The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

- f all the ancient cities in Central
America the orest-cGVered ruins
of Quirigua are perhaps the least
known. They are situated in the
valley of the Motagua or Monta-
qua River. about half a league
from the left bank, and about sixty
miles from the mouth. where it empues
into the Caribbean Sea. Entirely over
spread with the densest tropical Vege-
tation found anywhere in Central Amer
lea, they have remained uneXplored
and their extent unknown. Now, how
ever, the transcontinental railway, in
process of construction from Puerto
Barrios to the city of Guatemala, passes
through the valley at a distance of not
more than mile from this wonderful
group of remains. and they are thus
brought within reach of the traveller,
who can visit them without undertake
ing the exceedingly difficult passage
over the Alico Mountains
These ruins were first brought to the
attention of the world in 1871 by the
celebrated explorer Stephens, who did
not visit them, but we are indebted 10
his companion, the artist CatherWOOd,
for the meager notice which appeared
at that time with several poor draw
ings of the monoliths. Later they have
been visited by several explorers, who
have added little or nothing to our
knowledge of the place.
In 1881, and again In 1888, Alfred Z.
Mandslay the great English explorer,
spent several months there, photograph
ing and making paper moidS OF some
of the most interesting of the stone
sculptures He has up TO the present
time published only brief accounts Of
his work and none of his photographs
From his work in reproducing IN pas
ter the immense stone carvings the
American Museum OF Natural History
has profited through the generosity Of
the Duke of LOubat in securing for its
collection casts of the largest two seulp-
lures in stone yet discovered in ancient
America.
AS vet. however, no systematic eX-
caVation has ever been carried on there
and no adequate description has been
published of this one of the most inn
portant ruined cities in the New World.
No field in Central America offers a
richer return To the archaeologlSt. 1t
is not at all improbable that still more
valuable sculptures may be buried in
the paradise of luXuriant growth, in
which cacao, quina, india rubber, ma
hogany. bamboo and gigantic ferns
abound, through the depths of which
the jaguar, puma, tapir and peccary
roam at win, While birds of brilliant
colored plumage are exceedingly nu-
merouS.
The ruins consist Of a large number
Of mounds, pyramids, terraces or plat
forms, both square and rectangular,
measuring from six TO forty feet IN
height, some standing in groups of four
arranged around & central square or
plaza while others occupy an isolated
position. The greater number of these
structures have been faced with squared
stones and had flights of stone steps on
one side leading 10 the top.
Owing TO the density of the forest it
Is impossible TO accurately describe
these structures. This can only be done
by cutting down and burning the I'M
dergrowth, and an examination Of the
sculptures Is made by having several
Indians with machetes cutting a path
in advance. These Indians are such
skillful woodsmen that one can usually
follow them as they dexterously cut
out a tunnel through which TO pass.
There are three principal structures
in the main group, near which are
standing thirteen large monuments in
the form OF stelae and large. rounded
masses carved TO represent grOtesque
animals. These are in what is probably
the great plaza, or square, the heart Of
the ancient city,
AT the northern end is large rectan-
gular terraced structure about 800 feet
long from east to west and ITO feet from
north TO south. Near the northwestern
corner Is what appears TO be an artifi-
cial lagoon, or pond. which probably
has an outlet In the Motagua River. At
present II Is stagnant. malaria breed
ing pond, nearly choked with decaying
vegetable matter.
At the southern base of the structure
are standing three stelae or monOliths
ranging in height from fourteen TO
eighteen feet and having carved on the
front and back representations of hui
man figures. on one is a man With
chin beard. Both sides are entirely
covered with hieroglyphic writing in
the form of squares. called katuns.
ON another. called stella c, Is perhaps
the most important hieroglyphic in
scription yet found IN America 1t
consists OF two kinds of writing. The
upper half OF the inscription Is in pic