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ORIGINAL  CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor, &c.

RUINS  OF  PALENQUE.

SIR, -- I am desirous of communicating to the literary world, through your universally circulated Gazette, some idea of these antiquities, which rescue ancient America from a charge of barbarism.

These ruins extend for more than twenty miles, along the summit of the ridge which separates the country of the wild Maya Indians (included in the district of Peten) from the state of Chiapas, and must anciently have embraced a city and its suburbs. The principal buildings are erected on the most prominent heights, and to several of them, if not to all, stairs were constructed. From the hollows beneath, the steps, as well as all the vestiges which time has left, are wholly of stone and plaster.

The principal edifice I have discovered, and style the palace, is built in several squares; but the main halls, or galleries, run in a direction from the N.N.E. to the S.S.W. Allowing for the variation of the compass, which is 9 degrees E., this position, and its perpendicular, are most exactly observed in all the edifices I have examined, be their situation what it may. This is the more remarkable, as it does not arise from the formation of streets, as no such regular communications existed between the houses. These are formed of galleries eight feet wide, separated by walls a yard thick, and two rows of galleries complete the building: the height of the walls to the eaves is nine feet, and thence three yards more to the top, to which the roofs incline, being covered by horizontal stones a foot wide, The chasims between the inner roofs of the two galleries were originally filled up, though containing large niches, and now universally grown over with bushes and trees. The stones, of which all the edifices are built, are about eighteen inches long, nine broad, and two thick, cemented by mortar, and gradually inclining when they form a roof, but always placed horizontally: the outside eaves are supported by large stones, which project about two feet. Doors are numerous in all the halls, and the spaces which contained the top beams are exactly preserved in the stone, though the wood-work has entirely disappeared. All the habitations must have been exceedingly dark, if the doors were of wood and kept shut; as the windows, though many, are but small circular and square perforations, and subject to no particular arrangement. Evidently the architects avoided symmetry, not from ignorance but design. Besides the niches in the roof and the windows, the walls are perforated by holes of this shape { T ) each about two feet wide: they are very frequent; and, though they completely pierce the wall, are separated in the middle by a partition of plaster: their use I cannot divine. Several holes in the walls also contain stone pillars, of from six inches to one foot high; some capable of holding the strongest animal, and others delicately small; inserted both high and low, and not always opposite one another.

The front of the palace contained five doors, lofty and wide, as in all the buildings: on each of the pillars which separate them is an erect human figure in relievo: in most of these, throughout the ruins, it is difficult to distinguish men from women, as their dress appears the same; the head adorned with high plumes, the breast and arms naked, with necklaces and bracelets, and sometimes covered by a short tippet; the middle and thighs enclosed in a wrapper, crowded with ornaments, and its ends finely worked, hanging down between the legs, which are naked, as well as the feet. Some figures are distinguished by the awkward height of their head-dress, and the unnatural horizontal projection of the bows and ends of the sash which fastens the wrapper: all the heads are in profile, and many hold long staves in their hands, headed by some (indefinable objects; but no weapons are to be seen with any of the figures or basso-relievos, and none have ever been found but flint heads of arrows or lances, similar, though larger, to those used by the wild Indians at the present day. There are also some squatted figures, apparently of plebeians, with wrappers, but without any ornaments or head-dress. The sashes, &c. of several appear to have been coloured, and even much of the writing was painted.

The grand centre entrance of the palace, joining its two front galleries, and under which I have bivouacked, never had any door, and its top is circular: behind the second gallery steps descend into an inner court, and on each side of them are three gigantic busts, worked in relievo, on inclined stones. In another of the courts are the remains of a square tower, still about a 100 feet high, as its top has fallen: the steps which lead up through its interior are rectangular, and it contains a regular series of doors or windows. In one of the galleries of the palace is a sort of picture, contained on a stone of an oval shape, about two yards in diameter; the figures are in relievo, and still bear evidence of having been coloured: a female, dressed as above described, and with ear-rings, sits cross-legged on a seat or sofa, which is just large enough to hold her, and has at each end the representation of an animal's head, with a collar round the neck; a person, apparently an old woman, dressed in a tippet and wrapper, both worked like a plaid, presents on her knees, to the sitting female, a human head, adorned with a solitary tuft of feathers. _The back of the head it turned towards the lady,_ who looks earnestly on it, while her expression of grief and horror is well represented, -- her right hand is near her heart, and the left rests on her thigh. Some square tablets are inscribed in the upper part of the picture; the wall around is of various colours, and an inscription on the cornice overhead is painted in two horizontal rows of small square tablets. Near this is the principal entrance to the vaults, which run underneath the palace, and which I have explored by candle-light, though much annoyed by the large bats that infest all the ruins. Over this same entrance are worked, in relievo, the figure of a rabbit on one side, and an ugly human figure on the other; both surrounded by filagree work, apparently imitating boughs and feathers. The architecture of the vaults is similar to that of the buildings above ground. A female head over one of the passages, with an ornament pendent from her nose, represents grief or sleep. This circumstance, and that of the vaults containing a number of what are apparently stone couches, lead me to suppose they were used as dormitories.

The building which I name the study stands on a neighbouring and higher hill than the palace, and the ascent to it is very steep; it has five doors, each with evidence of having contained wooden frames, the pillars or walls separating them containing full-length figures of about six feet high, one of which is dressed in a petticoat reaching nearly to the ancle, and fringed at the bottom, bearing, as well as another figure, naked infants on their right arras, and not in the manner of the modern Indian women, who always set their children astride on their hips. The Inside walls of the study contain three large stone quadrangles, each divided by indented lines into 240 equal compartments, about six inches square, twelve running from top to bottom, and twenty from side to side, and containing different characters in relievo. I have copied those in best preservation, of which the two following are a specimen: -- the same characters appear to be very rarely repeated in the various tablets.

[image - not copied]

A building, apparently used for religious purposes, stands on a hill in the vicinity, and still higher than the preceding edifices: two galleries form its foundation; the front one occupying its whole length, the back divided into three compartments. The eastern of these has the appearance of a dungeon, though its very small entrance has no evidence of a door. The western compartment is a simple room; the centre piece also without a door; but from the pillars inserted, as already described, in the walls, I conjecture it had curtains. This room has a small chapel built within it, having a flat top: the back of the chapel, and two stone slabs, which form the front, but leave between them a wide entrance, are highly and elegantly worked in relievo. On the west stone is the representation of a man looking towards the entrance, his head adorned with boughs and feathers; a small crane is seated on one of the boughs, with a fish in its mouth; he has a tippet, trousers half-way down the thigh, bands round his calves, and a sort of boot without soles, only covering the back of the leg, -- a horrid figure squatted down, with its back turned to the upright one, has no feet, but its legs terminate in a tail. The other slab contains a hideous old man, with a bough in his mouth. Opposite these two figures are stone pillars, as elsewhere observed both near the floor and higher up, to which victims or culprits may have been tied. Inside, on the back wall of the chapel, are two small human figures; the larger one placing the head of a man adorned with feathers on the top of a cross, _such a one exactly at used by Christians;_ the other represents a child, both looking at the head, barefooted, with their ankles adorned; behind each of them are sets of square tablets, containing characters very neatly executed. Perhaps I am wrong in supposing this to be a chapel, and that humau victims were sacrificed in it; these deeds have generally been executed in the presence of large assemblies of people; while but comparatively few could have witnessed them if done here. This might, therefore, have been a canopy tinder which magistrates gat in the administration of justice. Above all these rooms two narrow parallel walls ascend to a height of eighty feet above the ground: they are perforated by squares, and between them one ascends by projecting stones to the top, whence there is a most extensive view over the plains to the north.

About two hundred yards below the palace a limpid stream has its rise; it bursts from between the rocks, and is covered over from its source for more than a hundred yards, by a gallery which follows its bend; where the gallery ends, there it evidence of a continuation of edifices for about fifty yards more down the course of the stream: the whole appears a strange arrangement.

Not far hence is a prison on the edge of a stupendous precipice: by placing a stone over it, the captive was effectually prevented from escaping, though large windows in the edge of the precipice admitted light and an extensive view.

The whole of the rains are now buried in a thick forest, and months might be delightfully employed in exploring them. My time is unfortunately limited; but I have seen sufficient to ascertain the high civilisation of their former inhabitants, and that they possessed the art of representing sounds by signs, with which I hitherto believed no Americans previous to the conquest were acquainted.

The neighbouring country, for many leagues distant, contains remains of the ancient labours of its people, -- bridges, reservoirs, monumental inscriptions, subterraneous edifices, &c.; but this spot was evidently the capital, and none could be better chosen for the metropolis of a civilised, commercial, and extended nation; having from its elevation a most delightful temperature; behind it a still cooler region for the supply of such productions as a warmer sun does not admit of; and before it the extensive, flat, and hot regions of Tabasco and Yucatan, -- the former in the more immediate neighbourhood, intersected by large, deep, and navigable rivers, which, with their innumerable ramifications and connexions with the sea, offer every facility for an immense commerce. It is strikingly remarkable, the almost exact corresponding situation of this country in the new, with that which Egypt held in the old world, placed at the junction of the northern and southern continents, with a Mediterranean sea, a delta, and an isthmus. Every thing bears testimony that these surprising people were not physically dissimilar from the present Indians; but their civilisation far surpassed that of the Mexicans and Peruvian: they most have existed long prior to the fourteenth century; since the former, who would have been their neighbours, and not deficient in enterprise and talent, would certainly otherwise have learnt from them the art of writing. I would say, that this nation was destroyed by an irruption of barbarians from the north-west, which is an additional reason for giving them a much higher antiquity than the foundation of Mexico, as long previous to that event it is known that no such irruptions had taken place.

