Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-14
A FORBIDDEN CITY
Set In the Midst OF High Mountains In
Southwest Mexico.

SOuthWeN mexico.
Mr.. Juan Alvarez, who has Just returned
70 the City Of Mexico. SAYS correspond
ent Of the Philadelphia Press, from an ex-
ploring expedition In the southwest part
of the republic. reports that he has found
q city which has never been entered by
white men and which has evidently been
IA existence for hundreds OF years. going
back before the time of the conquest OF
the country by the Spaniards.
IL IS al old Aztec city, and the ap-
breaches 20 10 are 50 guarded by nature
that II Is an iInpOssiblity 10 reach II If the
inhabitants do not want the traveller 10
Get III. The city jesin the most inaccessi-
bic mountains. III the region OF the cOun-
try 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.
IL was by the purest accident that Al
yareZ became aware that city was any
where in the vicinity, and, after he found
IT,. all of his endeayOrs 10 reach II were
unayailing on account of the persistent
opposition OF the natives. He had been
travelling over the mountains IN search OF
an outlet 10 the Pacific ocean, when be
came TO the top of an elevated plateau and
crossed to the farther edge. lie had mag
nlfcent view. and while looking over the
far distant valley. A close inspection
with glass soon convinced him that what
he saw vas really collection of houses,
and he at once set about reaching the
place TO see who lived in that part of the
country.
THE RAGGED APPROACH.
After DAYS OF hard work. climbing over
cliffs aud mountains he reached a place
from which be obtained good view Of tbs
city, and saw that il was regularly laid out
in streets and was peopled with race who
knew something about civilization.
The houses were OF stone and were
surrounded by yards IN which were grow
inc flowers and shrubs. On all sides we're
evidences Of taste shown by the inhabi-
tauts, and il was evident that he had found
n CITY which was not known 10 the outside
world. A careful examination OF the
country showed hun that the city was
within natural amphtheatre, aud was
accessible from one side only. He saw
that the only means of access was through
q long and narrow defile which led into
the mountains from the Pacific coast side.
and he started 10 reach the place where
he could ind this entrance. he made an
outline drawing of the city az II appeared
10 him from the distant mountaln-top.
and that Is all he has TO show that there Is
n city within the heart of the mountains,
for he was never allowed to reach the
spot.
WTLI-BUILT TOWN.
From this drawing il is plain that the
city has not less than 1900 inhabitants.
The houses are all of stone and are supplied
with doors and windows. In the centre
was large building. which was undoubt-
edly the temple of worship, Tor on us
walls could be seen sCulptured designs
haHtt
shape of the ancient teocallles. which are
10 be found in many parts of this country,
and the people could be seen passing III
and ont during all hours of the day.
After ten days of arduOus work Alvarez
found himself at the foot OF the noun
talns on the western slope and set about
searching for the canyon leading TO the city.
lie had so well marked the lay of the
land that he had no difficulty IN finding
the entrance. but be was met bv band
of Indians who refused to let him pro-
coed. They offered him no violence. but
insisted that be should return. He told
them that he had come over the noun
tains and that he did not know how 10 get
back. After consultation he Was told
that he would have to remain awhile rs q
prisoner and two runners were sent into
the mountains. who returned in a
day with orders from some one IN
authority, and Alvarez was bllndiold-
ed and placed on the back of a
mule. He travelled IN this, condition
for three days, only having the bandage
removed from his eyes az night. On the
fourth day he was told TO remove the
bandage, and when he did 80 he found
himself on the borders of the Pacihc
ocean. The Indians had gone. leaving hlm
nothing TO guide him back TO the place
where he had seen the city.