Omaha daily bee., 1891-12-13
BEFORE THE SPANlARDS CAME
Disc very of an Ancient City in the
Mountains of Southw 3stern Mexico.
NC NUMeNTS OF AZTEC CIVILIZATION.
Graded i'm impossible Heights and
Guarded With II Jealous Care, in
it a Remnant of a Once Great
People Find a Resting Place.

CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. 12.-Mr. Juan
Alvarez, who has just returned from an ex-
ploring expedition in the southwestern part
of the republic, reports that he has found u
city which has never been entered by white
man and which has evidently been in exist
ence for hundreds of years., going back before
the time of the conquest of the country by the
Spaniards. 1t is an old Aztec town, and the
approaches to it are SO guarded by nature
that it is an impossibllity to reach it il the
inhabitants do not want the traveller to get
Ia. The city lies III the almost inaccessible
mountains in the region lying in the extreme
southwestern part of the country, and is so
far away from civilization that few white
men have ever been in the neighborhood.
1t was by tho purest accident that Alvarez
became aware that a city was anywhere in
the vicinity, and after he found it all of his
endeayors TO reach il were unavailing, on ac-
count OF the persistent opposition of the
natives.
Saw il from n distance
He had been travelling over the mountains
in search of an outlet to the Pacific ocean,
when he came to the top of an elevated
plateau and crossed to the further edge. He
had a magnificent view, and while looking
over the country saw what no took to be a
house In a far distant valley. A close in
spectlon with a glass soon convinced him
Nahb N''hb ho oo" was Icdlly u COlltCLlOu Oh
houses, and he at once set about reaching the
place to SEQ who lived in that part OF the
country.
After days of hurl work climbing over
cliffs AID mountains he reached Il place from
which he obtained a good view of the city
and saw that it was regularly laid out in
streets and was peopled with "A race who
knew something about civilization. The
houses were of stone, and were surrounded
by yards, III which were growing flowers and
shrubs, On all sides were evidences of taste
shown by the inhabitants, aud il was evident
that he had found "a city which vas not
known to the outside world.
A careful examination of the country
showed him that the city was within a nat
ural anphitheatre and was accessible from
one side only. He saw that the only means
OF access was through a long ana narrow de-
file which led into tho mountains from the
Pacific coast side, and he started to reach q
place where he could find the entrance. He
made an outline drawing of the city as it ap-
peared to him from the distant mountain top,
and this is all no has to show that there is a
city within the mountains, for he was never
allowed to reach the spot.
stopped by II Band of Indians.
From this drawing it is plain that the city
has not less than 1000 inhabitants, The
houses are all OF stone and are supplied with
doors ana windows. In the center Is q large
building, which undoubtedly is the temple
OF worship. for on its walls could be seen
seulptured designs representing tho Diety.
1t was in the shape OF the ancient 1eocalli,
which are to be found in many parts OF TINS
country, and the people could be seen pass
ing in and out Of 1t during all hours of the
day.
After ten days hard work he found him
self at the foot OF mountains on the western
slope and set about searching for the canyon
leading to the city. lie had so we'll marked
the lay of land that he had no difficulty In
finding the entrance, but ne was met by a
band OF Indians who refused 10 let him pro-
ceed. They offered him no violence, but in-
sisted that he should return. He told them
that he had come over the mountains and
that he did not know how 70 get back.
After a consultation he waa told that he