I also presume that the Maya language is derived from them: it is still spoken by all the Indiana, and even by most of the other inhabitants throughout Yucatan, the district of Peten, and the eastern part of Tabasco; the Puctunc, a slight corruption of it, is spoken in this immediate vicinity, and to the south-west, nearly as far as the Pacific, Why this original language should be more corrupted near the ancient seat of empire than iu the distant provinces, is no more to be accounted for than the greater similarity of the Portuguese than the Italian to the Latin. The following words are Maya and Puctuno, -- _king,_ sun; _uh,_ moon; _ek,_ stars; _ha,_ water; _kak,_ fire. There is a great similarity between these languages and those spoken farther to the south throughout the state of Guatemala, particularly in numeration, which in the Puctunc is as follows, and the Maya differs but little from it; -- 1, humpel; 2, chapel; 3, ushpel; 4, chumpel; 5, hopel; 6, wokpel; 7, hukpel; 8, washakpel; 9, bulompel; 10, lakumpel.

With regard to the present inhabitants of these regions, the wild Indians to the south are an uncivilised and timid tribe, who occupy an immense tract of country in the interior of the continent; and the subdued Indians who inhabit the states of Chiapas and Tabasco are equally in a low scale of improvement. When asked who built these edifices, they reply, "The devil!" A pretty village, styled Palenque, and which has the honour of giving its name to these ruins, was built about a century ago, six miles to the north-east. The longevity of its inhabitants, and the beauty of its women, prove the excellence of this climate. At a party there, a few days ago, I inquired of the priest and alcalde, as the oracles of Palenque, who they supposed were the builders of these ancient edifices. The priest shook his head, and hinted at their being antediluvian! while the alcalde stoutly affirmed that they must have been built by a colony of Spaniards prior to the conquest!!! J. G.

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ARTS  AND  SCIENCES.

PALENQUE.

In our last Gazette we gave some interesting details on the ruins of Palenque -- a city situated to the north-west of the village of Santo Domingo, in the state of Chiapa, and in the ancient kingdom of Guatemala -- which details were transmitted to us by Lieutenant-Colonel Galindo, governor of the adjoining province. We find, that we were wrong in stating that this place was utterly unknown to European geography. It appears that, its far back as 1787, Captain Antonio del Rio addressed a report to the King of Spain on the existence of these ruins, in the country then designated by the name of Casas de Piedras; and in this report some of the facts are mentioned which are contained in our correspondent's notice, more particularly the very remarkable occurrence of bas-reliefs representing the adoration of the emblem of Christianity, and which are exhibited in Del Rio's work, subsequently translated and published in this country. Baron de Humboldt had, with his ordinary sagacity, observed, that the half-civilised people met with in 1537 by the conqueror Queseda, were clothed in cotton garments, and had the most intimate relations with the people of Japan. Our correspondent's description bears out this notion: he mentions females dressed in tippets and wrappers, worked like a plaid, and the ends also finely wrought. Since that period, in comparing the cycle of the days of the Mayscus or Mayas, (the inhabitants of these uplands) with that of the Japanese, M. de Paravey (Origine unique dei Chiffrei et des Lettres de tous les Peuples) found the same significations in each (evidently astronomical) for the same numbers. Colonel Galindo is decidedly of opinion that the Maya language was derived from these people, whose antiquity must have dated to a period anterior to the foundation of Mexico, and their civilisation have surpassed that of the Peruvians. In fact, Palenque is, in its historical importance, the Thebes of America.

Dr. Siebold, who has lately returned to his native country, after a tedious imprisonment in Japan, prosecuted similar researches, and compared the number of the Mayas with the names of the cycle of the ten days of the Japanese; and he remarked that, excepting the first, the names of all these days terminated in _ka,_ as is also the case in seven out of ten of the Maya numbers. In the Caucasus the languages of the Awares and Lesghi have also the names of their numbers terminating in ko, or ico. Siebold remarks, that fita, which signifies one in Japanese, approximates closely to atar, number one in Mayan; ada also, among the Abazes of Caucasus, signifies frog, which, is the hieroglyphic of the number one. The primitive atha, in Sanscrit, also signifies the first.

The Geographical Society of Paris, struck with the importance of a correct knowledge of the ruins of Palenque, both as regards their relation to similar monuments in Guatemala and in Yucatan, and the analogy which exists between these different edifices, considered as the work of the same art and the same people, has also offered a prize of 2,400 francs for a more complete and exact description of them, accompanied by researches on the traditions relating to the ancient people to whom the construction of these monuments is attributed; with observations on the manners and customs of the natives, and vocabularies of the ancient idioms.*

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* Since writing the above, we obierve the following in the Times, after a quotation of the statement in last week's Lit. Gaz.: a letter has also appeared on the subject in the Morning Herald, which refer* to Lord Kingshorough's splendid work on Mexican Antiquities for other information on the subject of the Palenque ruins. "These (says the Times [sic - Globe?] correspondent, speaking of our description of the American antiquities) are precisely similar, from the description, to the stone-roofed chapels, three or four in number, at Cashel, Glendalough, St. Doologh's, near Dublin, and we believe one other, still existing in Ireland. The wood-work has all disappeared; the windows are many, subject to no particular arrangement, being merely small circular and square perforations. Human figures In alto-relievo are frequent on smalt pillars; and filigree work, imitating boughs and feathers, is perceptible in places. Some of the sculptured ornaments look very like the Corinthian foliage of the ancient architects. The ruins fire burled In a thick forest, and the adjacent country, for leagues, contains remains of the ancient labours of the people -- bridges, reservoirs, monumental inscriptions, &c. The natives say these edifices were built 'by the devil.'"

ART. VIII. -- CENTRAL  AMERICA.

1. -- Guatimala, or the United Provinces of Central America, in 1827-28; being Sketches and Memorandums made during a twelve month's residence in that Republic. By Henry Dunn. 1818 8vo. pp. 318.

2. -- Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala from Mexico. By G. A. Thompson, Esq... London: 1829. 12mo. pp. 528.

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DISCOVERY  OF  ANCIENT  RUINS
IN  CENTRAL  AMERICA.

A late number of the London Literary Gazette, contains a letter from Lieut. Col. Galindo, at Peten, in Central America, giving some idea of those antiquities which rescue ancient America from the charge of barbarism. These ruins extend for more than twenty miles, and must anciently have embraced a city and its suburbs. The principal edifice is supposed to have been a palace, formed of two rows of galleries, eight feet wide, separated by walls a yard thick; the height of the walls to the eaves is nine feet, and thence three yards more to the top. The stones of which all the edifices are built, are about eighteen inches long, nine broad and two thick, cemented by morter. The front of the palace contained five lofty and wide doors. Numerous statues of stone are scattered about. In another building, which Col. G. calls the study, are numerous full length figures, of about six feet high, some of them holding naked infants on their right arms, and not in the manner of the modern Indian woman, who always set their children astride on their hips. A place of religious worship and a prison, complete the list of buildings enumerated by Col. G.

"The whole of the ruins," says Col. G. are buried in a thick forest, and months might be delightfully employed in exploring them. I have seen sufficient to ascertain the high civilization of the former inhabitants, and that they possessed the art of representing sounds by signs, with which I have hitherto believed no Americans previous to the conquest were acquainted." -- "The neighboring country for many leagues distant, contains remains of the ancient labors of its people, bridges, reservoirs, monumental inscriptions, subterraneous edifices, &c." "Everything bears testimony that these surprising people were not physically dissimilar from the present Indians; but their civilization far surpassed that of the Mexicans and Peruvians; they must have existed long prior to the fourteenth century."

==> REMARKS. -- We are glad to see the proof begin to come, of the original or ancient inhabitants of this continent. It is good testimony in favor of the book of Mormon, and the book of Mormon is good testimony that such things as cities and civilization, "prior to the fourteenth century," existed in America. Helaman, in the book of Mormon, gives the following very interesting account of the people who lived upon this continent, before the birth of the Savior.

And now it came to pass in the forty and third year of the reign of the Judges, there was no contention among the people of Nephi, save it were a little pride which was in the church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year.

And there was no contention among the people in the forty and fourth year; neither was there much contention in the forty and fifth year.

And it came to pass in the forty and sixth, yea, there were much contentions and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceeding great many which departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward, to inherit the land; and they did travel to an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water, and many rivers; yea, and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land, into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate, and without timber, because of the many inhabitants which had before inherited the land.

And now no part of the land was desolate, save it were for timber, &c.; but because of the greatness of the destruction of the people which had before inhabited the land, it was called desolate.

And there being but little timber upon the face of the land, nevertheless the people which went forth, became exceeding expert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of cement, in the which they did dwell.

And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from the land southward, to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south, to the sea north, from the sea west, to the sea east.

And the people which were in the land northward, did dwell in tents, and in houses of cement, and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land, that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.

And it came to pass as timber was exceeding scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping; and thus they did enable the people in the land northward, that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement.

And it came to pass that there were many of the people of Ammon, which were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land.

And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are particular and very large concerning them:

But behold a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people; yea, the account of the Lamanites, and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping, and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work; but behold, there are many books and many records of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites:

And they have been handed down from one generation to another, by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression, and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites.

In addition to the above, Nephi relates what took place at the crucifixion of the Lord, and should ruins of many cities be discovered, it would be no more than a confirmation of what was once on this land of the Lord. The account of the great destruction at the crucifixion, is confirmed by the appearance of the face of the land now, and the cracks or common seams in the rocks: We give it thus:

And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, in the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land; and there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder; and there was exceeding sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.

And the city of Zarahemla did take fire; and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned; and the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city thereof, there became a great mountain; and there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.

But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward: for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest, and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings, and lightnings, and the exceeding great quaking of the whole earth; and the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough, and many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shook till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate and there were some cities which remained:

But the damage thereof was exceeding great, and there were many in them which were slain; and there were some which were carried away in the whirlwind, and whither they went, no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away:

And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.

And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; yea, they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams, and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.

And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease, for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours; and then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.

And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon the face of all the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof which had not fallen, could feel the vapour of darkness; and there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceeding dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all; and there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.

And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days, that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning, and howling, and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.

And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.

And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers, and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah; and thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.

And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth upon all the face of this land, crying, Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth, except they shall repent, for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen.

Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof.

And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned.

And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.

