The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-13
RUINED PALACES.
The Ruins of the Incas-The Native Popu-
lation of Central America.
Pittsburg Dispatch.

Pittsburg Dispatch.
A full bearded gentleman, whose fac
was slightly bronzed by exposure, wa
standing on the steps of the postoffice
on Fifth avenue, yesterday, with
packet of foreign letters in his hand
when Dispatch reporter accosted him
The person was Mr.. Francis r. Fast
formerly of this city, but now secretar,
of the Central American Syndicate com
pany. with headquarters in New York
Mr.. Fast is in the city on brief busi
ness visit,I but is fresh from five
months tour in the states of Centra
America, having arrived in New York
only last week. A keen observer and
thorough linguist, Mr.. Fast has q
wealth of experience stored away re-
garding those old little republics down
in the tropics.
'Most, or 1 might say all, of my
travelling was done on the back of a
mule with only servant. 1 would
travel all day and atnight, after swinging
my hammock under tree in the public
square of the little village where l in
tended to rest, a crowd of the principal
men of the village would gather around
and ask innumerable questions about
my country in queer, innocent fashion.
After I had told them all, they in turn
would relate the traditions of their an
cestors; of the fabulous mines of gold
and silver; of the Spanish conquest,
and the glory of their departed great
ness. I travelled from the British
colony of Belize to the Incas' ruins in
the province of Copan, in the republic
of Honduras"
uWhat do you know of the reported
discovery by a priest of key to the
Mexican and Central American hero
glyphicsP"
81 know nothing beyond what have
read since l returned to New York. L
have heard nothing of it down there.
In fact, there is very little in it.
don't see how any key can be obtained
that would unlock the Incas' mysteries.
There is no vestige of the old language
left, and there was no contemporane-
GUS Ian guage that was reduced to writ
ing that l know or ever heard of. But
of these Incas' ruins, they are wonder
full. You come upon them in the midst
of morass and swamp. Miles of mag
nifcent columns, the wreck of the pal
aces of emperors who ruled before
Cortez came. Next to the beauty of
their ruins comes the beauty of their
remains of which are to be
found within the walls of every temple
and palace"
"WhaJ was the most striking thing
in the way of ruins that you encoun-
,eredP"
ga wonderful road. The Appian
way has been the boast of antiquarians
.or ages, but what do you think of a
.oad sixty miles long in the heart of
Central America, constructed over
and through morass and jun
,le, and exquisitely paved with square
)locks of stone as compactly set
IS our Belgian blocks of to-dayP
)ne of the Inca emperors had that
Dad built expressly for his bride, so
hat when she came on her bridal trip
o his palace her mule train would have
fit road upon which to travel. The
radition says that this ruler, whose
anne has been forgotten, had 1000
nen for nearly a year working on this
The ruins are there to show
Or the work yet, and travelled on that
trange thoroughfare over whose
tones, still firmly set, the tangled vines .
nd braches of the giant trees formed a
anopy that almost excluded the sun i
nine."
Sand the people lazy and dishonest, t
presumep" suggested the reporter. '
sLazyP Yes," replied the gentle I
ian, "but not dishonest. On the other '
md, they are strictly honest. Once 7
lonth a peon is sent from the mines /
own to the colony for coin to pay the v
ands. He has no guard and receives b
} cents day for his services. He re- f
rms regularly with from $4,000 to f.
1000 in gold in the net on the mules b
lck. The. village is sixty miles from e
e mine. The native women are the
'ettiest on the continent, but they are
e most slovenly, too, may add"
r. Fast will return to Central Ameri-