The Red Cloud chief., 1898-03-18


the results obtained by the labor of a
number of eminent scholars here and
abroad give ground for the hope that
future Investigations will bear more
fruitful results.
Hidden away among tho mountains
Of Honduras. In a beautiful valley
which, even In thai little travelled coun-
try, where remoteness is Il charactcris-
tie attribute of places, is unusually Sc
cludcd. is Copan. one of the greatest
mysteries OF the ages. Whatever the
origin of its people. this old city is dis
iinctly Amcrican-the growth of Am
crican soil and environment. The area
comprised within the limits of the old
city consists OF a level plain seven or
eigh: miles long and two miles wide at
the greatest. This plain Is covered
with the remains of stone houses. doubt
less the habitations of the wealthy.
The streets, squares and courtyardS
were paved with stone. or with white
ccmcnt made from lime and powdered
rock, and the drainage was accomplish
ed by means of covered canals and UNI
dorgrOund sewer built of stone aud CO
mcnt. On the tones Of the noun
tains. too. are found numerous ruins.
and even on the highest peaks fallen
columns and ruined structures may be
seen.
On tn" right bank of the Copan river
In the midst of the city stands the
principal group OF structures the tenn
pies. palaces and buildings Of a public
character. These form part OF what has
been cdllcd-for want of 4 better name.
The Main Structures vast. irregular
pile rising from the plain i'm steps and
terraces uf masonry, and terminating
IN several great pyramidal elevations,
each topped by tho remains of Il tenn
pie. Its sides face the four cardinal
points; its greatest length from north TO
south Is about cigh; hundred feet. and
from east to west /; measured original
~ nearly 49, much. hut a part OF the
eastern structure mas been carried away
by the swift current Of the river which
flows directly against it. Tho interior
OF the structure is thus exposed in the
form Of "A cliif one hundred feet high.
presenting a implicated system of
buried walls arl floors down I o the
waters edge doubtless the remains Of
the older buildings, occupied for a time,
and abandoned to serve as foundations
for more elaborate structures. Exca-
vations have also been brought TO light
beneath the foundations of buildings
now occupying the surface. not only
the filled chambers and broken wallis
OF older structures, but sculptured mon
umentS as well.
Within the main structure, at an Gle
walton OF sixty feet. Is Il our n hun
dred and twenty feet square, which,
with its surrounding architecture, must
have presented a magnificent spectacle
when II was entire. It was entered
from the south through a passage
thirty feet in width. between two high
pyramidal foundations, each supporting
q temple.
A thick wall, pierced in the center
by IA gateway. now stripped OF its
adornmcnts and in ruins. guarded this
passage to the south. The court itself
is inclosed by ranges of steps or seats
ranging to Il height of twenty feet, as
in IN amphitheaetr: they are built of
great blocks of stone. neatly cut. and
regularly laid without mortar. In the
center of the western side Is a stair
way projecting a few feet into the court
and leading to a broad terrace above
the range of seats ON that side. The
upper steps OF this stairway are divid-
ed in the midst by the head Of a hugo