The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-21

tive OF war nd with dancing and In cee OK.
the parish priest takes part, custom peea' to each
pabitants On these occasions the priest give ~ han
tism.
A DESERTED cry
afterwards continued my march and arrived on the
same day at Jalapa found impossible 10 ford the
river on account Of its DEPTH On the 10TH the day fol-
arrived at place known 'The Table Of Metlatoyu
ca which means "Megueyes Ia species OF large treel
town in the woods, deserted and which seemed as
though had been the capital city Of the Chichimeca
monarchy In l. were number Of monuments, whi,h
had remained undiscovered until our explorations The
city has around it stone WALL intended for defence avo
yards in thickness and ten feet high 1t has great gate
defended by bastions made Of stone. discovered q
palace probably once the residence Of the royal family
oyc Of the behoder the possession OF works OF art not
heretofore accorded by the civilized nations OF tho world
to the knowledge and use Of the native Mexicans of
ancient times found many fine specimens OF archi-
lecture, sculpture and painting.
ANCIENT MEXICAN ARCHITECTURE.
The palace is constructed Of fine, polished square
sroy coating Of paint which is found in several places
the outside of the building On the west side Of the
lower part Of tho dial is painted the figure Of native,
sword In hand. The sword is of Chinese or Moorish
pattern was surprised to find that the paint upon the
outside of tho building had penetrated through the
plaster and marked the stone. The plaster is inch
thick The palace possesses two lateral DOORS but they
were Theoretically closed with stone slabs An arch In
the centre OF the building had been broken In covering
everything below 1t with fragments and blocks Of stone
and mortar These debris were overgrown with wild
vegetation 1t with the greatest Of difficulty
that we succeeded In opening of the DOORS our
object being to look for some of the ancient treasures
supposed TO he sti existing, concealed there To the
north of the paace Is reservoir and grounds doubt
once used for recreation By the royal family. The
palace is protected by works OF prodigously strong
character The streets of the city can still easily be
traced They are all tagged with polished stone Near by
Is virgin forest possessing trees valuable for dyeng
purposes and for elegant aud costly constructions.
found several places connected by canals and possessing
aqdeducts and reservoirs, all in good condition None
OF the In these canals permitted off,
but the superhuous was conducted into deep wells.
CURIOUS IDOLS
Notwithstanding the limited which travelled
successful in securing several dolsthree of them
quite large. One will wegh from four hundred to
five hundred pounds. This one Is OF smooth stone, and
the whole the workmanship is of very finished
character. The principal idol is surmounted with q
one part OF the stone Is niche, and in this the figure
OF woman, with breast uncovered On the reverse
side Of the whole is figure OF the cross. Two other
idols which secured weighed near three hundred
pounds each. They bear marks OF inury-,accable to
the effects Of the weather and 10 the limbs OF the trees
that fell upon them II was necessary to employ twenty
10 the three larger idols place OF safety
was not able 10 go through the entire city, but in
my opinion ii extends far into the woods 1t with
difficulty reached as far did. In order not 10
lose ourselves had to keep constantly calling out to
each other
As far as could Judge from what saw, and from
what learned from persons living in the neighborhood
warriors. II Is probable that they went out expc
dion, expecting TO reurn and did So and before
leaving carefully closed up the palace MS above described
and took the necessary precautions to preserve their
treasures
On The Nth took up my line OF march for the other
uncutivated section known az 'The Table Of Amistlan
Some of the trees which met with could not be
rounded BY eight men taklng hold Of each oth6rs'
hands We aso found tho ruins Of another city, but 1t
was by no means rs lnrgs ~ the others.
Political Project Of the Department Of Tlaxcala.