And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth; yea, and the city of Onihah, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum, and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants thereof, and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.

And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof, and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.

And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations: for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.

And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning them which I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations; and because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints which I sent among them, might not cry unto me from the ground against them; and many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.

AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES

THREE  VISITS  TO  THE  RUINS  OF  PALENQUE.

DEDICATION

'I was at Palenque, on my third visit exploring these admirable ruins, when, on the 21st July, 1832, I received your letter of March last, on which account I have been unable to answer it until the present time. It is impossible to give you in one letter the details of things so surprising discovered in this ruined city. At present I can only inform you, that since September, 1819, to the end of October, 1832, I have been constantly engaged in collecting materials, and preparing a work for publication. The materials are copious, and will form two volumes, and I propose to put them in the form of letters written and dedicated to you, for which I ask your permission, and request your affirmative reply. I have a description of these ruins, which neither Don Antonio Del Rio, nor any other person has been able to give. The expenses of my voyages and explorations have cost me more than four thousand five hundred dollars. I possess, my dear doctor, many idols, some of them formed of baked earth, others of stone, and one of a material supposed to be a petrifaction of jasper, or of a species of marble, and also one of gold, but unfortunately for me, its value is only about four dollars."

'I have a plan of Tabasco, with three routes which conduct to the ruins. I have also a plan of the grand and principal palace of the ruins, which place is more extensive than the Tuileries of Paris. I am also in possession of numerous designs. Inform me, my dear sir, if my work and collections can be advantageously published and disposed of in New-York.

'On my return from the ruins, I received the books and the likeness of Dr. Mitchill, which you had the goodness to send me. In your letter to me, you remark, that on one of the idols which I sent to Dr. Mitchill to be forwarded to Mr. Jomard of Paris, there appeared to be characters similar to Greek letters. On this point, there is no doubt in my mind, that the tribes which formerly inhabited this ancient city, were composed of Phenicians, Egyptians, Greeks, Asiatics, Arabs and Chinese.

'This country, or the state of Tabasco, has few minerals, but is extremely rich in animals and vegetable productions, and I can enrich the Museum of the Lyceum of Natural-History of your city with such as may be interesting to you. Have the goodness to send me a barrel of fine plaster of Paris for making moulds and casts of idols and other interesting things from the ruins.'

'I had the honor, two days since, to receive your very agreeable letter, dated at New York, 15th May last, remitted to me by Mr. Eastman. I feel very sensibly his attention to my wishes in conveying my letter to you and in taking charge of the articles you sent with your reply, and I am much indebted to your goodness.

'Having received with yours a letter from Dr. De Kay, the Secretary of the Lyceum of Natural History of your city, announcing my election as a corresponding member of said society, I shall do myself the pleasure of answering it in a few days, and also, my dear doctor, in writing to you more in detail. I have also received the mould and the cast of the idol you sent me, which is an excellent imitation, for which and other attentions, I tender you my sincere thanks.

'Mr. Eastman informs me of having left at the barrier of this State, not only a barrel of fine plaster of Paris which you sent, as announced in your letter, but three others, which I hope will enable me to present you the mould of a cross from the ruins, which the Geographical Society of Paris and several learned men of Europe have repeatedly solicited.

'My dear doctor, I admire your modesty in not being willing to permit me to dedicate my work upon 'The Ruins' to you. But I have disobeyed your orders; my dedication is made and directed to Mr. Samuel Akerly, and I know of no remedy but submission.

'As to Mr. Waldeck's being in Mexico, as announced in one of your newspapers, as you inform me, it is not so. He occupies a small house erected upon the ruins, where he has resided fourteen years, making drawings and excavations as far as his limited means will allow. I have received several letters from him, in one of which he says; 'If you fear the Asiatic Cholera Morbus, come and live at my cottage, where the healthful climate and uniform temperature will free us from this malady.' Have the goodness to present my respects to the Honorable the Secretary and Members of the Lyceum of Natural History.'

'A few days ago, perusing a city paper, I saw a communication to your address, (which I know to be from a friend of mine in Tabasco,) respecting the 'Ruins of Palenque.' After mentioning the 'Idol of massive gold,' and other things connected with this (not) 'singular place,' (as there are other immense piles of ruins, which I am inclined to think my worthy friend Dr. Corroy has no knowledge of,) he states his having vases, &c. made from an unknown substance.' The whole of these articles I saw in Tabasco, in 1831-2, at the doctor's Sitio, when on my journey to the interior and the Pacific across the Andes.

'On my journey along the valleys of these mountains I picked up several pieces of what the doctor calls an unknown substance, a specimen of which I enclose You will at once perceive what it is. On my return, in May last. from San Christobal, I had not an opportunity of seeing the doctor, or I should have made known to him the existence of other ruins, as he is somewhat of an enthusiast in examining the 'records of time,' which are scattered about that interesting country where the foot of Humboldt never trod. The doctor is a worthy man, and hospitality is his motto. I have several Mexican seeds which are new here, and some specimens of their gigantic maize which I shall be pleased to distribute to any one on application for the purpose of planting.'

The bearer of this is an intimate friend of mine, Mr. J. N. Pieper, merchant of this place, whom I take the liberty of particularly recommending to your attention, &c.

'The three barrels of white powder which I received with your letter is not the right kind of plaster for making moulds or casts, but the half barrel which you sent is really fine plaster, and very good for the purpose desired. I forwarded it to Mr. Waldeck, who lives at the ruins, forty leagues from Tabasco, and we should have commenced moulding, and making casts and fac-similes of the characters and bas-reliefs on the walls of the ruins to supply the museums of all nations, and individuals who desire to have them, as well as other curious and interesting things from this ruined city, supposed to have flourished nearly one thousand three hundred years ago, but the quantity was too small, and we must suspend our operations until you can send us an additional supply. I must observe to you that it should be put up in small barrels, to render it easily transportable, because in this country, every weight is supported by the head and upon the back, particularly in travelling to the ruins where there are no established roads.

'I received with your very agreeable letters, of the 15th and 26th March last the letter of Dr. De Kay, Corresponding Secretary of the Lyceum of Natural History, announcing my having been unanimously elected a Corresponding Member. Herewith I forward to you my letter of acknowledgment and thanks to the Lyceum, for the honor conferred upon me.

'I also take the opportunity, by Mr. Pieper, of enclosing to you the dedication of my work on the ruins, and beg you to have it translated into French and English and have it published in the papers of your city, sending me a copy.

'The last letter I received from Mr. Waldeck was written at the ruins, and dated 24th of May, 1833. He states that he has been informed, that in the United States there has been published in his name a work and drawings on the ruins, and he has requested me to contradict the authenticity of such a work, and l beg you, my dear sir, to do it for me and in my name, being well persuaded, that if such a work has really been published it is an imposition.

'Not having sufficient plaster to operate with advantage, I shall wait for that which I beg you to send me to enable me to repair to the ruins, and take from the walls of the temples and palaces there, the written inscriptions, hieroglyphics, and images in relief impressed thereon. You may rely upon it you shall not be forgotten in our operations. I hope also to make some additions to the Museum of your Lyceum.

'In my third voyage and journey to the ruins, I made all the haste possible, in order, and among other things, to procure a fragment (which I send you) of one of the most ancient books, which was almost devoured by the mites. The manuscript, however, proves that it was written posterior to the conquest of this country by the Spaniards, as it is in the Spanish written character, but in the Tzendal language, as you will see from the memorandum on the back of the manuscript. I hope it will be acceptable to you, as it is the largest portion of the book that can be obtained.

'Again I recommend to you my friend, Mr. Pieper, profiting by the safety of the opportunity by him of enclosing some drawings, which are three giants, two idols, and two priapi, the originals of which are in my possession, with many others, which trifling present you will receive in remembrance of the goodness you have manifested toward me,' &c. &c.

'Antonio Del Rio, Captain of Artillery, was sent, in consequence of an order from his Majesty Charles the Third, dated March 15th, 1786, by his Excellency Don Joseph Estacheria, Captain General of Guatemala, to examine the ruins of a city of very great extent and antiquity, the name of which was unknown, that was discovered in the vicinity of Palenque, district of Carmen, in the province of Chiapa, where he found magnificent edifices, temples, towers, aqueducts, statues, hieroglyphics, and unknown characters, that have withstood the ravages of time and the succession of ages, and of which he made many plans and drawings.' (Cabrera's Comment on Del Rio, p 36.)

This "is a compound name of two words, Huehue, old, and Tlapallan; and it seems the Tultecas prefixed the adjective to distinguish it from three other places which they founded in the districts of their new kingdom, to perpetuate their attachment to their ancient country, and their grief at being expelled from the same; whence it arose that the place which formerly had the simple name of Tlapallan, was afterward denominated Huehuetlapallan; at least so says Torquemada. Such, without doubt, was the name which anciently distinguished the Palencian City." (Cabrera, p. 94.)

'I have been some time engaged in preparing a work on the general history of the people of the two Americas, and I have been necessarily attracted by the antiquities of Central America. My work is based upon Philology as a means of tracing the origin of nations. A branch of the work, on the origin of the primitive Asiatic and American Negroes, (for there were negroes in America before the discovery of Columbus,) has procured me a golden medal from the Geographical Society of Paris. I have traced the origin of black people to the centre of Asia, whence all others have diverged like rays.

'In the Atlantic Journal, which I have published in Philadelphia for two years past, I have addressed several letters to Mr. Champollion upon the antiquities of Palenque, or rather of O-tol-um, the true name of the site of the great ruins, preserved by Del Rio in the name of the stream which washes its borders, and which signifies the waters of Tol, as the great city in ruins was anciently the capital of the Tol-tecas, (or people of Tol,) and they were the descendants of the A-talans, named by the Greeks Atlantes.'

