The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-27

eight miles long and two miles wide al
the greatest. This plain Il covered
with the remains OF stone houses doubt
less the habi,ations Of the wealthy
The streets squares and courtyards
were paved with stone. or with white
cement made from lime and powdered
rock. and the drainage was accomplish
cd by means OF covered canals and un-
GorgrOund sewers built Of stone and ce-
ment. On the stones OF the noun
talns. too. are found numerous ruins.
and even on lie highest peaks fallen
columns and ruined structures may be
seen.
On the right bank Of the Copan river
in the midst OF the city stands the
principal group Of structures-tho tenn
pies palaces and buildings Of a public
character. These form part Of what has
been ealled-for want Of better name.
| the Main Structure vast. irregular
/ pile rising from the plain In steps and
terraces of masonry. and terminating
[ In several great pyramidal elevations,
each topped by the remains Of a tenn
I pie. lts sides face the four cardinal
points IL greatest length from north 10
south Is about eight hundred feet. and
from east 20 west II measured original
[ Is nearly as much but a part Of the
eastern structure has been carried away
by The swift current Of the river which
flows directly against 70. The Interior
Of thc structure is thus exposed in the
form o. ciin one hundred feet high.
/ presenting "a complicated system ~
buried walls and floors down 90 the
waters edge doubtless the remains OF
The older buildings. occupied Tor a time.
and abandoned 90 serve as foundations
Tor more elaborate structures Exca-
vat1gs have also been brought 10 light
beneath the foundations N buildings
now oeerpylng the surface. no; only
the fIlod chambers and broken wallis
o. older structures. but scu'D'ured mon
umsu,s as well
Within the main structure. az an ele-
walton % sixty feet. is court one hun
bred and twenty feet square. which,
with Us surrounding architecture. must
have presented a magnificent spectacle
when % was entire 10 was entered
from the south through a passage
thirty feet in width. between two high
pyramllal foundations. each supporting
a temple.
4 thick wall. pierced In the center
81 % HH
adouments and in ruins. guarded this
passsage 20 the south. The cote. Itself
is incIosed by ranges ~ steps or seati
ranging to a he.sht 90 twenty feet. az
in ON amphitheaetr; they are built of
great blocks of stone. neatly eat. aul
regularly laid withou, mortar In th'
center OF the western side De- stair
way projecting few feet into the c0ur
and leading 90 q broad terrace above
the range Of seats on that side The
upper steps Of this stairway are dlyld
cd 10 the midst by the head 90 a hug'
draEuu .fnrine the asss--s AND haidluj
M ~ dlsienIcd Jaws n grltesQlo h0
man head ~ colossal proportions
To the north % the court stood thr
two magnificent empIes. n and %. M
massive ruins create a Feeling tina
they were the work u giants
Temple %. 10 many ways the mos
. interesting yet explored. furnishes a ~
pical example OF this class Of building
From the stone paved terrace above
, the western side OF the court. a greal
stairway. with massive steps. leads NJ
TO a platform which runs the Who'll,
length % the way two graceful wins
stones. extending across the platform
! guard the approach 10 the first on
trance. which gives access 20 the build
. Ing. and Is carried out az each enc
I upon solid piers 10 the line OF begin
ming % the steps. From the head o
J The stairway 10 the outer chambers THU
I stairway Is nine feet wide and was GOV
. cred with q vaulted roof. now fallen
d Directly opposite 90. In the interior. q
second doorway leading Z,
. The inner chambers In from
, q the second entrance Is
- step two tect high. oruamentod or
. the face by hiorogiyphlcs and skull
] carved IN relief. n pedestal FOR
crouching figure supporting the head O.
a dragon. the body Of which Is turnot