The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-08


 The most valuable part of the discov- cries in this ancient tomb in the opin- ion of MT. Saville, was the inscriptions Although some of them bear a generic resemblance to the maya writings which has been found in other parts of Mexico, no written characters of so high an order have ever before been discovered in America. It is MT. Sa- Ville's belief that the writing is at least partly phonetic.
 The next step in MT. Saville's explo- rations was the great crypt of Xoxo, It was discovered by Dr. Sologuren, the famous Mexican archaeologist and collector of relics, in 1SS6 Mr. Saville forced his way into 1t by a small side door which had been previously un- known. To reach the interior four floors, each from two to three inches thick, made of very hard white ce- ment, were cut through. Peculiar architectural formations of an impor- tant ceremonial significance were found in the interior of the crypt. It seems, likely from the religious and ceremoni al symbols uncovered here, that the or igin of the zepotecan religion may be found to be identical with that of the most ancient faith of the eastern world.
 The great discoverer, and the one which scientific men consider the most important yet made, was hit upon in the course of excavations among the mounds already mentioned A terra cotta drain pipe was found leading from one of these mounds into the fields. The joints of the pipe were sev- eral feet long, and they were so made as to fit carefully together. The course of the pipe was followed for consider able distance. Then it broke off, but further along it was found again, and, following 1t up steep mountain, the explorer came to a huge temple at the i top, surrounded by an imposing peris- tyle. It had been a work of the great est difficulty to follow the long course of the buried pipe, but probably by no other means could the ancient city have been discovered, hidden as it was by thick growths on all sides.
 The sides of the mountain, on the summit of which stood the city, had been artificially terraced, the top had been razed and fortified on all sides till it was impregnable. The temple itself was fine piece of architecture. Be- yond 1t on the broad area of the noun | tain top were the crumbling ruins of amphitheatres, palaces and other pub lie buildings Streets and passageways i were exactly as they had been during the long centuries since their desertion Here on this terraced mountain, over looking great stretch of country at its foot, was at last found the lost capital of the zepotecan nation, at one time probably the rulers over most of the | other peoples of the continent, certain l ly their leaders in art, civilization and 1 industry.
 The mountain on which the skeleton 1 of this prehistoric metropolis was I brought to view is marked on the Mex ] ican government maps as Monte Alban. 1 Its crowning wall is completely hidden by the surrounding growth of lofty trees, and it Is so difficult of access that 1t has never been attacked or even seri- ously thought of as field of explora- tion That there were ruins upon this summit was known before Mr. Saville's visit, but they were supposed to be only the remains of some rude Indian for tress instead as has been proved, the wreck of a stately and civilized city.
 "Zachila was, In all probability the ancient name of the city on Monte AL ban" says MT. Saville. Not very far away there exists little village which now bears the same name. The spot was strategically an ideal place for a great capital city in the troublous times when it must have existed. Its situa- tion made it an impregnable fortress. 1 The mountain stands at the intersec- tion of the three broad valleys, Oaxaee, Etla and Jalplan. Thus 1t commanded wide view in all directions, and, be- | ing isolated by these valleys from the surrounding mountains and looming high above them all, it kept perpetual i guard over all the country round.
 "Of course, my work 6!d not extend over sufficient length of time to de- termine the exact extent of the culture, wealth and civilization of the people who once inhabited the city, but they must have been far in advance of most of those with whom we have become in a degree acquainted through other mounds and ruins. The city was cer- tainly one of considerable size, extend- ing over several square miles. We f came upon stone aqueducts over six l feet wide. In the different parts of the plain are big mounds which, on investi- gation, proved to be the crumbled re- mains of what were once great public buildings. The frequent earthquakes of that region, which probably caused the destruction of the city, have shaken these once important structures into mere heaps of dust and debris.
 "In the southern end of the city we found a big mound over a thousand feet long and three hundred feet wide The slopes of it's sides were regular and faced with masonry and there was a 1 stairway leading to it's summit II may have been the site of vast tenn pie or of a series of public buildings At the opposite end of the city there was a rectangular basin oe about the same size which once formed a great amphitheater where public gatherings were held and religious ceremonies per- formed.
 "No reliable proofs are left of what a Zapotecan dwelling was like. Excava- tions of temples, causeways, pillars arches and other magnificent public structures, and searching study of the plans and general appearance of the city, have furrdshed the most convin- cling data for the scientific meaning with which the explorations have