The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-31
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restrained forest growth of untold ages,
lie the ruins of number of ancient
cities that had fallen into decay long
before Columbus started on his voy-
age of discovery end which have al
ways been shrouded in the deepest
mystery.
Few explorers have ever visited them
and those who have experienced such
hardships that the stories they told
were not calculated to encourage 9th
ers to follow their example
Notwithstanding these objections,
however, and in spite of the fearful
death dealing doors that arise from the
swampy forests that have to be traV-
known scientists of the present day
formed themselves into an expedition
recently and penetrated the wilderness
to where the crumbling cities lay.
They spent three months among the
ruins OF uXmal, in Yueatan, and have
brought back the first absolutely au-
thentic pictures OF them that the world
has ever had Among the party was
Professor William Il. Holmes, who IN
I'll recently was curator of the depart
ment of anthropology of the Field Co
lumbar museum. when he took his
scat as curator of the national museum
AT Washington. It is to him that the
Herald is indebted for the accompany
ing illustrations, which are from the
original photographs and drawings he
made on the spot. They show, for the
first time, just how the ruined cities
look today.
'Uxmal." said Professor Holmes,
was reached after Wearsome jour
ney in a Mexican wagon from Ticul,
the terminus of the railroad. Several
tI,x
way, as well as one of the finest plan
tations in Yucatan. A long and ia
tiguing climb over the foothills was
another incident of the expedition. but
at length we reached the plain in the
center of which we found the ruins of
this once magnificent capital of ma
ton now extinct.
eve reached Uxmal one evening just
as night was settling down We did
not get q chance to see much Of the
ruins then, as shadows fall quickly in
the tropics, SO we Camped near by, on
the edge of a little wood. We we're
astir early the next morning, while it
was yet dark, and saw the faint
CLEANS of light begin to peep through
the mists. and then we witnessed q
most beautiful sight-the sun rising
over this ruined metropolis. We looked
out upon the ruined city and it pre-
scented wonderful sight. Here in the
foreground was what had once been
an enormous palace slowly rotting
away under the unrelenting hand of
time; there a massive stone edifice that
might once have been the residence of
some long forgotten lord, and further
in the distance could be seen the faint
outlines of a huge pyramid.
Even in their crumbling state the
grandeur of the mighty structures held
US spell-bound. In many instances the
houses were roofes5 and half buried in
the deep forest growth but even this
did not detract from their imposing
beauty, nor from their superb proper
tons. But over all hung the spell of
death, for in the market places where
once wealthy merchants had met and
bargained, the desert lion now holds
his court at night, and instead Of their
voices his awful note goes echoing
down the ruined corridors
Now we made our way among the
weeds and underbrush to the nearest
of the great structures. and soon stood
before a mighty pyramid, upon whose
summit rested a gorgeous temple. The
pyramid was built OF q sort of yellow
ish limestone, evidently auarried from
somewhere in the vicinity by this an
cient people. We stood at it's base and
looked up. For 80 feet its steep sides
rose without a break, and in the most
graceful proportions it gradually mar
r0wed at the top, until high over our
heads we could see the outlines of the
beautiful building that crowned it.
We measured the base and found it to
be exactly $40 feet long by 100 wide.
eve walked around this mammoth
pile of exquisitely hewn stone and on
the further side came TO a magnificent
q ;cL "
from the roadway and led to the very
top of the pyramid, terminating at the
threshold of the temple doorway. Each
step was wide and long and made of
the same smoothly dressed stone For
moment we stood and admired this
mighty piece of workmanship, and
then, with a feeling somewhat akin to
awe. began the long ascent. Up for
over a hundred steps we u ent, stopping
now and then to rest and admire the
pyramid, a work executed for all time.
and one that will doubtless stand there
forever unless perchance an earth
quake should throw it down.
AT last we reached the top of the
stairs, and found ourselves standing
upon little court. Immediately lin front
of the main entrance to the temple,
which we learned was called the Tenn
ple of the Magician. The summit of
the pyramid measured so feet long by
% wide, and the temple occupied this
entire space, save for q little walkway
that ran around between its base and
the edge Of the pyramid.
A GRAND HALL.
las we crossed the court and entered
the deeayisg structure we found it
contained only three rooms. but they
were big ones. We stood in the CEN
tral. or main, one and looked around.
Extending around the base of the wall,
save Cor short distance along the
northern front. was q broad band of
what had once been colored decoration
Above this and extending to the cell
ing We're beautifully chiselled lattice
work panels. Over the doorway were
four large panels allied with unique
sculptures, the upper member of each
being rnasl. Of rare form. But no
where In the room was there the slight
est Testige of any furniture or move
able thing. Everything was as silent
as the grave, Not the slightest trace
Of life was apparent anywhere. not
even a spider to break the monotony
of that awful solitude.
THE facade of this temple we found
to be about 20 feet square, and it was
a most ornate and striking piece OF
composite SCULPTURE The large piece
above the doorway was occupied by q
colossal shouted face. some I2 feet
square. worked out in the most Won
derful manner and filed with striking
details Other Communications were a
pair of tigers placed together with out
ward turned heads, supporting the ped
estal of the statue, and groups of de-
vices resembling glyphs, forming the
cheeks of the mask. The corner decor