Family Magazine Reprint #1


The 1786 Report of Antonio Del Rio
_________

Copy of 1822 Fig. - in Dec. 28, 1833 Family Magazine

Copy of 1822 Fig. - in Jan. 11, 1834 Family Magazine

Copy of 1822 Fig. - in Jan. 18, 1834 Family Magazine

"Ruins of the Ancient City"

Articles from Jan.-Feb. 1834 issues of
The Family Magazine

ANTIQUITIES.
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RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CITY. (6)

ANTIQUITIES.
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RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CITY. (7)

ANTIQUITIES.
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RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CITY. (8)

ANTIQUITIES.
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RUINS OF THE ANCIENT CITY. (9)

Family Magazine Reprint #2

Paul Felix Cabrera:
Teatro Critico Americano (1796?)

(Abridged in 1834 issues of Family Magazine)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (1)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (2)

(For an illustration of the medal described in the preceding paragraph,
the reader is referred to the two cuts on the following page.)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (3)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (4)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (5)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (6)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (7)

ANTIQUITIES.
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THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. (7)

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AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES.
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THE  RUINS  OF  PALENQUE.

There are no doubt many, in this utilitarian age, who regard the time employed in antiquarian research as utterly utterly misspent, because it does not produce such practical results as to put money in the purse. It is true that the researches of antiquarians into the past history of nations do not increase a man's wealth, and give him that influence and importance in society which wealth almost invariably commands, but, if it does not increase his worldly goods, the amount of his knowledge is increased by such researches and enquiries, and his capacity for usefulness is, therefore, enlarged. The study and investigation of the antiquities of a people, while they gratify curiosity, are interesting and important to the philosopher and historian, by enabling them to ascertain the true character of such people, and trace the history and progress of civilization, as exhibited in their cicil institutions, and in their moral and social condition.

Antiquities are of two kinds, namely, those which relate to the manners, customs, laws and institutions of nations, and those which relate to architectural monuments and to inscriptions and hieroglyphic characters and emblems. The researches of antiquarians have brought to light many interesting and valuable facts which had been obscured by the accumulated dust of ages, and which, without these efforts, would have
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been completely lost, or destroyed by the ravages of time. For three thousand years the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians baffled every effort of the learned and the unlearned to decipher them, and reveal their import, but genius and learning combined with perseverance, at length triumphed over difficulties that appeared insurmountable, and much light has been shed upon the history of that wonderful people, whose early advances in literature, science and the arts, were the wonder of surrounding nations. Without a knowledge of the antiquities of Greece and Rome, we should have but an imperfect idea of the manners, customs and institutions of two of the most celebrated nations of the old world, whose fame will descend to the most distant posterity. In whatever point of view they may be considered, the labors of antiquaries are far from being useless; they will be found to have contributed in an eminent degree, to the elucidation of historical events, to the increase of human knowledge, and the enlargement of the circle of intelligence. To the profound researches of Sir William Jones and other oriental scholars, the world is indebted for much useful and important information in relation to the civil and political history of India, its religious institutions. and the early condition of literature and science. Researches of a similar character have poured a flood of light upon the historical portions of the Old and New Testaments, and these illustrations of ancient manners and institutions, have removed many stumbling blocks which stood in the way of the serious enquirer, after religious truth. These facts tend to prove, that the labors of antiquaries are not as unprofitable as some, who are accustomed to look only at the surface of things, may imagine.

The remains of antiquity which are spread over the American continent, appear to be engaging somewhat more of public attention, than formerly; and it is to be regretted that the same interest was not felt at an early period. Many interesting monuments of the Aborigines of the Western Valley have, in the progress of the settlement and improvement of the country, been entirely destroyed; the plough and the harrow have passed over them, and, levelling them with the surrounding earth, have obliterated every vestige. If they had been preserved in their original form, or if they had been accurately delineated and described when first discovered, the progress of antiquarian research and investigation, would, perhaps, have thrown some light upon their origins, the purposes for which they were designed, and upon the past history of the people by whom they were erected. There are many still remaining in a state so nearly perfect, that their peculiar characters
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and distinctive features may yet be delineated. In Madison county, in the State of Tennessee, not far from the town of Jackson, are a number of ancient remains, of which a remarkable mound, known by the name of Mount Pynsert, is the centre. These ancient remains are worthy the attention of the curious, and whoever will undertake to give an accurate description of them, will render an interesting service to the community. A few years more, and they too will disappear.

That in ages long antecedent to the discovery of the American continent by Columbus, or even by the Northmen, it was inhabited by mighty nations, will scarcely be denied. The vast ruins which are found throughout the whole extent of the continent clearly indicate a numerous population, and an advanced state of civilization and knowledge of some of the most essential arts. These ruins, however, are not all of the same character; some exhibit much more skill and art in their construction than others; some are merely walls of earth surrounded by ditches, while others appear to have been palaces or temples constructed of solid and enduring materials. The examination of these different monuments excites in the common observer but a transitory interest; he contemplates them without emotion, and they pass from his remembrance as they fade from his view, but they awaken in the mind of the philosophic enquirer a deeper interest, and give rise to more extended views. While the one sees in them nothing but rude monuments of human labor, the other beholds in them evidence of a former existence of a mighty people who swayed the sceptre of power over wide domains. A single monument, a solitary mound or temple, throws but a faint and feeble light upon the past history of a nation or people, but when many are examined and compared with each other, and with the ancient remains of other nations, the result of such comparisons may be important. Some future Young or Champollion may read in the dilapidated monuments of Mexico and Guatamala, or in the widespread ruins of the Valley of the Ohio, the history of their origin, and be able to shew by what people they were erected, and from whence they came, and time be able to settle the contested point, by what nation this continent was originally peopled. This idea may appear fanciful, and as the mere vision of a speculative antiquary, but time may prove its truth.

Among the remarkible monuments of antiquity on the American continent, are the ruins of Palenque in the Republic of Guatamala, the existence of which is but little known. About the middle of the last century, the ruins of an ancient
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city, which were spread over an area of great extent, were discovered in the vicinity of Palenque, in the providence of Ciudad Real de Chiapa. They were evidently of high antiquity, many centuries antecedent to the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. These extensive and remarkable ruins were subjects of much discussion and learned speculation at the time of their discovery, and at length attracted the attention of the Spanish government. In the year 1786, a royal order was issued to Antonio del Rio, to proceed to the spot, and make a full and minute examination of these interesting monuments of the art and labour of other times. In May, 1786, Del Rio repaired to Palenque, taking with him a number of labourers, provided with implements to make the necessary excavations and examinations. "By dint of perseverance," says he, " I effected all that was necessary, so that ultimately there remained neither a window or door-way blocked up, a partition that was not thrown down, nor room, corridor, court, tower, or subterranean passage, in which excavations were not effected from two to three yards in depth."

These ruins are called by the Spaniards Casas de Piedras, (stone houses,) and are situated on a plain at the base of a high mountain, and extend from east to west between seven and eight leagues, but their breadth is by no means equal to their length, being little more than half a league in width, where they terminate towards the river Micol, which winds around the base of the mountain. The situation appears to have been well chosen, as the climate is described as being delightful, the soil fertile, and capable of producing in great abundance every thing to satisfy the wants of man. The city probably commanded other resources to enable it to maintain as great a population as seems to be indicated by its extent.

Del Rio gives the following description of the largest of the mass of buildings, which stands on a mound twenty yards high, and is surrounded by other edifices, namely, five to the northward, four to the southward, one to the southwest, and three to the eastward; while in all directions the fragments of other fallen buildings are to be seen extending along the mountain. "The interior of the large building is in a style of architecture strongly resembling the Gothic, and from its rude and massy construction, promises a great durability. The entrance is on the eastern side, by a portico or corridor, thirty-six yards in length and three in breadth, supported by plain rectangular pillars, without either bases or pedestals, upon which there are smooth square stones of more than a foot in thickness, forming an architrave, while on the exterior superficies are species
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stucco shields; over these stones there is another plain rectangular block five feet long and six broad, extending over two of the pillars. Medallions or compartments in stucco, containing different devices of the same material, appear as decorations to the chambers; and it is presumable, from the vestiges of the hands which can still be traced, that they were busts of a series of kings or lords to whom the natives were subject. -- Between the medallions there is a range of windows like niches, passing from one end of the wall to the other, some of them in the form of a Greek cross. Beyond this corridor, there is a square court, entered by a flight of seven steps; the north side is entirely in ruins, but sufficient traces of them remain to shew, that it once had a corridor and chamber, similar to those on the eastern side, and which continued entirely along the several angles. The south side has four small chambers with no other ornament than one or two little windows, like those already described. The western side is correspondent to its opposite in all respects, but in the variety of expression of the figures in stucco; these are much more rude and ridiculous than the others, and can only be attributed to most uncultivated Indian capacity. The device is a sort of grotesque mask with a crown and long beard like that of a goat, under which are two Greek crosses. It is by no means improbable that these fantastic forms, and others equally whimsical, were the delineations of some of their deities, to whom they paid an idolatrous worship, consistent with their false belief und barbarous customs."

"Proceeding in the same direction, there is another court similar in length to the last, but not so broad, having a passage round it that communicated with the opposite side; in this passage there are two chambers like those above mentioned, and an interior gallery looking on one side upon the court-yard, and commanding on the other a view of the open country. In this part of the edifice, some pillars yet remain, on which are figures in relievo, apparently representing a mournful subject, and alluding no doubt to the sacrifice of some wretched Indian, the destined victim of a sanguinary religion." -- Returning by the south side, the tower presents itself to notice: its height is sixteen yards, and to the four existing stories was, perhaps, added a fifth, with a cupola, which, in all probability, it once possessed; although these piles diminish in size and are without ornament, yet the design of them is singular and very ingenious. This tower has a well imitated artificial entrance, as was clearly proved by making a horizontal excavation of more than three yards, which I wished to carry
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quite through the edifice, but was forced to desist from the operation, as the stones and earth slipped down in large quantities, from the pressure of a solid body passing through the centre. This, upon inspection, proved to be an interior tower quite plain, with windows fronting the former, and giving light to the steps ascending to the summit. Behind the four chambers already mentioned, there are two others of larger dimensions, very well ornamented in the rude Indian style, and which appear to have been used as oratories. Beyond these oratories, and extending from north to south, there are two apartments, each twenty-seven yards long by little more than three broad; they contain nothing worthy of notice, except a stone of an ellipticni form, imbedded in the wall, about a yard above the pavemeni, the height of which is one yard and a quarter, and the breadth one yard. Below the elliptical stone above mentioned, there is a plain rectangular block, more than two yards long by one yard and four inches broad, and seven inches thick, placed upon four feet in the form of a table, with a figure in bas relief'in the attitude of supporting it." Various figures and symbols adorn the edges of this table, which, says del Rio, "must have a determinate signification in the language of the original natives, as they are frequently found on stones and stuccos, though their use, value and meaning, are altogether unknown."

