Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-27
Observation-Disclosures
speclal Correspondence.

Special Correspondence
Ranks of Dolores river Guatemala
March 99-The ruins around CONTAIN
interested us very much. They con-
sisted Of terraces similar to those found
IN the Sierra Madre mountains, and
mounds. much larger than any we had
seen before. The first appearance OF
these ruins on the north as we come
from palenque was about ten miles
from the town. We noticed on the side
hills and in the draws rock terraces.
The present inhabitants knew nothing
as to their builders, but told us they
were mui ylojo, very ancient. on the
west AZ Brother Wolfe and party came
IN these same structures were seem bul
were accompanied by a greater number
Of mounds Near our camp two leagues
east were several mounds and a great
number Of terraces, The mounds are
from twelve to twenty feet high, and
sometimes cover as much as toui
square rods Of ground Some Of them
are circular while others are much
longer than they are wide. Two have
been excayated In the hope Of finding
treasure, but aside from some very eX-
cellent pottery and some arrow heads,
nothing was discovered. The buildings
were OF small stone set In much lime
mortar. or better. they were OF q coarse
cement. Broken pottery was also used
I'm the cement The walls must have
been at least two feet thick and two
stories high IN most of those near camp,
Some farther off were smaller. But 9th
ers IN the low mountains nearby, 80 we
were informed by the man on whose
ranch we had camped, were still larger
than any Of these The man gave 1t as
his opinion that here once stood, per-
haps thousands OF years ago, a great
city, covering many square miles Of
land, and taking in the present site OF
Comitan. but extending beyond the
boundaries Of the latter several miles.
II is indeed beautiful place for a city,
and as IL is In the heart OF rich and
productive country might easily have
been a great city
LONG LINES OF TERRACES.
But neither the terraces nor the
mounds ceased with the limits OF the
supposed city. We found them scattered
All along our road for three days travel,
or until we reached country where
rain was sufficient TO render
unnecessary artificial means Of
holding water Near the Guatemala
line the country becomes very dry and
rocky, so that only little patches OF
land a few square rods are seen. But
here are also these ancient terraces, and
occasionally mound, Up the raylnes.
along the side hills, now covered with
timber still they are seen. In places
where no one would think Of living or
farming now the signs OF an ancient
cultivation are plentiful. A few miles
on this side of the line we mistoOk a
prominent COW trail for the comino real
and went on sur road a couple Of miles.
Descending a Hill we came into a val
ley broad and rolling and now occupied
only by ranch or two. This valley and
the side hills around II are literally
checked from one end TO the other with
terraces. Some OF them are large and
make level an acre or more Of land,
others are small and contain only a few
rode But at one time there must have
been very dense population here, and
every foot of soil was needed TO produce
food. But as this is a very unin-
wiling part of the country, a place
where rain and water are both scarce,
especially along and on this side Of the
line, the richer valleys would naturally
be occupied first. And II all the coun-
try was as thickly inhabited as this bar
rem tract of land appears to have been,
in a few years It would easily become a
Land OF Desoation" so far as timber
IL concerned How old these ruins are
no one knows or even suggests, but
they must be very ancient.
On Wednesday, March 81, we ap-
peared before the custom house for a
release Of our bonds Naturally we had
some misglvings for should the officers
be technical we might be delayed a
week or so, or perhaps a month, and
remembering Nogales we dreaded any
delay. We we're met courteously at the
gate, conducted into a large plaza and
shown where 10 place our saddles and
packs But before pack was taken on
the second officer the one who would
have the checking to do, suggested that
These gentlemen have nothing but
their baggage and instruments neces-
sary 60 prosecute their labors. ! think
II unnecessary 20 60 over all the things.
Their passport will be sufficient All of
which was agreed TO by the officers In
charge and packs were released. In an
hour everything was settled favorably,
and we were on our road 10 camp.
AZ the Guatemalan line We met with
the same treatement. To be at Neuton
early we had travelled until late the
night before, and at nine o'clock In
the morning were In the plaza,
Neuton Is a small town In
a deep canyon with very rocky and
steep sides. But withal. II has beau
tiful location. The principal house IS
Of course the government offices. Next
Ia the soldiers barracks containing per-
haps twenty lazy soldiers. We asked
one OF these as we entered town where
the custom house was and he could not
tell us. but stated that ne did not think
there was any here The head officer
or rather the officer, for there was but
one in sight, was very friendly ant
politely showed us where 10 place oul
packs for examination. Here agar
might have been long delay. Bu
luckily we had obtained letters from tn
Guatemalan minister at Mexico, ant
these. together with my passport viii
the large red seal Of the United States
and a letter OF introduction from th'
Governor OF the State Of Utah, which
also had large red seal handed him
He read the first and looked at tn,
seals on the others. Passe. he said, al
he returned them, and we passed afte
a delay OF only a few minutes. NJ
bond was necessary, neither was ther,
any expense incurred, and we are nov
in the republic OF Guatemala.
REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA.
AZ the time Of the conquest Of Mexic,
by Corte2, Guatemala was next In i'm
portance. and the city Of Uetatlal
riyaled that Of Mexico In wealth and II
the beauty and splendor Of its build
ings. Naturally Cortez turned his at
tention southwark, after the north wa
conquered, and he entrusted the sub
jugation OF this kingdom TO his mos
able lieutenant Alvarado. In Decem
Der 1893. Alyarado with a well equippe
army Of over four hundred Spaniard
and a number OF Mexican warriors
started for the Clutches kingdom. Man
of the minor tribes submitted al ono
70 the conquerer, but not so III
CLUTCHES Many times they met the In
Vaders In battle. but as many time
they were repulsed with heavy lass.
desperate battle occurred near the cit
or Quesaltenango. in which thousand
~ the patfUns, .ra,., s.lanUbsava1 I,.t fl