Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-10
Correspondence New York Herald ]


Correspondence New York Herald
CoRDovA, MEXICO, March q, lSGG.-N,
little excitement prevails among the Amer
leans in Mexico in regard TO an unexploreC
district lying about three hundred mile
Northwest from Jalapa, and which Genera
ii. Il. Lyon, late Of the Confederate army, i
now engaged in surveying. In nearly every
department in the Empire are TO be fount
immense bodies of land which the foot o
the Spaniards never trod many of them
impenetra5le forests, inhabited only by beast.
Of prey, and whose shades the imagination
of the native Indian had peopled with de
mons and evil spirits, upon whose domain i
was more than death TO trespass. Such il
the land which Lyon has gone to explore.
HOW THE CITY WAS DISCOVERED.
While the Imperial Commissioners wer,
investigating Government titles 10 lands tC
be allowed to emigrants, they learned oi
the existence in the "Tierra Caliente" OF
the district in question, and early i'm Octo-
Der last an exploring party was dispatched
30 this terra incognita.' Upon reaching
Meia de Mocatepeque, a small village near
est the borders of the forest, they were cOun-
seled by the Indians to proceed no further,
n no human being ever passed the cOniine;
Of their cleared lands and returned alive.
demons were said TO dwell in every hills
giants Of hideous mien made their abode
beside every streamlet, while monsters of
every lorm and guise stood ready at every
fOOtstcp to seize and devour the unwary
traveller; all was mala," and not onc sylla-
ble of good could be uttered in favor Of the
land.
Unable to procure sufficient assistance
from the natives, the party proceeded to
make their explorations a. 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
distance Of several leagues in the interior
they discovered the ruins of an ancient city
of great extent, and of whose existence not
the slightest tradition prevails. Becoming
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
nt once cndcavored 10 send a stronger and
more efficient party TO prosecute II, selecting
General Lyon, of Kentucky, as commander
orthe expedition. The General is admir-
ably adapted 10 the post lie was Lieuten-
ant Colonel of the ID (rebel Kentucky
Infantry, and was captured by General
Grant at Fort Donelson. Subsequently eX-
changed, hc was promoted Colonel, and
a0crward commanded a cavalry brigade in
the rebel army, serving with Forrest. Since
his residence in Mexico he has been Sur
veyor General of the Imperial Colonization
Association. General Lyon was unable TO
perfect his plans for the work until the 6tlr
Of February, upon which date his party,
consisting 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
TuNpau, in the State of Vera Cruz
SECOND VISIT TO THE 10 ST CITY.
Entering the Jungle at the same point as
did the previous explorers the party pro-
ceeded slowly with their surveys. The neigh
boring Indians finding that their legends
came valuable assistants, and large numbers
being employed, the work soon began 10
progress rapidly. After encountering two
or three lakes Of considerable extent several
rivers and swamps and bayous innumerable,
lofty mountain was found, which was as
cended, andthc trees upon its top soon ielled,
pcrmitting an uninterrupted view of the
valley below The grandeur and loveliness
Of the scene il described as perfectly bewil-
dering. Mr.. Chapman, son Of the American
artist, who accompanies the expedition,
writes that during his whole life in Italy he
never looked upon a landscape so enchant-
lngly beautiful, and at the same time so
,rrand and striking Little time, however
could be spent in viewing the enchanting
valley; the grult work was still before the
party, and the axmen were soon pushed for
ward upon the trail toward the lost city.
THE FOREST suRRoUN DING THE PALACE,
As the explorers cut their way through
the forest the trees grew larger and older,
showing that the ycrges of the forest were
the last TO be abandoned, and had been cul-
tiyated long after the interior had become
wilderness Most Of the beasts Of prey, ma
lives of the American continent, As well rs
animals peculiar TO tropical climates, were
seen i'm great numbers, and insects lnnumer-
able, many of them before unknown to ma
turalists. gave great annoyance 10 the ad-
vcnmrers.
General Lyon writes that bottom lands
of the Mississippi river do not compare
with those he found in the Metaltaloyuca
onuptry. either for soil, vcrdure or lmpene-
trability, frequently his whole party moi
being able To make more than hive hundred
yards Of surveys per day.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY.
A0er dangerous and wearisome worl
the lost city was finally reached, and Tor the
first time the foot Of the Anglo-NaXoi
nrasscd its streets, With awe and wonder
he marty gazcd upon the works OF an eX
t;n,i race. Trees hundreds of years ole
were growing among the ruins, showing tina
tb, civ had been abandoned before the days
oC Cortez and the architecture of the bmld
mos is of an order before unknown upol
tbis continent. Some few houses are IN :
tolcrable state Of preservation, ana SUI
bahitablc. while their walls are adorned VIII
noiutiurs of rare beauty and merit. Carve'
loorways and images abound IN every stree
cyipcing in their former inhabitants
lnovle1rc of the fine arts not found anon
Inc most civilized aboriginal races Mos
remarkable Of all is, some Of TINS sculptur
indicates among the people the existence q
The Christian religion. Places Of worsm
are said 10 be numerous, and upon 'hS re r.
verso of 4 statuettc Of man Is careiull
carved that emblem of Christianity
cross.
Whence this race or what their tate is
,,,vy,c,v The existence Of this city W.
nnknown TO the Aztecs, and not n traditlo
concerning them is cNtant among the II
lians who. when spoken to respecting them
rruly ANTIQUE" Antique The d"oi
,f the houses were genera'ly ci"'e'
showing the abandonment OF the H'!
have been a preconcertod movement h'
whether this was caused by civil wars, iea
of savage foes or earthquakes, Is mere COZ
General LYON will make thorough e
liberation of The Metaltaloyucs country, al
H. r,nort will bc received with rare lnte
c.t ii the few letters received at the GAP
tal from the party state facts, the lost ci
v,;ll c,use 4 commotion in the eliierary worl
as its development must throw hgh' up
The history of the lost races OF Ameri'
The Spanish party who visited 1t IN OcIoo
saw the ruins bear little resemblance TO mo
Of Yuca,an, or any other portion OF Spanl
America. and their paintings and scnlptu
al nA