The union Democrat., 1869-02-13
SONORA. TUOLUMNE COUNTY, FEBRUARY l3 1869

arnsets, the elaborate curlS of the hair and
beard are oil entire. One of the chiefs stands
very erect aud carries in his arms an animal
| resembling ehsmois upon his right arm, and
IN his left hand abranch bearing fine flowers.
Around his temples are flet adorned in
front with o rosette. One of the other char
acters, In tragical attitude. holds square
vessel, resemb bling basket, in his left hand,
and drawn dagger in the right. while on
bis head is worn a rounded cap, at the base
of which is horn. The garments of both
consist OF a robe falling from the shoulders to
the ankle, and short, tunc underneath,
descending to the knee, and are richly and
tastefully decorated with embroideries and
fringes, whilst the hair and beard are ar
ranged with study and taste. The limbs are
delineated with peculiar accuracy, and the
muscles and bones faithfully, though some
what TOO strongly marked.
After proceeding farther, the party reached
large room with high arched roof, in
which were the entrances to many other
chambers This contained the crownng gem
of the wonders-nothIng less than a huge
sarcophagus OF ccpper-nine feet long and
three feet in width. minutely sculptured,
within and without, with several hundred fig
ures, representing an immense funeral pro-
cession and ceremonies relating to the deceas-
cd cheftain with emblems and other devices
The lid was partially removed and revealed a
quantity If bones and javelins.
In one of the secluded corners of this apart
nent, and few feet below the level of the
floor. is the arched entrance to an unexplored
chamber-approache by q narrow passage
way down through a hideouS stone stairway
The party, after repeated efforts to effect an
entrance, were obliged to abandon it. In
plainly defined Indian characters, it bears
the sign, ,ficant inscription. "All hope aban-
don, ye who enter in, an admonition which,
while it tended only TO excite and increase
the curiosity of the explorers, was wisely
needed.
The knowledge of this ancient and inter-
estins race does not seem, by any means, to
bave been confined to statunry and sculpture.
Their weapons. and the jewel ornaments with
which their persons were adorned, though
urineipaliv OF copper, are, in some instances,
finished with gold and silver, and carved in
the most exquisite manner conceivable, indi-
eating mechanical genius and scientific at
tainments of the highest order. The luxury
and refinement of an enlightened civilization
are clearly delneated in these mysterious
images and devices, rather than the wretch
edness, ignorance, and supersttions of n
sem-berbarous race, as eminent authors of
the present age have surpised country,
previous to its discovery by Columbus to
have been inhibited by.
At presant the strictest vigilence is observ-
ed at the cave-no person being allowed to
enter it without permission from one or more
Of the explorers, who are all, at present, the
favored guests Of the Rodman House.
We congratulate the exploring party, and
the association they represent, for having, in
defiance of the perils Of the adventure, and
the ruthless ravages of time. brought to light
these monuments of ancient grandeur and
magnfcence and our gratitude at being
furnished for publication the details of re-
searches so thrilling and astounding in their
character, is only eqraed by the absorb
ing interest which we feel confident our read
ers will experience in their perusal
During the interval of proceeding further
with their Investigations, we understand it
to be the intention Of the party having the
relics in their possession tc ship the movable
portion of them at once to New York. if per-
mission from the War Department for their
removal can he obtained.