The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
TEAYO
LONG LOST CITY
FOUND

11HuATlAN, Mexico, Sept. 10.-The dis
coyery OF the ruins Of the ancient Otomite
capta Of Teayo in the State OF Vera Cruz.
month ago, is regarded by archeologists
a, an event OF the first importance. Tho
site OF the city has been sought for three
hundred years, and expedition after ex-
nsdtion had been sent into the table lands
Of Vera Cruz for the purpose Of locating 1t,
but without SUCCESS
Yet, strange as 1t may seem, Teayo has
never been without inhabitants. The Oto-
mite Indians have never abandoned the
seat Of power OF their ancestors, but their
savage character has heretofore kept ex-
plorers from penetrating to their capital.
Teayo was found unexpectedly. The
discovery was made by party Of American
CT sneers sent out to prospect for minerals.
| A friendly Otomite guide was enabled to
take them to Teayo by representing them
10 be enemies Of the Me1icans, which Is a
rasport 70 the favor of the Otomite Indians.
For fourteen days they travelled through
mountains almost unknown even to Mexi-
cans, at times finding it necessary to use
machetes to cut their way through the
Jungle. While the distance from Mexican
centres was not great, the obstacles to
travel made the journey one Of many hard
ships.
There were dangers from wild beasts to
yuard against. as the region abounds with
tigers, lions and large serpents such as
the Cuotro ndTces, which the natives graveiy
assert attains a length OF thirty feet and
girth Of one foot, and, besides having the
power to kill by construction, Is more vene-
NOUS than tho rattlesnake.
This party OF Americans were the first
representatives. Of modern civilization to
enter the Otomite city Of mystery. Those
who composed the party were George
lowell Roberts, mining engineer; Herbert
Gray, assayer; F. L. Won Roncan, coal
expert; and Lawrence MacGregor, inter-
prefer.
The most interesting Of the ruins as yet
encountered Is the sacrifciai tower, pyra-
midal structure Of quadrangular FORM
which rises to height Of sixty-6ve feet
sbo ie the ground. The substructure ex-
tends forty feet below tho soil.
According to tradition the structure in
the days Of Otomite civilization rose much
higher, terminating in point at the top.
Iftradi,ion is right. the original extreme
ing 1t the most elevated structure OF its
kind built in Mexico.
There Is no doubt that it was consider
ably more than 100 feet above the soil al
one time, as Is indicated by the great guam.
tity OF stones scattered about the country
10 its vicinity and evidently detached
rom it. At the level OF the ground the
prth and south sides have width Of o;
BIT and the east and west sides. rs feet
he width of the stairs on the east side IL
b feet at the ground and Is feet at the
summit. ''t
The ancient Otomites, according to traii-
ttion. constructed a vast system Of under.
ground thoroughfares, abodes and vaults
!. The subterranean works have been com
\pared with the Cataoombs in magnitude
and the Cretan Labyrinth in intricacy.
The tower was said TO be the key tc
the system. Underground chambers will
souptured walls are numerous. Some Of
the corridors have been filed with skele
tons Of victims Of religious rites, OF crimi
nails, Of Aztecs taken captive and executed
and Of Sraniards and Mexicans sacrifice
on the summit of the tower. By the Otomite'
Of the last A We hundred years.
II the traditions OF the handful OF saw.
ages who comprise the surviving remnant
Of the Otomite nation are true, the SUB.
terranean features Of Teayo will prove
CT great interest. Thus, at a distance o
seven miles from Ixhuatlan there is ay
opening in the side OF a precipice which
tradition says is the mouth Of tunnel tina
penetrates the seven miles Of hills aac
mountains intervening between Teayc
and the precipios and was constructed
for the purpose OF providing the Otomitee
or at least the imperi family, with means
OF exit from the capital In case Of danger.
An attempt was made TO investgat,
the tunnel many years ago by the Otto
mites. but water was encountered at {
short distance from the entrance. A part.
now being organized to make seoone
attempt to explore it.
Sculptures found in Teayo are said Il
show that the ancient Otomites were far II
advance Of the Aztecs and Mayas In art
The expressions OF the human face as rep
resented on stone by Aztec and Mayo
sculptors we're primitive as compared will
those wrought by the Otomites.
The foundation stones OF the sacrihcia
tower, several OF which have been brough
Otomite art
One OF the curiosities OF Teayo Is tn,
tomb Of Tlachimoo, the last emperor o
the Otomites This was constructed il
the first decades Of the sixteenth century
or at the time Of the conquest Of Mexic'
by the Spaniards under Cortez. Tlachi
moe was the first Of the rulers OF the Otto
mites to be buried outside the ancien
tower
The tomb is strange combination o
pagan and Christian idols and emblems
upon the stone platform which serves a
cover for the tomb two sphinx-like figure
stand like guards over the remains Of tn
pagan ruler, while surrounding all stands
Christian cross Of mahogany. erected II
recent years.
The cross Is imbedded in cement q foo
thick On top OF II there has been naile'
part Of weather vane, including the bras
arrow and the brass letters N and 8, al
rgidy held together.
The arrow and letters were taken from
,he city hall Of the Mexican city Of IL
huatan eight years ago when the Otomite
captured it, Not knowing the real sig
hlncance of the articles, the savages mad
'he next best use OF them that they could.
AT nft l,n .,