Our author also describes several subterranean passages under various parts of the building, one of which communicates with a chamber sixty-four yards long, beyond which is a similar chamber, having lights admitted by windows, commanding a corridor fronting the south, and leading to the exterior of the edifice.

Besides the buildings above mentioned, del Rio examined another situated to the south of the principal edifice, on an eminence about forty yards in height; and also three square buildings, each situated on an eminence to the east. The first mentioned is in the form of a parallelogram, and contains a saloon twenty yards long and three and a half broad, embellished with numerous female figures of the natural size, with children in their arms, executed in stucco medio relief; other parts of the building are covered with hieroglyphics in bas-relief.

Such is the description given by Del Rio, of the principal edifices among the ruins of Palenque. From his account, they exhibit an amount of skill in the arts, and particularly of architectural skill, much beyond that passessed by the natives of the country, when first discovered by the Spaniards. Hence,
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we may infer, that this great city was built by a different race of men, who probably received their knowledge in the arts, from a people still further, advanced; and it is not improbable, that they were subsequently overpowered and exterminated by a people more warlike and powerful, but less civilized, whose wandering mode of life rendered settled habitations unnecessary, and these extensive buildings were permitted to fall into ruins. The inroads of rude and barbarous nations have not been uncommon events in the history of the world; the world's great mistress was overpowered by hordes of barbarian conquerors, who defaced and destroyed some of the most splendid specimens of Roman art.

The figures and symbols with which these ruins were decorated, present an interesting subject for the investigation of the antiquary. Some of them appear to have been executed with considerable skill and taste, but others are extremely rude. They are evidently hieroglyphical, and are symbolical representations of important events in the history of the people who once occupied the city -- of a living multitude who have passed away leaving no other memorial of their existence; but they speak in an unknown tongue, looking down in mystery, and mocking the efforts of the observer to explain them. Before the intention of alphabetic characters, it is well known, that several nations of antiquity employed hieroglyphics to record the great events in their history. Among these nations, the ancient Egyptians were most conspicuous, having carried the art of hieroglyphic writing to greater perfection than any other. Hieroglyphic characters abound on their temples, obelisks and columns, and at this day, although the storms of more than three thousand years have beat upon them, they still stand forth in their original freshness and distinctness. --"You see them," says a recent traveller, "as Cambyses saw them when he staid his chariot wheels to gaze up at them." The hieroglyphic characters on the ruined edifices of Palenque appear to be but little impaired by the ravages of time, andbear a strong resemblance to those of the Egyptians, and hence Cabrera, in his "Critical Investigation and Research into the History of the Americans," infers that they are of a common origin, and consequently that the Palencean city was either erected by the Egyptians, or by those whom they had instructed in their arts, and their religion. Del Rio conjectures, that the Phoenicians, the Greeks or the Romans, "pursued their conquests even to this country, where they remained long enough to enable the Indian tribes to imitate their ideas and adopt in a rude and awkward manner, such arts as their invaders thought fit to inculcate."

[396-97]

ART. VII. -- Antiquités Mexicaines. Relation des Trois Expéditions du Capitaine Dupaix, ordonnées en 1805, 1806, 1807, pour la Recherche des Antiquités du Pays, notamment celles de Mitla et de Palenque; accompagnée des Dessins de CASTANEDA, Membre des Trois Expéditions, et Dessinateur du Musée de Mexico, et d'une Carte du Pays exploré: suivie d'une Paralléle de ces Monuments avec ceux de l'Egypte, de l'Indostan, et du Reste de l'Ancien Monde, par M. ALEXANDRE LENOIR, Créateur du Musée des Monuments Francois, Membre de la Societé Royale des Antiquaires de France, de celle de Londres, &c.; d'une Dissertation sur l'Origine de l'Ancienne Population des deux Amériques, et sur les diverses Antiquites de ce Continent, par M. WARDEN, Ancien Consul-Général des Etats-Unis, Correspondant de l'Institut de France, Membre de la Société Royale des Antiquaires de France, et de plusieurs autres Sociétés Savantes: avec un Discours Préliminaire, par M. CHARLES FARCY, de la Société Royale des Antiquaires de France, et de la Société libre des Beaux-Arts de Paris; et des Notes Explicatives, et autres Documents, par M. BARADERE DE ST. PRIEST et plusieurs autres Voyageurs, qui ont parcouru l'Amérique. A Paris. fol.

"I compress what I have said into the following observations.

"1. That the primitive population of America must remain as much unknown to us as the primitive population of the other parts of the globe.

"2. That the most ancient remains of this primitive people, which exist in America, are the monuments of Palenque, of Guatemala, and of Yucatan.

"3. That this population must have been more civilized than any other, and further advanced in the arts; and that it must cause us the same admiration, whether its civilization was its own proper work, originating in the country, or whether it was received by. direct communication from Asia or Egypt.

"4. That this central country must have been, three thousand years ago, in the midst of America, what were the Assyrian and Persian empires in Asia, Egypt in Africa, and Greece in Europe; that is to say, the luminous foci of civilization, surrounded by the barbarism of a savage people.

"5. That later, but before the fifteenth century, a succession of different people came into America, as colonists or as invaders; by sea, from the east or west, into the central or southern parts of the continent, or more directly into the northern regions

"6. That it was by the north, particularly, that the migrations before the fifteenth century took place into America, and it was from that quarter that the Tartars and Moguls pushed back upon Mexico the more northern population.

"7. That America, discovered by the Europeans towards the end of the fifteenth century, had already been discovered many times before, according to what we know now, or even according to what we do not know [!] (ou rnerne selon ce que nous ne savons pas); like an immense vessel lying upon the bosom of the sea, carried by boarding on all sides, and at all epochs."

It is remarked in the reports submitted to the Geographical Society in 1834, and prepared by M. Jomard, that all these edifices, heretofore concealed in Central America, have a common character in their style and execution, marking them as the productions of the same people, and that they differ from any other monuments found upon this continent. He describes the temple of Copan as of great extent, being six hundred and fifty-three feet by five hundred and twenty-four. In the sepulchral chambers are vases of red earth, varnished, containing human bones mixed with lime. Here are found figures of gigantic crocodiles, and a bust, indicating a statue of fifteen or twenty feet high. The figures in bas-relief have sandals with straps, and clothing of network. There are everywhere tables and stone altars, framed pictures, symbols, and signs, symmetrically arranged, and sculptured and painted. The quarry which supplied the materials for the temple of Copan is more than a mile from this edifice, and the process by which the large stones were conveyed to their destination is not among the least singular of the many difficulties which the subject presents.

Among the documents published in the "Antiquites Mexicaines," is a letter from General Santa Anna, in which he remarks, that "the temple and the monuments of Palenque are worthy of a parallel with the pyramids of Egypt; and whether they were erected in honor of glorious events, or elevated by the munificence of princes, they would not have less celebrity than the Egyptian monuments, if history had transmitted to posterity their origin and the names of their authors."

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Vol. II.                         CITY  OF  NAUVOO,  ILL.  June 15, 1841.                        No. 16.

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AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES --

MORE  PROOFS  OF  THE BOOK OF MORMON.

We feel great pleasure in laying before our readers the following interesting account of the Antiquities of Central America, which have been discovered by two eminent travellers who have spent considerable labor, to bring to light the remains of ancient buildings, architecture &c., which prove beyond controversy that, on this vast continent, once flourished a mighty people, skilled in the arts and sciences, and whose splendor would not be eclipsed by any of the nations of Antiquity-a people once high and exalted in the scale of intelligence, but now like their ancient buildings, fallen into ruins.

From the (New York) Weekly Herald.

Since the Introductory address of Mr. Stephens, which was noticed in the herald last week, Mr., Catherwood has completed his course of two lectures, on the Antiquities which he has visited in the ruined cities of Central America. Mr. Catherwood and Mr. Stephens left New York in the month of October, 1839, to examine these memorials of a people lost...
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...Leaving the City of Santa Cruiz del Quiche, the travellers arrived, after several day's journey, at Guique tenango... They next passed to Ocosingo with much difficulty, the native Indian tribes being exceedingly reluctant to visit these ruins, and without a guide the journey was almost hopeless.... The Indians believed that beyond it was a cavern which, if an entrance would be effected, would lead the travelers to Palenque in three hours -- a distance otherwise of 150 miles. The travellers vigoursly engaged in the enterprise, and gained access through the doorway, but they found it was merely an entrance to an apartment ten feet square, ornamented with stucco and painted figures. The place, however, was so hot, and close, and offensive, that they could not long remain to examine its structure; but they remained long enough to ascertain that at the bottom was a bituminous substance, like the bitumen used by the Egyptians to embalm the bodies of their dead.

The great object of their research was Palenque, which is situated in the province of Chiapas, and is distant about a hundred miles from the Atlantic coast; it stands on the bank of a small river, and near a range of lofty hills. The ruins which the travellers here visited, consisted of a group of six buildings, or edifices, and an aqueduct. The palace stands on a pyramidal base, 300 feet in front, 260 in breadth, and 60 feet high. The building of the palace itself, properly so called, is 228 feet in breadth, facing towards, the east, The front is divided into fourteen door ways, with fifteen on the eastern front, each pier being ornamented with one or more figures in stucco, beautifully sculptured and painted. A double corridor, nine feet wide, and twenty feet high, extends all round this building, and altogether, in admeasurement, it is 800 feet. The roofs are a sort of arch, which come nearly to a point, and are constructed of stones which overlap each other, the summit being covered with stones that are large and flat. They are built on the same principle as the Cyclopean structures, which are met with in Greece and Italy.

