tales told Of
some Of their women having been seem BY hunters
peaDs Such Stories however entitled to no credit
but the fact remains OF the existence here Of large
with character habits language, religion and modes Of
e probably In degree changed from what they were
great American lines OF transit across sthe continent
t1at the sound Of the beating paddles Of our steam
ers on the river San Juan, and in Lake Nicara-
tans that shut them in But the bulk Of Mr.. Squiers dis
course was taken With an account based upon
explorations Of hitherto unexpored district further
uOrthWard,
the Bolson Of the Guatusos This the vast region lying
between Chiapa Tabasco, Yucaan and tho republic Of
Guatemala which appears IN our maps either o blank
or ia only copjeoturaly filed up with mountains, lakes
and streams All that has been known Of is that Is
the great river Usumasinta gathers is waters from
thousand tributaries before pouring them in
s moo n, 'f Sy au s Sov '0a
Indians. the Lac2ndoDes and others. who have
successfully ressted the force OF the Spanish arms,
who s maintain their Independence, and preserve and
practise the rites and habits OF their ancestors they
existed before the Of Columbus and Cortez II is in
Usumasiaia, that the popular tradition Of Guatemsa and
Cbiapa places that great aboriginal city, with its white
% @ Ii
from the tops Of the mountains OF QuesatenauRo Corez
spent two years IN traversiDg tbs region in MS famous
greater part Of has remained untracked and undo
scrbed. Mr. squier described this REGION which alto.
into three districts the Great Upper valley Of Usumasna,
yet wholly unexplored; the territorial basin OF
Fetfn, de6tltuto
large lake OF liza and the province Of Vera Paz the an
Gent land Of OF the Spanards. Peten waa formerly
occupied by the warlike zacs branch OF the people
OF Yucatan who retained their Independence, built
sve temples after the fashions Of their ancestors and
tanned their primitive forms of government aud religion
I'D 10 1885, little more than hundred and fifty years
ago They then reduced and most OF their temples
public edifces destroyed but their country
shut by high and almost mountains aud vast
allowed to relapse into something Ike its original
condition, with strange and, in some respects comca
IF Gath
ard European aud modes Of life. Secluded from the
world, its people now Iva in state OF almost Arcadan
simplicity, OF which Mr. Squier drew graphic and pleas
ing picture giving also outline Of their history and an
account Of the ancient monuments found in their terri
tory which bear great resemblance to those of Paenque
and Yucatsn. The geography and topography OF Peen
however, perhaps moro interesting than It's people
The district already said is terrestrial basin eevat
ed 1900 feet above tho sea- which has outlet In
It's is the large lake Of liza, upwards
Of fifty miles long, which has hitherto been
puzzle s,r Mac nrXes much can front
the circumstance that lit receives bot gives out no
water 1t is deep and studded with islands, on one Of
which the ancient zacs had their stronghods, and more
abounds in fishes OF new and undescrioed varie
ties. 1t is inhabited also by novel species Of alligator
African variety probably, which has Jet been found
this continent There also large number OF other
lakes nearly SpgaSnas hrSush tue d ms
rainy are per hitting Of nearly unnter
rupted canoe navigation:
which i requires fourteen days to trsye.sc: Tho
Of Trees against The e AZ one ne pous I0 " sinis
ter valley nled viii disrupted rocks split with enor
NOUS nssures, from which, during the season Of rans
the Eaters well up and overflow the country far and wde
completely nterruptng passage between Peten and Vera
squier described the people Of Vera Paz having many
the characte etice Of those OF Petep and gave
teresng account Of their reduction by the Dominican mis-
sonares under lead OF the celebrated and pous Bishop
Las Casas The country 10 an irregular table snd gene
rally high cool and s.iubrous, from which the waters
south and into the Bay Of Honduras The third and least
known district Of this Central American terra iuco0a, Ia
q S whuS the e.
70 whom have been aggregated the Nanches Choes, and
other tribes and families, who fed here soon after the
strange and sulen people Mr.. Squier gave graphic
count drawn from the manuscript relations OF ancient
as be nss collected during bis long and aboous research
into the history Of Central America and the conditions
md relations Of lis existing Popu!atons He dscreditsd
are the crumbiiDg remains, while maintaining that
% the %s ssss aDS viii the ere
OF those monuments lie observed, IN conclusion, that
although compelled 70 resign the traditions Of great
terious symbo aud with steps crowded with the wor
shippers Of strange aboriginal religion, we may
existence Of primitive people the heart o. Central
America, Of The same stock with ts most advanced and
powerful nations and with character habits, religion and
government little, At ALL changed from what they were
at the time Of the discovery. requires, he added,
none Of the pomp and circumstance Of gorgeous specu
laton 10 draw this unexpored region The attention OF
the student and advenurer, who may ind here more
Interesting and important field for research nvestga
ton than among the desert and iceberS Of The
Pole or among the sable sons Of Ethiopia"
On the conclusion Of the address the lecturer was warm
y applsnded, and the Rev. DR.. Osgood moved vote Of
thanr. to Mr. Squrcs for the able historical paper which
he mad read At the sssme expressing opinion that
very rarely that 90 profoundly orndita docnsnt
evncbg the research 0 The scholar and the care Of the
composer, had been read before tho Society he con
cluded 81 moSi that copy DO secured preserved
tn the archives Of the Institution.
CkaOOp Afterwards the nrsna NJ .