Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-08
A LOST CITY.
Remarkable piscOvery in Mexico

From the New York Herald, 25th ult.l
CoRDovA, MEXICO, March 27, 1866. No
little excitement prevails among the
Americans in Mexico in regard to an un-
explored district of country, hitherto
unknown to the authorities, lying about
three hundred miles northwest from
Jalaps, and which Gen. r. Lyon, late of
the Confederate army, is now engaged in
surveying. In nesrly every department
of the Empire are to be found immense
bodies of land which the foot Of the
Spaniard never trod many of them i'm
penetrable forests, inhabited only by
beasts of prey and whose shades the
imagination Of the native Indian had peo-
pied with demons and evil spirits, upon
whose domain it was more than death to
trespass Such is the land which Lyon
has gone to explore. tl
While the Imperial Commissioners
we're investigating Government titles to
lands TO be allotted to emigrants, they
learned of the existence in the 'Tierra
Caliente Of the district in question,
and early in October last an exploring
party was dispatched to this terra in
cognita." Upon reaching Mesa de Mecca
tepque, small village nearest the bor-
ders of the forest, they were counseled by
the Indians to proceed no further, as no
human being ever passed the confines OF
their cleared lands and returned alive;
demons were said to dwell in every hill
giants of hideous mein made their abode
beside every streanlet, while monsters of
every form and guse 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 ALtts
Unable to procure sufficient assistance
from the natives, the party proceeded to
make their explorations as best they
could. The forest was peculiarly dark
and dense, and the jungle almost impen-
etrable. 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 hine ropes to trees and bushes
to mark their trail At the distance of
several leagues in the interior they dis
covered the ruins Of an ancient city of
great extent, and of whose existence not
the slightest tradition prevails Becom-
ing exhausted by their labors, the party,
without prosecuting their discoveries any
further, returned home, reaching the
capital late in December. The Emperor
expressed great interest in the result of
the exploration, and at once endeavored
to send stronger and more efficient
party to prosecute it, selecting General
Lyon, Of Kentucky, as commander of
the expedition. The General is admlra-
bly, adapted to the post He was Lieu
tenant Colonel of the Second (rebell
Kentucky Infantry, and was captured by
General Grant at Fort Donelson Sub
sequently exchanged, he was promoted
Colonel, and afterward commanded a
cavalry brigade in the rebel army, serv-
ing with Forrest. Since his residence
in Mexico he has been Surveyor General
Of the Imperial Colonization Association.
General Lyon was unable to perfect his
plans for the work until the 9th of Feb
ruary, upon which date his party, con
sisting Of Americans, started from the
city of Mexico They travelled in stages
and carts about two hundred and fifty
miles the balance of their journey was
completed upon the backs Of donkeys,
arriving at their journeys end about the
first week in March. The country is
called Metaltaloyuca, and is situated
some one hundred miles west Of Tuxpan,
in the State Of Vera Cruz.
Entering the jungle at the same point
as did the previous explorers, the party
proceeded slowly with their surveys
The neighboring Indians, finding that
their legends we're all false and fears
groundless, became valuable assistants,
and large numbers being employed, the
work soon began to progress rapidly
After encountering two or three lakes
Of considerable extent, several rivers and
swamps, and bayOus innumerable, a
lofty mountain was found, which was
ascended and the trees upon its top soon
felled, permitting an uninterrupted view
Of the valley below. The grandeur and
loveliness Of the scene is described as
perfectly bewildering. Mr. Chapman,
son of the celebrated American artist,
who accompanied the expedition, writes
that during his whole life in Italy he
never looked apon a landscape so en-
chantingiy beautiful, and at the same
time 50 grand and striking. Little time,