Passing into the structure, of which a ground plan was exhibited, there is found a court yard, 80 feet by 70, with descending steps, 30 feet wide, which are flanked by nine colossal figures in stone, each thirteen feet high and in good preservation. Opposite to them are similar figures; all the piers of this court were ornamented with painted stucco figures (of admirable consistency and nearly as hard as stone,) some consisting of groups, and some of single figures only.

Their bodies are painted of a red color, which appears, in that country, to have been the color universally used in painting bodies. This is the case also with Egyptian figures, the Egyptians always represented their own nation as red, Europeans as white, and Africans as black. Their Divinities were all represented of a red color. Of these sculptured piers there are many still remaining, the figures of which are surrounded by richly ornamented borders; they are about ten feet high, and six feet wide.

The second court is then seen, and like the principal court, is encumbered with trees, large stones, and rubbish. This court yard is eighty feet by thirty, and is ornamented with stone figures and hieroglyphics. -- On the western side of the edifice several of the piers are in good preservation, with stucco ornaments. A tower is found in the interior of this structure 30 feet square and about 40 feet high, the two upper stories of which have fallen down; it has a smaller tower, however, inside, which may be ascended by a stone staircase. Near to this is a long narrow chamber, 70 feet in length, on one side of which is a richly sculptured tablet, surrounded with stuccoed verdure. Passing
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from this, by a flight of descending stairs, the travellers came to three corridors, each 180 feet long. They extend the whole breadth of the building, and are very gloomy, requiring torch lights in their examination.

These corridors are not ornamented, but they contain several stone tables or beds about six or seven feet in length which were supposed to have been used as grateful and cool couches, when the inhabitants retired in the heat of the day. The Palace also contained a small private chapel or altar, which had probably only been used by the inmates of the Royal Family. The other rooms, which were numerous, generally displayed the remains of rich ornaments of Stucco, painted, the paintings in some instances being discovered to be five different subjects painted over each other. The travellers slept in the outer corridor, where they were exposed to terrific storms of thunder, lightning, and rain, which also uniformly came on in the afternoons and nights.

Besides the Palace there were other structures, which are called "stone houses," and which the travellers supposed to be temples. The first was situated on a pyramidal base of 110 feet on a slope, and the whole were covered with forest trees of a large size. This "stone house" was described with doors and six piers, and as measuring 76 feet in front, which is ornamented with hieroglyphics and stucco figures, representing a female holding a child in her arms. This house is situated 300 or 400 feet southwest of the palace, and so densly [densely] surrounded by forest trees, that it is not discernable even a few feet distant, and without the aid of a guide the ruins would not be discovered, though lying at the travelers' feet. In the interior are found massive stone tablets, thirteen feet long, each tablet having 240 squares of hieroglyphics. Of the uses of this building no satisfactory conclusion can be arrived at; while the travellers supposed it to be a temple, and the Indians called it the school, some Spanish priest has described it as a place of justice, and the tables of hieroglyphics as the tables of the law; and not the least interesting feature, in connection with these tablets, is , that the same hieroglyphics are used there, as were used at other distant places. -- There are three other stone houses, very much of the same description, but instead of tablets of hieroglyphics, they contain tablets of sculptured figures. In one of these there is an altar, which bears a large stone tablet, representing two singular personages opposite to each other, making offerings to an object, represented on the tablet as supported by two figures with rows of hieroglyphics on each side. The two figures standing one on each side of this tablet, have the peculiar facial angle before described, with noses and eyes strongly marked, representing a race of people totally different from any now seen on this continent. The head dress of one is coarse and complicated, consisting of leaves and plants, interspersed with the beaks and eyes of birds, and also a tortoise. A leopard's skin is thrown over the shoulders, and the figure is represented with sandals and with ruffles round the wrists and ankles,-The other figure has a head dress composed of a plume of feathers, in the midst of which a bird may be distinguished, and beneath, certain hieroglyphics which, unfortunately cannot at present be read.

A tablet, or small plaister cast, which was a fac simile of one, of the tables of hieroglyphics, seen in these ruins, was exhibited by the lecturer to his audience,

Another of these houses was represented by a drawing of which we shall hereafter give an engraving. It has a double platform the first of which is 60 feet high. The steps were said to be from 8o0 to 90 in number, and the upper part of the building to be richly ornamented. Inside the building there are recesses which contain stone tablets of rich and beautiful workmanship. The principal ornaments is a cross, but it has no resemblance to the cross of the Christians.

While there the lecturer dug up a statue ten feet high, very much resembling in its general proportions some the Egyptian statues.

It remained now only to describe the Aqueduct. This structure was by the side of the great palace: it was 200 feet in length, as far as could be explored, 12 feet high, and 6 feet wide; with a large body of water passing through it still. There were several other small buildings, which do not cover a large extent of ground. No other were heard of by these travellers in that neighborhood, but so dense is the forest that it is impossible to penetrate many yards in any direction, for these ruins are literally imbedded in a forest of mahogany, and ceiba, and India rubber tree, with a great variety of other descriptions, no human inhabitant remaining to relieve the solitude. Of Uamal, which is situated in Yucatan, a country, in breadth about 200 miles by 300 miles in length which is doubtless covered by the ruins of former magnificence, and the memorials of early civilization, he could say but a few words, as a full description would occupy more time than he could then command. The buildings are numerous-they are in a good state of preservation, but they are of a character distinguished from those at Palenque and Copan, not having either statues of bas reliefs. The fronts were, in some instances, 300 feet in length, and they were richly ornamented with sculptured stone, a specimen of which the lecturer exhibited, to give some idea of the workmanship, at a time when the use of iron was unknown. The lecturer supposed the chisels then in use to have been of copper, but that those people had some mode of hardening copper which is unknown to the present generation.

These travellers visited eight ruined cities, situated at great distances apart, to which they had to travel by road of the worst possible description

Vol. III.                         CITY  OF  NAUVOO,  ILL.  Sept. 15, 1842.                        No. 22.

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Extract

From Stephens' "Incidents of Travel in Central America.".

"As at Copan, it was my business to prepare the different objects for Mr. Catherwood to draw. Many of the stones had to be scrubbed and cleaned; and as it was our object to have the utmost possible accuracy in the drawings, in many places scaffolds were to be erected on which to set up the camera lucida. Pawling relieved me from a great part of the labour. That the reader may know the character of the objects we had to interest us, I proceed to give a description of the building in which we lived, called the palace.

A front view of this building is given in the engraving. It does not, however, purport to be given with the same accuracy as the other drawings, the front being in a more ruined condition. It stands on an artificial elevation of an oblong form, forty feet high, three hundred and ten feet in front and rear, and two hundred and sixty feet on each side. This elevation was formerly faced with stone, which has been thrown down by the growth of trees, and its form is hardly distinguishable.

The building stands with its face to the east, and measures two hundred and twenty eight feet front by one hundred and eighty feet deep. Its height is not more than twenty-five feet, and all around it had a broad projecting cornice of stone. The front contained fourteen doorways, about nine feet wide each, and the intervening piers are between six and seven feet wide. On the left (in approaching the palace) eight of the piers have fallen down, as has also the corner on the right, and the terrace underneath is cumbered with the ruins. But six piers remain entire, and the rest of the front is open.

The engraving opposite represents the ground-plan of the whole. The black lines represent walls still standing; the faint lines indicate remains only, but, in general, so clearly marked that there was no difficulty in connecting them together.

The building was constructed of stone with a mortar of lime and sand, and the whole front was covered with stucco and painted. The piers were ornamented with spirited figures in bas-relief, one of which is represented in the engraving opposite. On the top are three hieroglyphics sunk in the stucco. It is enclosed by a richly ornamented border, about ten feet high and six wide, of which only a part now remains. The principal personage stands in an upright position and in profile, exhibiting an extraordinary facial angle of about forty-five degrees. The upper part of the head seems to have been compressed and lengthened, perhaps by the same process employed upon the heads of the Choctaw and Flathead Indians of our own country. The head represents a different species from any now existing in that region of country; and supposing the statues to be images of living personages, or the creation of artists according to their ideas of perfect figures, they indicate a race of people now lost and unknown. The headdress is evidently a plume of feathers. Over the shoulders is a short covering decorated with studs, and a breastplate; part of the ornament of the girdle is broken; the tunic is probable a leopard's skin; and the whole dress no doubt exhibits the costume of this unknown people. He holds in his hand a staff or sceptre [scepter], and opposite his hands are the marks of three hieroglyphics, which have decayed or been broken off. At his feet are two naked figures seated cross-legged, and apparently suppliants. A fertile imagination might find many explanations for these strange figures, but no satisfactory interpretation presents itself to my mind. The hieroglyphics doubtless tell its history. The stucco is of admirable consistency, and hard as stone. It was painted, and in different places about it we discovered the remains of red, blue, yellow, black, and white.

The piers which are still standing contained other figures of the same general character, but which, unfortunately, are more mutilated, and from the declivity of the terrace it was difficult to set up the camera lucida in such a position as to draw them. The piers which are fallen were no doubt enriched with the same ornaments. Each one had some specific
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meaning, and the whole probably presented some allegory or history; and when entire and painted, the effect in ascending the terrace must have been imposing and beautiful.

The principal doorway is not distinguished by its size or by any superior ornament, but is only indicated by a range of broad stone steps leading up to it on the terrace. The doorways have no doors, nor are there the remains of any. Within, on each side, are three niches in the wall, about eight or ten inches square, with a cylindrical stone about two inches in diameter fixed upright, by which perhaps a door was secured. Along the cornice outside, projecting about a foot beyond the front, holes were drilled at intervals through the stone; and our impression was, that an immense cotton cloth, running the whole length of the building, perhaps painted in a style corresponding with the ornaments, was attached to this cornice, and raised and lowered like a curtain, according to the exigencies of sun and rain. Such a curtain is used now in front of the piazzas of some haciendas in Yucatan.

