Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-01-07

and ie evidently \ natural cdrern, though IL
several places there are evidences OF its hay-
ing bs.a vidsntd, IS chisel marks can be
distinctly scoyersd um the walls-bes!des
numerous small Tecesxes a. regular inter
walls Of City feet which bear traces Of having
been hswn cut OF The ma sive solid rock
Tie second corridor, leading from the
main one, is very Notwithstanding s1
,oadsrous pillars, enwreathed with gor-
| leoas decorations. Beyoud 10 s is q shor:
| er o. g m Der in which Is the entrance TO the
4 Sanesvn .Sancforani aud which contains
one Of the granoesl collections Of antiqutr.
ian euriosiliss ever discovered on this con
tnent II contains huge pedestal in the
centre constructed of solid copper upon
which is erected . magnificent shrine.
which, with its unique inscription. denotes
! the antiquity ofi,s dsvotses. Surrounding
| it are the colossal figures Of the twelve
worshippeis. in kResling posture, and
quite contiguous TO them 10 the symmet'i.
ca. though diminutive figure 0! an Indian
maiden, with oountenancs Of surprising
beauty. and strongly marked features, in
dicat!ve Of deep thought and wondering
surprise, pointing with one hand to the ex-
pressfvc word engraven upon the wal =
.Saeoi-indica.ing thereby that the end o!
their destiny aud race is at hand. Above
them ell, on its projecting ard creAcsnt
shaped roof, are arranged in systematic
precision, cross bows. arrows and other
weapons in warlike profusion- rcmnding
one oil the ancient sons Of Persia and
Greece.
The a.mos phers 10 this apartment is al
moe. unh. to sustain animal ile-being
damp, heavy and very impure. The tor CHI
cs OF the exploring party were several times
extinguishsd, and the persons having the
expedition in charge barely escaped sutio-
| cation.
Immediately adjoining the room conta n
ing these wonders IS an obeilsk Of sotid
brass-soms seven feet in height, bsauti-
fully sculp,ured on four sides. Thoro are,
ia all, twenty one small bas-rclisfs, and
shove, below and between them is an In
scription seventy six lines in length. The
whole 10 in the best state Of preservation
scarcely q character Of the inscription il
wanting, and the figures are as sharp and
well defined as IL executed only few days
ago. One Of .he scenes represented 10 Z
circle Of the ancient aboriguss sitting in
csuncil-with the all-potsnt pipe Of peace
performing its vented circuit, while the for
tunes Of war and pence arc being discussed
in the presence OF the white winged pre-
siding genius. Another scens represented
10 q royal chisftaia followed by his sttends
ants prisoner is at his feet, while men
are being introduced, leading various ani
mails and carrying pondsrous cross bows
javslins and other weapons. Tho anlmall
represented are the elephant, polar bea'
lion, stag and various kinds OF monkeys
The ornaments dslicately craven on the
robes Of the party, the tSsses and 'ripges
tho bracelets and armlcts. tho elaborate
curls OF the hair and beard, arc all cntire
Ono Of the chiefs stands very erect, ant
c,rrics in his arms au animal resembling
csGmois upon nis right arm, and in his lef
branch bearing fire flowers. Around hi
temples are fiet. aderned in front With ,
roectte. Ono Of the characters, IL. a trasica
I attitude. holds . square vessel, resembling
basket. in his left hand, and drawn d Z
ger IN The right, while on his head is Won
rounded cap--at the base Of which is
horn. TIE garments o! both consist of
, robe falling from tho shoulders 10 the an
lie, aud shor, tunic Unilerneslii, desc end
i. ing to the knee, AMI are richly and tast {
fully decorated with embToidories and Tin
! res, whilst the hair ard be.td are aTrsnget
with study aud taste. 7 be limbs are de
lineated with peculiar sccuraey, aud ,h
muscles and hof cs faithfully, though som
what too ationgiy II srked.
Ai;sy proceeding farther TIE part,
reached large reu,a with hgh arene,
roof, il when were the euttsno to many
other chanhsra. his contained ID,
| browning gem Of the wonders rot ing les
than h.gc safcophagus Of coppeu-nin
fee. long and three feet in width, infinitely
senlrtuied. within and without. with ssvo
raj hundred figures representing an i'm
msnss funeral procession and cersmonic
. relating to the deceased chelftain, will
snblems and other devices. The lid va
, | partially removed and revealed q quantit.
Of bones and javelins.
In one Of The secluded corners Of thi
spsr.m, MT, and few feet below the lsve
Of the dor, 10 tho arched entrance to a,
= UNEMPLOYED iamber-approacbe by
narroa passageway down through hide
,ns stone stairway. The party, after re
: pssled Efforts Effect IN enhance, wer
ol' g.d to abandon il. Ia plainly define
4 | aisn Characters, il bears the signihcen
Inac.iptloa, "A topo abandon, yc VIII
cn'er m an admoni,icn which, while
i. ttrG,d raly 70 excite and increase tn
| ca,ie~iiy Z - explorers. Wa wise.
hesdsd
The Auowlc lie of this ancient and intel
esting race does not seem, by rnY means
- h,ve been confined simply TO statusr
and sculpture. Their weapons, aud tn
7, Jewel ornaments with which their person
: were adorned, thou. b principally Of copper
are IN acme instances, finished with gol,
. ard silver and carved u the most expuisit
manner conceivable, indicating mechanics
Il genius and scler tiiic Vttainments OF tn
. highest order. The luxury and retinemen
o. an enlightened civilization are clear
: dslnsatsd in these mysterious images an
devices, rather than the wretchsdness, ig
ncrance aud superstitions Of . semi -barbar
Gus race, As eminent authors If the pYessn
age have surmissd ourcountry, previous I
its discovery by Columbus, 70 have bee
inhabited by.
Az present the strictcst vigilance 10 OF
served al the cave no person being Above
" TO enter il without permission from one Q
more Of the explorers, who are oil, at pref
: ent, the favored guests Of tho Rsdma
House
We congratulate the exploring party an
. the scientitic association they rcpresen
for having, in defiance Of the psrils Of th
adventure, and Of the ruthless ssrayases .
time. brought 10 light these moments c
/; ancient grsnieur and msgnificepce, an
= eur gratitude ct being furnished for publ
: cation the details Of re searches 60 thrilln
and astounding in ,hs'r character, 10 cnl
equallsd by the absorbing interest whic
No feel confident our rerders will sxpsr
encs in their psrusal.
During III. interval Of proceeding fuI
Their with their Investigations, VIC undsl
stand it 10 be the intention Of the par
having the relics 10 their possession, 10 chi
the movable portion Of them at once /
New York-if permission from the war d,
partment for their removal can 10 ob.ainst
A man named Shaughr essy, was horr
bly, stabbed in cold blood by . colored ma