The Washington herald., 1914-05-31
MEXICO FULL Of ruins
Of HISTORIC CITIES
Militia, The Place of DEATH" Is Near
Town of Oaxaca. on South
ern Railroad.

The ruins of ancient cities, remnants OF
dead civilizations, have fascination for
most people Be they scientists Of great
renown or mere mortals of more common
clay, somehow something stirs within
them at the touch Of antique things. The
average tourist seeking surcease from the
daily grind. whether of the college lee
ture room or of the constant chase OF the
elusive dollar in trade and traffic, who
finds himself in some strange ci-y and
learns that not far of are the weather.
beaten walls of an ancient temple, shrine,
or place whose history is a mystery and
whose builders are unknown, hies him.
self at once to that place. He touches
the crumbling stones. traces the gro
tesque figures and queer designs, and
marvels that such things could have been
perhaps even before the very civilization
of which he is a boastful part came into
existence.
Mexico is full of such ruins as these.
In Yucatan alone there are some seventy
or more. App-otl to some of these is
too arduous TO most tourists. but on the
southernmost shore of the republic lies
the State of Oaxaca, whose capital Is
easily accessible. "Oaxaca City is reached
from Puebla by the Mexican Southern"
according to a statement in the latest
pamphlet on Mexico, issued by the Pan
American Union, of Washington, d. c.
The distance is 22s miles and the trip
takes twelve hours II is 28 miles from
Mexico City and the same distance from
Vera Cruz. Its population is 10000 1t
was the early home of both Porfirio Diaz.
former president. and Benito Juarez, the
patriot and national hero. Its age makes
II very attractive, but il is quite modern
in many ways. possessing tramcars. elec-
trio lights, telephones, and other factors
of comfort. Another feature connected
with Oaxaca is the fact that from the
city the excursion is made. about twenty
five miles to the southeast, to the ruins
of Militia. some Of the best preserved pre-
historic remains of all Mexico"
Militia is a contraction or corruption Of
the word Mictlan, meaning The place of
Death" The modern village and the an
cient ruins occupy the center of an arid
plain or valley, surrounded on all sides
by equally arid hills, on the highest sum-
NIT of which are the well-preserved re-
mains of a great fortress. whose walls
are of a rough construction and without
ornament of any kind. Nearly in the
center of the plain five great groups Of
buildings stand out completely exposed.
Many Of them are now nearly shapeless
mounds and masses of ruins Two great
groups. however, are in comparatively
perfect preservation. a third is incorpo-
rated with an old church. and a fourth. |
the great sacrificial mound, is surmounted
by the ruins Of very ancient church. |
The principal buildings are of stone ma |
scnry. condensed description of one |
will give an idea of the others. |
The Hall of Pillars, the northernmost |
building of the north group. is a great |
room 125 feet long and q feet wide. in |
terror measurements. The height of the
walls is about II feet, the thickness vary
fAa esl
feet inches for the front wall. The |
entrances are three doorways nearly S |
feet wide. each composed Of three MEN, |
bers, two enormous monolithic door jams |
about feet high, s feet wide, and feet /
thick. surmounted by monolithic lintels
nearly 20 feet long, feet wide, and S
feet thick. The most striking feature of
the room is a row of six monolithic
columns running .lengthwise of the room,
zach column standing II feet inch above
the floor. which is covered with cement.
Their circumference is each feet 8
inches They are slightly tapered at the
top. which is perfectly fat. The interior
walls are perfectly plain. while the ex-
tericr are covered with a rich decoration
IF panels of mosaic work, surrounded by
arEe squared and sometimes incised
'culptured stones.
The great group. Of which this is the
principal building. was probably the cere-
nonial hall. The south group was prob
Ibly that in which the final ceremonies
attending the death of a chief. high priest,
" other dignitary were performed The
emaining buildings were probably for the
lse of the visiting dignifaries and for the
'riests and officers who served Mictlan
The Lord of the Place Of
Death" The mounds on which the builu- .
ngs now stand were covered with cream
shite stones forming ample terraces (,
bout the buildings. The buildings them Z
elves stood in the midst of the vast plain. | !
rilliant crimson and white in the Rlar- ,
ag sunlight Entering the buildings one I
ras plunged into almost absolute dark =
ess. Here, midst the dim light Of flick. d
ring torches, were performed the mys-
.rious rites attending the awful mystery 1
death among these people centuries
efore the conquest Of Mexico by Cortez. 3