Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-30

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"However," continued Iklapel, 'sthe
destruction of the city of Atlantis .oc-
Cured at period when mankind had
arrived at state of great learning and
civilization, for we know that the most
wondrous cities then stood on the shores
of the western ocean, to which came
great ships from far away toward the
setting sun, from distant islands, taking
many months for their voyages, and
bringing rare and curious treasures
from another race. It was the people
of the far south who were spared, and
they gradually came northward, extend
ing their settlements along the great
rivers, building mounds in imitation Of
the sacred city"
GIVE seen them" interrupted Gilbert,
"and they are the source of much dis
cussion among our learned men,"
ssThey still exist thenr' inquired Ikla-
pei, and continued: 'sThese people went
far to the north and dug deep in the
earth for copper on the borders of the
north sea. We have none Of this COPS
per left. Itlong ago vanished, but the
memory of it fingers with us. Twas q
rare and valuable metal. After long
time the cities Of the great country of
Xibaba, which had sunk in the sea
where strip of land had been, slowly
rose again and were rebuilt. All this
was long ago, long ago, before the sea
had left these deserts above us, but after
time avid and savage race overfowed
the land from the north, strange in
speech and dark, fearful and blood
thirsty. They drove our people back
until they were obliged to dwell IN the
inaccessible cliff houses and build them
selves walled towers for defense, for they
were not warike race.
'sSince the people lived in the caves
and cliff houses, the rivers have cut
their way deep into the earth, leaving
the dwellings of our forefathers high
upon the cliffs, SO you may know that
many ages have passed since then.
'sThere were seven great cities in the
Atzlan country ages ago, but they have
vanished, and we know not sven where
they stood; but we know they were
rich and beautiful. -Atzlan is a very
old city, but it is in truth the youngest
of them all and stands upon the site Of
city far more ancient. Beneath the
buildings of this old city are under
ground passages of wonderful extent,
and more splendid than anything we
have above ground, for our forefathers
were more skilled in the art of masonry
than we are.
"In Z g. passages are huge arches
which ,lnot build now, and in them
we have ;..ored our treasures, vast sums
of gold and silver which the priests of
the sun for centuries have collected.
"Our people built great roadways and
aqueducts in those days which have
passed away, which were the wonder Of
all the nations, who came to US to learn
our arts of building, mining, sculpture,
painting and writing-the study of the
sun, moon and stars, and our religion.
0I can show you," continued Iklapel,
"many things which came from at ages
ago, when the sea, now dried up, reached
nearly to this city of Atzlan."
"Whatp cried Eric in amazement.
ssHave you traditions of the time when
the sea was near this place."
"Oh, yes; there was great sea to the
north" said the priest, ''and chain of
large salt lakes in great circle to the
east. All this desert was at one time
under water, and it was near our city.
But it dried away, and the land was
white with salt. In the underground
room of the temple is canoe, which
has been kept sacredly, that journeyed
often to At and returned laden with
much treasure. It is the boat, they say,
that brought Quetzal to this land"
'I must see itr' cried Eric.
"You shall this very day. shall pro-
cure torches at once"
"Never mind them;" said Eric. 81
have lantern that will outshine all
your torches. But what else is there
among your sacred relics from the van
ished city?"
'Many things. Images of gold and
silver, pottery, carved stones, earrings,
bracelets, stone axes and knives. The
sacred white knife which your light
ming shattered IN Kulcan's hand came
from At"
"Alas!'' cried Eric, with Sense of
real injury at thei loss of such a treas
ure. 81 regret the deed now. Ishould
have hesitated had I known the worth
of the weapon"
He was trembling with eagerness to
see the relics. Almost feverishly he
hurried the old man along, and reach
ing the temple he ran up to his room
and brought down his electric light ap-
paratus, long unused, but utneeding only a
few touches to be in working order.
Meanwhile Iklapel had brushed away a
covering of sticks, grasses and earth
from the ground floor Of the temple, re-
vealing large trapdoor, and when Eric
arrived he told him to lift it up. 1t was
not easily moved, however, and took
several minutes of effort, but it yielded
at last, and they descended ladder into
a room about forty-fve feet wide, in the
masonry of which was imbedded many
decorated yellow slabs, with glazing
similar to common modern earthen-
ware.
In an instant the light had flooded
every crevice with a dazzling brilliancy
and showed to Eric's eyes sight that
made his heart beat with new emo
ton. He stood by boat 80 ancient
that beside it the pyramids were young.
1t was about thirty-seven feet in
length and twelve feet wide. The boy
was high and terminated III swans
head and neck, well carved and curying
gracefully. The bow was dccked over
foo& o,,I TIA 1snoo nf tho