The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-02-12

l HSSSs aAON9 SS~6S ~"N
kinds Of monkeys. ( The ornaments
;delicately craven on the robes of the
party, the tassels and fringes, the
bracelets and afmelets, the elabor-
ate cnfls Of the hair and beard are
all entire. One Of the chiefs stands
livery erect and carries in his arms
an animal resent bling : chamois up
On bis right arm, and in his left
handIa branch 'bsaring fine flowers.
Around his otesnplss are a 6llet
adorned in front with = rosstte.-
One of tho other characters; in q
tragicsl attitpde, holds q square
vessal resembling = basket, in his
left hand, and drawn, dagger in
his right, while on his head is
worn, , ronpded cap, At the base Of
which is 8 horn, The sarbs fboth
consists Of : robe falling from the
shoulders to the ankle, and short
tunic underneath, descending to the
knee, and are richly and tastefully
decorated with embroidcries and
fringes, whilst the hair and beard
are arranged with study and taste.
The limbs are dellneated with Pc
culiar accuracy, and the muscles
and bones faithfully, though some
what too strongly marked. .vJ
After proceeding farther, the party
reached q large room with high
arched rsof, in which were the en-
frances to many other CHAMBERS
This contained the crowning gem of
the wonders-nothing less than a
huge sarcophagus of copper-nine
feet long and three feet in width,
minutely sculptured, within and
without, with several hundred
figures representing an immense
funeral procession and ceremonies
relating to the dec eased chieftar,
with emblcms and other devices.
The lid was partially removed, and
revealed q quantity Of bones and
jayelins. 1855 -....'.
In one Of the secluded corners of
this apartment, and few feet be-
low the level of the floor, is the
arched entrance to an unexplored
chamber-approached by narrow
passage-way down through hide
Gus stone stairway. The party,
after repeated efforts to effcct an
entrance, we're obliged to abandon
it. In plainly defined Indian char
acters,is the significant inscription.
"All hope abandon, ye who enter
in, an nadmonition which, while
it tended only to excite. and in
crease the curiosity Of the explorers
was wisely needed. sl.. 80 .r@..gz
The knowledge Of this ancient
aud interesting race does, NOT seem,
by any means, to have been confined
to statuary and sculpture. Their
weapons. and their jewel ornaments
with which their persons were
adorned, though principally of cop
per, are in some instances, finished
with gold and silver, and carved in
the most exquisite manner conceiy-
able, indicating mechanical genius
and scientific attachments Of the
highest order. The luxury and re-
fnement of m enlightened civiliza-
tion are clearly dclineated in these
mysterious images and devices,
rather than the wrctchedness, ig-
norance, and superstitions Of semi
barbarous race, as eminent authors
Of the present age have surmised
our country, previous to it's discoy-
cry by Columbus, to have been in
habited by. - stass% @sosaz
AT present the strictest vigilance
is observed at the caye-no person
being allowed to enter it by per-
mission from one or more of the ex-
plorers. who are all, at present, the
favored guests of the Rodman house.
We congratulate tho exploring
party, and the scientific association
they represent. for having, in def
ahce OF the perlls OF the adventure,
and the ruthless ravages Of time,
brought to light these monuments Of
ancient grandeur and magni6cenee;
and our gratitude at.being furnished
for publication the details Of re-
searches 50 thrilling and astounding
in their character, is only equalled
by the absorbing interest which wo
feel confident our readers will ex-
perience in their perusal. era
During the interval of proceeding
further with their Investigations. we
understand it to he the. intention Of
the party having the relies in their
possession to ship the movable por-
tien of them at once to New York,
If permission from the War Depart
ment for their removal can be OBJ
tanned. Rock Island Argus.
!, Cory 0'Lanu's Eplstle.