The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-17
n III ruriS rOICDIDDul'
A WONDERFUL AZTEC CITY FOUND IN
SOUTHWEST MEXICO.
1t is Completely Surrounded by Almost In
accessible Hills and Mountains,
and to Gain an Entrance is
Next to Impossible.

anu 10 WALL al IHtL anu -
Next to Impossible.
CITY OF MEXICO, Dec. Is. - Mr..
Juan Alvarez, who has just returned
from an exploring expedition in the
southwest part of the republic, re-
ports that he found a city which has
never been entered by white men and
which has evidently been in existence
for hundreds Of years, going back
before the conquest of the country by
the Spaniards. 1t is an old Aztec
city and is so guarded by nature that
il is an impossibility to get in if the
inhabitants object. The city lies in
the almost inaccessible mountains in
the extreme southwestern part of the
country and is SO far from civil
ization that few white men
have ever been in the neighborhood.
1t was the pureSt accident that
Alvarez became aware of the presence
of city in the vicinity and after he
found it all of his efforts to reach it
were unavailing owing to the persist
ant opposition of the natives. He had
been travelling over the mountains in
search of an outlet to the Pacific ocean
and reached an elevated plateau. He
crossed to the farther edge from which
he had magnificent view of the
western slope of the mountains. In a
far distant valley he saw what he took
to be houses and by the aid of his glass
he discovered a collection of houses
and at once set about reaching the
place.
After days of hard climbing over
the intervening mountains he came to
a point which overlooked the place
and saw that it was city, regularly
laid out in streets and was peopled
with a race which evidently knew
something about civilization. The
houses were of stone and were sur.
rounded with yards in which were
flowers and shrubs. On all sides
were evidence of taste shown by the
inhabitants, and it was plain that he
had found a city which was not
known to the outside world. A care
full examination showed him that the
city was in natural amphitheater
and was accessible from one point
only. He saw that the only means of
access was through long and mar
row defile which led into the
from The Pacific coast
side, and he started to reach
the place where he could
find this entrance. He made an out
line drawing of the city as it appeared
to him from the distant mountain top,
and this is all he has to show that
there is a city in the heart of the
for he was never allowed
to reach the spot. From this draw
ing it is plain that the city has not
less than 1000 inhabitants. The
houses are all of stone and are sup
piled with doors and windows. In
the center was large building which
was undoubtedly the temple of wor-
ship, for on its walls could be seen
the sculptured designs representing
the deity. 1t was on mound like
the ancient teocallies which are found
in various parts of the country, and
people could be seen paseing to and
out of it at all hours of the day.
After ten days of arduOus labor AL
varez found himself at the foot of the
on the western slope, and
set about searching for the canyon
leading to the hidden city. He had
so well localized the place that he had
no difficulty in finding the entrance,
but he was met by a band Of Indians
who refused to let him proceed. They
offered him no violence, but insisted
that he should go back. He told them
that he had come over the mountains
and he did not know how
to get back. He was kept
a prisoner for two days while q run
ner went into the mountains and re-
turned with orders from some one in
who said that Alvarez
must be sent back. He was blind
folded and placed on a mule. He
travelled in that condition for three
days, only having the bandage re-
moved from his eyes atnight. At the
middle of the fourth day he was
taken from his mule and set free He
found himself ON the Pacific coast in |
such position that it was impossible
FOR him to tell which way ne had |
come, He worked his way to town |
and came here by Guaymas.
-o-s-e