The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-05-09
NO.. 4S.


lakes of considerable extent, several riv~
ers and swamps and bayous lnnumerable
q lofty mountain was found, which was
and the trees upon it's top soon
felled, permitting an uninterrupted view
Of the valley below. The grandusr and
loveliness Of the scene is described a.
perfectly bewildering. Mr.. Chapman,
son of the celebrated American artist,
who accompanied the expedition, writes
that during his whole life in Italy he
meyer looked upon landscape so en-
chantlngly beautiful at the same time 50
grand and striking. Little time, how>
ever, could be spent in viewing the en-.
chanting valley. The great work was
still before the party, and tho axemen
were soon pushed forward upon the trail
toward the lost city. -
As the explorers cut their way thro'
the forest the trees grew larger and old
err; showing that the verges Of the for
est were the last to be abandoned, and
had been cultivated long after the inter-
ior had become wilderness. Most Of
the beasts Of prey, natives of the Amer
lean continent, as well as animals pecul-
lar to tropical climates. were seen in
great numbers, and insects innumerabls,
many of them before unknown to natur-
alists, gave great annoyance to the ad-
yenturers. Gen. Lyon writes that the
bottom lands of the Mississippi do not
compare with those to be found in the
Metaltaloyuca country, either for soil or
verdure or impenstrability, frequently
his whole party not being able to make
more than 500 yards ofsurveys per day.
After dangerous and wearisome
work the lost city was finally reached,
and for the first time the foot Of the An
glo Saxon pressed its streets With awe
and wonder the party gazed upon the,
works of an extinct race. Trees hun
dreds OF years old were growing among
the ruins, showing that the city had been
abandoned before the days Of Cortez, and
the architecture Of the buildings is OF an
order before unknown upon this conti.-
nent Some few houses are in tolera-
bic state Of preservation, and still hablt-
able, while their walls are adorned with
paintings OF rare beauty and merit
Carved doorways and images abound in
every street, svincing in their former in,
habitants knowledge Of the fine arts
not found among the most civilized abb
original races. Most remarkable Of all
is, some OF this sculpture indicates among
the people the existence of the Christian
religion. Places Of worship are said
to be numerous, and upon the reverse Of
statue Of a man is carefully carved
that emblem Of Christianity, the cross.
Whence this race or what their fate is
mystery. The existence Of this city
is unknown to the Aztecs, and not tra-
dltlon concerning them is extant among
the indians, who when spoken to res.
pcctirg them reply, Antique, Antique
The doors Of the houses were generally
closed with rocks, showing tho abandon.
ment Of the city to have been precon--
certed movement but whether this was
caused by civil wars, fears Of savage
, foes or earthquake, is mere conjecture
Gen. Lyon will make thorough ex'
3 plora,ion of the Metaltaloyuca country,
Q and his report will be received with
r rare interest. II the few letters received
/ 1T the capitol from the party state facts
. the lost city will cause commotion ir
!. the literary world, as its development,
o must throw light on the history of the
lost races of America. The Spanisf
? party who visited it in October, say the
r ruins bear little resemblance to those O.
{ Yucalan or any other portion OF Span
4 ish America and their paintings ant
4 sculpture show them to have fully as ia,
!, advanced in the arts and sciences as tn
a most enlightened European nations 0
o their own day, .- yui
0 The statements of the Spanish part,
:, must be received with many grains Q
o allowance. Americans who have trav
: eled through Yutican and other old set
i tied States of Mexico concur in tn
II option that every fact is greatly exag
r gerated, and that the lost city is but tn
n ruins Of some Spanish city, deserted b
|. its inhabitants during the slave Insured
4 ton early in the present century. N
If record Of such city Is to be found in th
: Mexican archives, aud If it was ever vi
Il der Spanish rule it, existence had fade
y from tho public mind. The country
= filed with ruins Of most remarkab
1t character, and which a casual observ,
ir would pronounce to be four or five Gel
l. turies old, but which are known to ha,