Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-04-23

>SSASSAy AAes<A0 w AOpAOoouV u08GAs Ou
one of these, eyes made of q blush
stone had been fastened. The geld or
naments in possession of Mr.. Ortiz are
the only ones that have been found up
to the present time. They consist Of
two rings, one of open-work, of . very
delicate description, which has pro-
lection upon one side in the shape of
the head-dress or crown worn by the
ancient kings or emperors. It meas
ures about one inch and q quarter in
the widest part. The other is of
plain beaten gold, and is about one
inch and half wide. They are both
Of very small diameter, and could have
been worn only by person having
very small hand. Besides the rings
there are also ornaments Of beaten gold,
evidently intended to be worn on the
head, q number of gold beads, and
plate of gold in shape of a sandal,
which is supposed to have been wornby
the kings son, between his foot, and
the sandal, which up to this day is
used by the lower classes in all parts of
Mexico. the articles of copper are
very few: Among them are Ratchet,
of the exact shape of those found
among the cities of ancient Greece:
four bells, made on the same principle
of our sleigh bells; and q number of
needles. A very singular thing is that
among the ruins of Palenque there were
found number of crosses made in e.
actly the same shape as those used by
the Christians Of to-day. Some of
them are of stone, and some Of obsid-
ian, and were worn as we wear them,
suspended from the neck. Several of
the idols, also, have necklaces of beads
with pendant crosses. Among the pol
ished stones, which were used as orna-
ments, or insignia, there are two which
bear the regular Greek cross inlaid
with silver. In one of them, stars,
made Of copper pyrites, are set in tie
extremity of each arm. The mirrors,
which are said to have been made for
the use of the kings, are we'll worthy
attention. They are made of plates Of
polished copper pyrites, and ale to-day
as bright as when they were used by
their royal owners years ago. One Of
them is flat and polished on both sides,
and is about half an inch. thick, and
three inches in diameter. It has holes
in the circumference through which to
pass d cord. The others are polished
on one side only, the reverse being left
unpublished and convex. A sceptre Of
polished stone, made in sections, and
held together by means of copper rod,
which passes from one extremity to the
other, is also very curious. It is about
ten inches long, and is of an exceeding
" hard, greenish mottled stone. It is
composed of some eight or ten different
pieces. Tha part ment to be held in
the hand is round, and the end repre-
sents a grotesque head with crown mp
on it,. The musical instruments are of
the most rude and primitive descrip-
ton, and are principally of earthen-
ware. The stamps for marking cloth are
of very intricate and grotesque designs.
Some of them are evidently intended
for making borders, and can be applied
continuously in exactly the same way as
those used by the makers of embroid-
cry patterns to-day. Among the water
jars in the collection there are some
which are particularly noticeable from
the hideousness of the faces which form
the upper part of the jar. There is one
also Of o peculiar style of ornamenta-
tion consisting of interlacing veins or
cords. This jar has a very fine glaze or
polish over the outer surface, and indi-
Gates high degree of perfection in the
potter's art. Another most singular
object is an ef6gy cut ont of o hard
black stone, which resembles a negro.
It represents the true Ethiopian type,
not only in the shape of the head and
in the chise]ing of the features, but al
SO in the formation of the figure. 1t il
highly polished, and is about eight inch.
es in height. When it is remembered
that the people who carved these idols
were entirely ignorant of the use Of iron,
and had no tools except those which
they made themselves of coppe,
or stone, it is difficult to conceive how
they achieved the degree of perfection
to which an inspection of their works
evidently proves had arrived. It is i'm,
possible to give here more than a briel
description of the articles composing
this rare collection, for there are in 4
more than a thousand objects, all vel
worth careful inspection. MIR. Orti,
has also brought with him most won
derful curiosity, which was procured ir
Ecuador. Its is lmummified head O,
an Indian warrior reduced to the size O,
a small orange. There are only three o.
these known to be in existence, Ont
IN tho Museum q! Madrid, whion VA