The National tribune., 1901-04-11

Most of our Indians returned to their
village after the jaguar had been shot. but
q good sized party remained with US out
of love for adventure and an abiding
faith in those magic rifles.
Broad, undulating plains rolled away
to the mountain-fringed horizon, splendid
trees grew singly or in groves, flowers
bloomed. small. timid animals showed
themselves constantly, and the weather
was perfect. Every days march, how
ever, carried US higher up as well as fur
ther inland, until that tropical aspect
of nature so markedly characteristic OF
this entire coast belt passed gradually
away, There were hooks where an equa-
torial splendor still survived, but plant,
beast, and bird, for the most part,
changed; landscapes altered their features
and coloring, clouds, with the very hght
of heaven itself, showed our appreach TO-
wards desolate and melancholy nights on
whose SUBMITS life's vigor, its eXuberance
and joyousness, would perish amid par
rem grandeur.
The physical geography of plateau-re-
pions stretching between Mexico ana
South America. gives them climates IKE
temperate islands in torrid zone; Whue
their highlands mount as if through sue
cessiye latitudes far into the frozen North.
One day we came out of an unusually
large forest tract when evening Shaues
were iengthening, and entered an amph-
theater among those rugged hills now re
ginning to rise on the way. Its eXpanse
lay bare of trees or underbrush, but west
ward, where encircling woods and broken
ground fell away, some gray old ruins
foomed large through the dusk. Ihese
were those "Medicine-lodges OF ancient
enchanters about which our Indians had
been talking for days past with mingled
curiosity and awe; yet those 'Sorcerers'
houses were not less dreadful places IN
reality, than as untutored fancy, pictured
them.
What confronted us resolved itself as
we drew near into some small outlying
temple buildings, belonging to an unknown
period in Maya -Quiche antiquity. A sold
earthen parellelOgram faced and paved
with stone, supported the long, squat, mis-
proportioned priests house, whose over
heavy archtrave bore grotesque designs,
with inscriptions in an unknown cnarac-
ter.
This main edifice had several smaller
buildings-massive, uncouth, forbiddlng--
scattered around. In front, where stretch
ed an otherwise unbroken plain, stood
their teOcalli-that pyramid with ITS top
cut of which upheld the shrine of what
ever God may have been w0rshiped there,
and also a stone of sacrifice. between
these structures rose one colossal statue,
whose stern impasSiye face turned TO-
wards the teocali. From hrst to last
everything bore witness to rigid, ritua is
tic c0nVentl0nallSn, sculpture. dTCHiteC-
tural syle, even constructive or decorative
details.
Sitting on that terraced platform by
moonlight, historic memory repeopied
this desolate scene. Trains of worshlpers
streamed in from all directions, and gath
cred around the high altar. From those
dark doorways behind US burst TO tn fur
ious, shrieking priests, smelling ike dead
dogs" say De Soils and his Spanish COM
rades. Filth attested holiness here, as at
some time it has done almost everywhere
on earth. These wretches never cleansed
themselves. but left their CORY vestments
to stiffen with purifying blood. Among
them came miserable victims-prisoners
of war, or a tribute exacted from con-
quered tribes. That pyramids steps ran
red through ages as human hearts were
cut out, and those peaceful solitudes glim-
mering under the moon, how often have
they echoed to yells of agony when reig-
ious ceremonial prescribed death by tor
ture.
Several days Journey beyond this
gloomy spot brought as to the great di-
vide that parts streams flowing into
the Atlantic and Pacific. Our campfire
was lighted In a small inclosed glen, round
which granite cliffs rose tier upon tier,
and then trended away, bearing summit
peaks high above them. Luxuriant vege
tation clothed this secluded vale, superb
orchids hung from its trees, plantains and