The Florida star., 1901-09-13

decorative styles representing the high.
est development OF Ceramic art In
America. There is a frequent occur
renee OF the well known Greek border
both on the pottery and pedestals OF
columns. Many OF the figures on this
pottery eau be recognized as sugges.
tons from well known Maya symbol
isms- There are crucibles OF clay, with
pestles or stone, which evidently were
used for mixing chemicals and drugs.
A gargOyle shaped like serpent's head
was found in the ruins Of Copan, which
We're pre-eminently the most remark
able yet discovered.
The quarries from which the stone
both for building and sculpture was
taken were In ridge to the northeast
OF the ruins. The site OF COpan is on
the river Copan. twelve miles from the
frontier Of Guatemala. The valley OF
COpan has level OF 1000 feet In alti-
tude and is shut In by mountains 5000
feet In height. The upper slopes are
covered with pine forests, but the foot
hills and plains are clothed with an i'm
penetrable growth or low trees and
brush
The principal ruIps are grouped
around what is called the main strue-
ture, vast irregular pile rising from
the plain in steps and terraces and ter
minating in great terraced elevations,
each topped by the remains of a tenn
pie. The summit or the highest of
these is about 130 feet above the level
OF the river. Each of these elevations
is crowned. but only the foundations
and parts OF the lower walls now re-
main In position. The place where each
stood is heap OF fragments, and the
slopes OF the pyramids and the terraces
and pavements below are strewn with
the ruins OF superb edifices. The walls
OF the buildings and the outer casing of
the pyramids and terraces are built Of
stone. neatly cut, fat faced, in the
shape OF oblong blocks, which are laid
in parallel rows, occasionally with NOR
tar, but generally without.
Mr.. Howard Sawyer Reed. a member
OF the commission from the republic OF
Honduras. says:
"The government OF Honduras Is
aware OF the immense value OF the
ruins within its territory. The extent
or these ruins is as yet unknown. Of
ten while hunting In the forests OF
Honduras ! have picked up strings OF
exquisitely carved beads and once
found a rare piece OF jade with faces
cut on II as we now cut a diamond to
add TO its luster. On another occasion
when hunting In the region north of
the upper Chemllicon river found the
ruins or city without a name seven
miles In length. This ruin is In the de-
partment of western Santa Barbara.
Adjoining this department Is that OF
COpan. II is impossible for scientists
to say from what race the people who
built these wonderful ruins sprung. but
the pottery gives evidence OF Mayan
origin. The marbles. sculptures, ce-
els, etc. show them TO have been a peO-
pie far advanced in the arts and sci
ences. Copan Is reached by seven days
travel on muleback from the gulf OF
Honduras. The ruins which have been
excavated In the valleys of the UlOa
and Chemlllcon give evidence OF In
dian origin. while those in Copan indi-
cate a high degree OF civilization and
closely resemble the excavations made
in Egypt and the more ancient Greek
cities and tombs. a museum will be
established at Tagucigalpa In which all
the valuable excavations will be kept
for further investigation. The Uloa val