The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-05-09
A LOST CITY.

No little excitement prevails among
the Americans in Mexico in regard to an
unexplored district of country hitherto
unknown to the authorities, lying about
800 miles northwest from Jalapa, and
which Gen. r. Lyon, late of the Confed-
crate army, is now engaged in survey
ing In nearly every department in the
empire are to be found immense bodies
of land which the foot OF the Spaniard
never trod many OF them lmpenetrable
forests, inhabited only by beasts Of prey,
and whose shades the Imagination of the
native Indians had peopled with demons
and evil spirits. upon whose domain it
was more than death to trespass Such
is the land which Lyon has gone to ex.
| plore.
While the Imperial Commissioners
were investigating Government titles to
lands to be allotted to emigrants, they
learned of the existance in the "Tierra
Caliente" Of the district in question, and
early in October last an exploring party
was dispatched to this"tierra incognita,"
Upon reaching Mesa de Mecatepeque,
small village nearest the borders Of the
4 forest, they were counselled by the In
dams to proceed no further, as no hu,
man being ever passed. the confines of
their cleared lands and returned alive /;
demons were said to dwell in every hill,
giants of hideous mien made their abode
beside every streamlet, while monsters
of every form and guise stood ready at
every footstep to seize and devour the
unwary traveller; all was ''mala,' and
not one syllable of good could be uttered
in favor of the land.
Unable to procure sufficient assist
ance from the natives, the party proceed
ed to make their explorations as best
they could. The forest was peculiarly
dark and dense and the jungle almost
: impenetrable. With difficulty they cut
their way through the underground, and
being unacquainted with the Yankee
} method of 'blazing' trees, they marked
their way by tying hide ropes to trees
and bushes to mark their trail. AT the
f distance Of several leagues in the interior
> they discovered the ruins Of an ancient
city of great extent, and of whose exist
l ence not the slightest tradition prevails
Becoming exhausted by their labors, the
party, without prosecuting their search
es any further, returned home, reaching
: the capital late in Dec The Emperor
r expressed great interest in the result o
the exploration, and at once attempted
to send stronger and more efficien
I party to prosecute 1t, selecting Genera
Il Lyon, OF Kentucky, as commander OF thu
d expedition. Gen. Lyon was unable tt
perfect the plans for the work until th'
!, 9th OF Feb, upon which date his party
consisting Of Americans, started from th'
o City of Mexico. They travelled in stag
y es and carts about 250 miles the bal
: ance OF their journey was completed OF
h the backs Of lonkeys, arriving at thei
Is journeys end about the first week il
IT March The country is called Metaltal
s oyuca, and is situated some one hundre,
d miles west Of Tuxpau, in the State o
i; Vera Cruz
Q Entering the jungle at the same poin
as did the previous explorers, the part
IN proceeded slowly with their surveys. =
IN The ne'ghboring Indians finding tha
N their legends were all false and thci
fears groundless, became valuable assist
ID ants, and large numbers being omploys
Ar the work soon began to progress rapid