The tops of the doorways were all broken. They had evidently been square, and over every one were large niches in the wall on each side, in which the lintels had been laid. These lintels had all fallen, and the stones above formed broken natural arches. Underneath were heaps of rubbish, but there were no remains of lintels. If they had been single slabs of stone, some of them must have been visible and prominent; and we made up our minds that these lintels were of wood. We had no authority for this. It is not suggested either by Del Rio or Captain Dupaix, and perhaps we should not have ventured the conclusion but for the wooden lintel which we had seen over the doorway at Ocosingo; and by what we saw afterward in Yucatan, we were confirmed, beyond all doubt, in our opinion I do not conceive, however, that this gives any conclusive data in regard to the age of the buildings. The wood, if such as we saw in the other places, would be very lasting: its decay must have been extremely slow, and centuries may have elapsed since it perished altogether.

The building has two parallel corridors running lengthwise on all four of its sides. In front these corridors are about nine feet wide, and extend the whole length of the building upward of two hundred feet. In the long wall that divides them there is but one door, which is opposite the principal door of entrance, and has a corresponding one on the other side, leading to a courtyard in the rear. The floors are of cement, as hard as the best seen in the remains of Roman baths and cisterns. The walls are about ten feet high, plastered, and on each side of the principal entrance ornamented with medallions, of which the borders only remain; these perhaps contained the busts of the royal family. The separating-wall had apertures of about a foot, probably intended for purposes of ventilation Some were of this form T, and some of this +, which has been called the Greek Cross and the Egyptian Tau, and made the subject of much learned speculation.

The ceiling of each corridor was in this form, /| The builders were evidently ignorant of the principles of the arch, and the support was made by stones lapping over as they rose, as at Ocosingo, and among the Cyclopean remains in Greece and Italy. Along the top was a layer of flat stone, and the sides, being plastered, presented a flat surface. The long, unbroken corridors in front of the palace were probably intended for lords and gentlemen in waiting; or perhaps, in the beautiful position, which, before the forest grew up, must have commanded an extended view of a cultivated and inhabited plain, the king himself sat in it to receive the reports of his officers and to administer justice. Under our dominion Juan occupied the front corridor as a kitchen, and the other was our sleeping apartment.

From the centre door of this corridor a range of stone steps thirty feet long leads to a rectangular courtyard, eighty feet long by seventy broad. On each side of the steps are grim and gigantic figures, carved on stone in basso-relievo, nine or ten feet high, and in a position slightly inclined backward from the end of the steps to the floor of the corridor. The engraving opposite represents this side of the courtyard, and the one next following shows the figures alone, on a larger scale. They are adorned with rich headdresses and necklaces, but their attitude is that of pain and trouble. The design and anatomical proportions of the figures are faulty, but there is a force of expression about them which shows the
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skill and conceptive power of the artist. When we first took possession of the palace this courtyard was encumbered with trees, so that we could hardly see across it, and it was so filled up with rubbish that we were obliged to make excavations of several feet before these figures could be drawn.

On each side of the courtyard the palace was divided into apartments, probably for sleeping. On the right the piers have all fallen down. On the left they are still standing, and ornamented with stucco figures. In the centre apartment in one of the holes before referred to of the arch, are the remains of a wooden pole about a foot long, which once stretched across, but the rest had decayed. It was the only piece of wood we found at Palenque, and we did not discover this until some time after we had made up our minds in regard to the wooden lintels over the doors. It was much worm-eaten, and probably, in a few years, not a vestige of it will be left.

At the farther side of the courtyard was another flight of stone steps, corresponding with those in front, on each side of which are carved figures, and on the flat surface between are single cartouches of hieroglyphics. The plate opposite represents this side.

The whole courtyard was overgrown with trees, and it was encumbered with ruins several feet high, so that the exact architectural arrangements could not be seen. Having our beds in the corridor adjoining, when we woke in the morning, and when we had finished the work of the day, we had it under our eyes. Every time we descended the steps the grim and mysterious figures stared us in the face, and it became to us one of the most interesting parts of the ruins. We were exceedingly anxious to make excavations, clear out the mass of rubbish, and lay the whole platform bare; but his was impossible. It is probably paved with stone or cement; and from the profusion of ornament in other parts, there is reason to believe that many curious and interesting specimens may be brought to light. This agreeable work is left for the future traveller [traveler], who may go there better provided with men and materials, and with more knowledge of what he has to encounter; and, in my opinion, if he finds nothing new, the mere spectacle of the courtyard entire will repay him for the labour [labor] and expense of clearing it.

The part of the building which forms the rear of the courtyard, communicating with it by the steps, consists of two corridors, the same as the front, paved, plastered, and ornamented with stucco. The floor of the corridor fronting the courtyard sounded hollow, and a breach had been made in it which seemed to lead into a subterraneous chamber; but in descending, by means of a tree with notches cut in it, and with a candle, we found merely a hollow in the earth, not bounded by any wall.

In the farther corridor the wall was in some places broken, and had several separate coats of plaster and paint. In one place we counted six layers, each of which had the remains of colours [colors]. In another place there seemed a line of written characters in black ink. We made an effort to get at them; but, in endeavouring [endeavoring] to remove a thin upper stratum, they came off with it, and we desisted.

This corridor opened upon a second courtyard, eighty feet long and but thirty across. The floor of the corridor was ten feet above that of the courtyard, and on the wall underneath were square stones with hieroglyphics sculptured upon them. On the piers were stuccoed figures, but in a ruined condition.

On the other side of the courtyard were two ranges of corridors, which terminated the building in this direction. The first of them is divided into three apartments, with doors opening from the extremities upon the western corridor. All the piers are standing except that on the northwest corner. All are covered with stucco ornaments, and one with hieroglyphics. The rest contain figures in bas-relief, three of which, being those least ruined, are represented in the opposite plates.

The first was enclosed by a border, very wide at the bottom, part of which is destroyed. The subject consists of two figures with facial angles similar to that in the plate before given, plumes of feathers and other decorations for headdresses, necklaces, girdles, and sandals; each has hold of the same curious baton, part of which is destroyed, and opposite their hands are hieroglyphics, which probably give the history of these incomprehensible personages. The others are more ruined, and no attempt has been made to restore them. One is kneeling as if to
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receive an honour, and the other a blow.

So far the arrangements of the palace are simple and easily understood; but on the left are several distinct and independent buildings, as will be seen by the plan, the particulars of which, however, I do not consider it necessary to describe. The principal of these is the tower, on the south side of the second court. This tower is conspicuous by its height and proportions, but on examination in detail it is found unsatisfactory and uninteresting. The base is thirty feet square, and it has three stories. Entering over a heap of rubbish at the base, we found within another tower, distinct from the outer one, and a stone staircase, so narrow that a large man could not ascend it. The staircase terminates against a dead stone ceiling closing, all farther passage, the last step being only six or eight inches from it. For what purpose a staircase was carried up to such a bootless termination we could not conjecture. The whole tower was a substantial stone structure and in its arrangements and purposes about as incomprehensible as the sculptured tablets.

East of the tower is another building with two corridors, one richly decorated with pictures in stucco, and having in the centre the elliptical tablet represented in the engraving opposite. It is four feet long and three wide, of hard stone set in the wall, and the sculpture is in bas-relief. Around it are the remains of a rich stucco border. The principal figure sits cross-legged on a couch ornamented with two leopards' heads; the attitude is easy, the physiognomy the same as that of the other personages, and the expression calm and benevolent. The figure wears around its neck a necklace of pearls, to which is suspended a small medallion containing a face; perhaps intended as an image of the sun. Like every other subject of sculpture we had seen in the country, the personage had earrings, bracelets on the wrists, and girdle round the loins. The headdress differs from most of the others at Palenque in that it wants the plumes of feathers. Near the head are three hieroglyphics.

The other figure, which seems that of a woman, is sitting cross-legged on the ground, richly dressed, and apparently in the act of making an offering. In this supposed offering is seen a plume of feathers, in which the headdress of the principal person is deficient. Over the head of the sitting personage are four hieroglyphics. This is the only piece of sculptured stone about the palace except those in the courtyard. Under it formerly stood a table, of which the impression against the wall is still visible, and which is given in the engraving in faint lines, after the model of other tables still existing in other places.

At the extremity of this corridor there is an aperture in the pavement, leading by a flight of steps to a platform; from this a door, with an ornament in stucco over it, opens by another flight of steps upon a narrow, dark passage, terminating in other corridors, which run transversely. These are called subterraneous apartments; but there are windows opening from them above the ground, and, in fact, they are merely a ground-floor below the pavement of the corridors. In most parts, however, they are so dark that it is necessary to visit them with candles. There are no bas-reliefs or stucco ornaments; and the only objects which our guide pointed out or which attracted our attention, were several stone tables, one crossing and blocking up the corridor, about eight feet long, four wide, and three high. One of these lower corridors had a door opening upon the back part of the terrace, and we generally passed through it with a candle to get to the other buildings. In two other places there were flights of steps leading to corridors above. Probable these were sleeping apartments.

==> The foregoing extract has been made to assist the Latter-Day Saints, in establishing the Book of Mormon as a revelation from God. It affords great joy to have the world assist us to so much proof, that even the most credulous cannot doubt. We are sorry that we could not afford the expense to give the necessary cuts referred to in the original.

Let us turn our subject, however, to the Book of Mormon, where these wonderful ruins of Palenque are among the mighty works of the Nephites: -- and the mystery is solved.

On the 72d page of the third and fourth edition of the Book of Mormon it reads as follows: And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land. And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites, should come upon us and destroy us: for I knew their hatred towards me
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and my children, and those who were called my people. And I did teach my people, to build buildings: and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon, save it were not built of so many precious things: for they were not to be found upon the land; wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine. And on page 280-1 is full description of the Isthmus.

