The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-01

entire stone structure was soaked with rain
and all the ceiling dripDed with moisture,
my men constructed for themselves palm
leaf hut, while /, after discovering the
Labyrinth CDR. Maler's name for a struc-
ture afterward explored more thoroughly,
settled myself within its walls with my
most important baggage. for the ceilings
were dry and the great stone benches were
very convenient for sleeping purposes or
for spreading my things upon them.
"It was rather dangerous TO spend the
nights alone in that solitary ruin on ac-
count OF the tigers. But fortunately we
escaped all collision with these felines.
which are always TO be greatly feared.
We were so fortunate as to have month
of glorious weather, which greatly les
sened the difficulties of my work among
the ruins. 1t generally rained at night and
hardly ever by day Even the Usumatsint-
la soon sank again TO a less dangerous
level But we had another trouble TO con-
tend against. Our stock Of provisions had
run very low, because the men when living
at some one elses expense eat enormously
and know no moderation" Later, 1T may
be added, provisions were obtained and
some three months were spent in examin-
ing and excavating the ruins so deeply
buried under a tangle of trees, shrubs
and tropical creepers that it was only pos
sible to picture the general plan of the
city after each structure had been exam
med in detail.
But this plan, once completed. presents
curiously vivid picture of temples, DWELL
ings. affairs and palaces. The ancient city
was not a city of streets, but OF terraces
rising from a water front that is slowly
and inevitably being eaten away by the
turbulence of the river. Many of the
structures were so overgrown that they
could not be excavated and photographs
of various parts of the ruins had to be
taken at special moments when the sun
forced its way through the thick foliage.
Here and there were found circular stone
affairs, probably set up over the graves
of persons of rank. About the temples
were many beautiful stone stelae carved
on both sides-the side facing the tenn
pie almost invariably representing the an
Gent god Ketsalkoatl, who seems to have
been the special deity of the city. while
the other side represented a human figure.
ARTISTS IN THOSE DAYS.
Perhaps the most remarkable Of the
memorials Mr.. Mailer discovered is a sculp-
tured Intel which he considers the finest
piece of sculpture yet found in the city.
1t was done in fine-grained limestone of a
light yellow color and so well preserved that
1t looked as new as If IL had just left the
hands of the sculptor. The figure is that of
a warrior holding in his right hand what
appears to be a CULVER with bow and ar
rows which he extends toward second
warrior. From his shoulder hangs an or
nament of cords to which are attached the
five human heads of as many slain enemies.
He wears a huge helmet adorned with
feathers, on the front of which Is fastened
the small figure of a man holding another
human head. A serpent with open jaws
rises from the top of the helmet The
| warrior himself, 1t may be, lies buried on
| the platform Of the temple which the Intel
| was carved to adorn.
| Here also in the temple of Ketsalkoatl
much of which is still standing the ex-
plorer found a great figure of the god sit
| ting cross legged and yet so tall that II
| originally must have almost touched the
| ceiling. AS a whole it is curiously sugges-
tive Of some of the Eastern representa-
| tons of the Hindoo Buddha- The eyes also
are oblique like a Chinaman's. two facts
which are interesting in view of the theory
| that America was settled from Asia. More
| curious still is the story of the wood cut
| tiers who work in the neighboring forest
and who told DR.. Mailer that the Indians
| still come and offer sacrifice to this very
| image, burning incense in vessels adorned
with feathers and performing strange
| dances, one of which is called the dance
| of the Toncan" because the dancers wear
the stuffed skin Of this bird as a head dress
| Whence they come and whence they go not
| even the wood cutters can answer.