Mr. Stephens' great developments of antiquities are made bare to the eyes of all the people by reading the history of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon. They lived about the narrow neck of land, which now embraces Central America, with all the cities that can be found. Read the destruction of cities at the crucifixion of Christ, pages 459-60. Who could have dreamed that twelve years would have developed such incontrovertible testimony to the Book of Mormon? surely the Lord worketh and none can hinder.

50





4

LOST TRIBES
AND THE MORMONS

The Lost Tribes of Israel! Who can fail to be intrigued by these words, which have a familiar ring even though we may have only the vaguest comprehension of the theory. Perhaps we remember hazily that the Israelites were conquered by an enemy king somewhere back in Old Testament times and that some of them were said to be "lost" -- wandered or were carried away to disappear from history. The theory that the Lost Tribes found their way to America and were responsible for a number of the ancient Indian civilizations here has claimed many a devotee, including one renowned scholar who gave his fortune and then his life to this magnificent obsession.

Edward King, the young Viscount Kingsborough, firstborn heir of an Irish earl, was strolling idly through the Bodleian Library at Oxford one grey, foggy morning early in the nineteenth century. News of Andrew Jackson's victory over British troops on the bloody Chalmette floodplain near New Orleans had just reached England, and like many of his fellow students at Exeter College the young Lord Kingsborough was bitter, disillusioned about politics and government, and in

search of some more rewarding outlet for his intellectual interests and his considerable wealth. Armed with a note of introduction which gave him access to the rarest items of the priceless collections, he stopped for a moment in front of a dusty case containing an ancient Mexican Indian manuscript, painted by the natives with vegetable and mineral pigments on stiff, white-plastered deerskin. Its bold colors were still clear after at least three hundred years, and the strange art style and grotesque depictions so foreign to Western European culture immediately caught his eye. Fascinated, King bent low over this ancient codex, lost to surroundings and oblivious to the passing time. Quite literally his discovery was to lead to his untimely death.

The young man fell in love with Mexican antiquities at this very moment, and it became the ruling obsession of his ill-fated life. On completing his studies at Oxford he was elected to the House of Commons (his peerage title was held by courtesy only), but there was not room in his life for both activities: it was American antiquities all or nothing. He did not seek re-election as a member of Parliament, but instead retired from public life completely to study Mexican manuscripts and archeology.

In the course of his readings, Kingsborough, whose allegiances were apparently of the most violent kind, became passionately convinced that the Mexican Indians were descendants of the "Lost Tribes of Israel, 11 ten, or as some say, nine and a half tribes of the ancient kingdom that were conquered and carried away from Samaria by the king of Assyria in 721 B.C., leaving behind the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the half tribe of Menasseh. According to some proposals, the Hebrews reached Central and South America directly from the Eastern Hemisphere, but most supporters of the Lost Tribes theory feel that the route was across Persia, the frontiers of China, and Bering Strait. At any rate, Lord Kingsborough went so far overboard with his obsession that in spite of his father's great financial difficulties, he spent his entire remaining fortune assembling and publishing a magnificent set of

nine imperial folio volumes reproducing Mexican codices and commenting on Mexican antiquities, a collector's item today, but a luxury that put him, four years after the first of them appeared, in arrears with a paper manufacturer in the amount £508 10s. 6d.

In 1835, it will be remembered, people still went to prison for debt, and in November of that year London society had a choice scandal for their favorite pastime of gossiping: this once wealthy nobleman was imprisoned in a common debtor's prison, doubtless to the smug satisfaction of those who had openly disapproved when he had earlier renounced his birthright. Kingsborough stayed in the sheriff's jail until December 4, but just short of a year later, on October 1, 1836, he returned for eleven days on a similar conviction: this time for a debt of £26 4s. 1 Id. -- On his release, his friends thought that he must at last have learned his lesson, that he would now buckle down and forget the frivolities of his intellectual passion, gain solvency, and stay out of trouble. But Edward King was fatally addicted to his particular favorite drug. He kept up the luxury publishing, and within a month began a third prison term, for a debt of £118 17s. 7d. He died in debtor's prison a year later, at the age of forty-two, accounts conflicting as to whether it was from typhus, typhoid fever, or, as some maintained, a broken heart. Jacinto Jijon e Caamaiio, who wrote a memorial to him in 1918, says that if Lord Kingsborough had lived one more year he would have inherited the titles and prerogatives of his father, together with a rental income of £40,000 annually. We learn to count on the historian, Hubert Howe Bancroft, to appraise a man's best and worst qualities. Although Bancroft had little patience with the Lost Tribes theory, and although he stated readily that the Viscount lacked impartiality and profound research, that his data were far from orderly as presented, and that Kingsborough was a fanatic, nevertheless his enthusiasm was never offensive. "There is a scholarly dignity about his work which has never been attained by those who have jeered and railed at

though we may smile at his credulity, and regret that such strong zeal was so strangely misplaced, yet we should speak and think with respect of one who spent his lifetime and his fortune, if not his reason, in an honest endeavor to cast light upon one of the most obscure spots in the history of man."

This unfortunate young man was not the first nor by many thousands the last person to believe that American Indians were remnants of the Israelites. There were many Lost Tribes writings in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, [1] for a number of Spaniards in America were glad to have an excuse to relegate the aborigines to the miserable status of the European Jews. Just how much logic was demanded of scholars in those days is indicated by a passage from the Amsterdam rabbi, Menasseh ben Israel's celebrated Origin de los Americanos, esto es esperanza de Israel, published in 1650. It told of a Jewish traveler in South America, a man named Aaron Levi, alias Antonio Montesini, who was sure that his Indian guide was an Israelite when the latter greeted him with the Shema (Shema Israel, "Hear, 0 Israel," Deut. 4:4). When the guide assured Montesini that a considerable number of Indians "of the same origin" as himself lived in the mountains near Quito, Montesini and the Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam after him jumped to the conclusion that a lost tribe of Israelites still lived in the South American highland.

Other early writers preached that to discover the long-lost tribes, after more than two thousand years still under the special protection of Almighty God though despised by all mankind, would "lead all men to the acknowledgment, that the God of Israel, is a God of truth and righteousness, and that whom he loves, he loves unto the end." Since anthropology as a science was non-existent in those days, the missionaries, historians, and other travelers exploring the rapidly expanding known world were constantly amazed at similarities they found in ways of life between hitherto unknown tribes and those already familiar to them through biblical stories. Today you can go to the Human Relations Area Files at any one of many universities, ask for an inventory of all the peoples of the world who practice some particular custom -- preferred cousin marriage, say -- and in a relatively short time you can have all the known examples, together with the detailed data and history of each. Early writers, though, unaware of how similar customs can develop independently of each other, were usually inclined to attribute them to historical connections.

The ancient Hebrew tribal culture was the best known in those times, its "strange" ways (marriage by purchase or in return for services to the father-in-law, inheritance of a widowed sister-in-law as one's wife, human and animal sacrifice, and so on) being familiar through Old Testament stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rachel, Laban, Leah, Bilha & Company. When their supposedly unique customs began to turn up elsewhere in the world, particularly in view of the many prophecies that the Jews would some day return and be re-united with their brethren, pious travelers discovered lost Israelite remnants among the Afghans, Abyssinians, African Masai and Zulus, Kaffirs, Japanese, Burmese, Karens, and Malays; even the old Anglo-Saxons, once their customs were known to literary historians, became Hebrew by descent. The American Indians of course joined this illustrious company in due time, for here and there among them one could hardly escape seeing first-fruit ceremonies, new fire festivals, sacrifices

To gods, lunar and ritual calendars, legends of destroying giants, flood myths, feasts, exorcisms, purification rites, fasting and food taboos, confession, pilgrimages, endogamy and other marriage restrictions, and above all, circumcision and the veneration of a tribal Ark.

According to an early eighteenth-century player of this particular gamesmanship, fifteen hundred years after Joshua expelled the Canaanites, his descendants, having discovered their origin and animated by their ancient hatred, fought the battle of Jericho all over again on American soil, this time burning their New World temples, towers and cities. Lescarbot concluded that the New World was peopled not by Israelites, but by the Canaanites whom the former had themselves expelled. He stated flatly that Americans are descendants of Noah. Josiah Priest, in his American Antiquities (1798), attempted to show that America was settled before the flood; that it was the country of Noah, and the place where the ark was erected. However, Priest said that the famous Indian mounds at Marietta, on the Ohio River, were the ruins of a Roman fort.

Dissenters to the theory were not long in making themselves heard. In 1633, William Wood, after a short visit to New England, protested that American Indian words, which had been declared related to Hebrew, might as well be considered the gleanings of all nations, "because they have words which sound after the Greek, Latin, French, and other tongues. In 1652, Sir Hamon L'Estrange wrote a treatise entitled Americans no Jewes, and the Israelite theory was further opposed by J. Ogilby in 1670, and by Hubbard, who wrote in his 1680 History of New England: "If any observation be made of their manners and dispositions, it's easier to say from what nations they did not, than from whom they did, derive their origin. Doubtless their conjecture who fancy them to be descended from the ten tribes of Israelites ... hath the least show of reason of any other, there being no footsteps to be observed of their propinquity to them more than to any other of the tribes of the earth, either as to their language or manners." Pere

disappearance of the 'lost tribes' as an awful illustration of the punishment of individual sinfulness; as though becoming an American were the penalty for being a sinful Englishman."

To anthropologists, the most famous Lost Tribes advocate, besides Lord Kingsborough, was James Adair, who lived for forty years among the North American Indians during the latter half of the eighteenth century. As Samuel G. Drake declared in 1841, Adair "tormented every custom and usage into a like one of the Jews, and almost every word in their language became a Hebrew one of the same meaning." For example, Adair said that during Indian first-fruit ceremonies the natives chanted the mystic phrase, Yo Meschica, He Meschica, Va Meschica; to a fervent supporter of the Israelite theory the first syllables of these three terms formed the name Jehovah, and the rest of each term was clearly Messiah. Adair supported his contention both coming and going, so to speak; when he heard the Indians chant Schiluhyu, Schiluhe, Schiluhva, he chose the last syllables this time to see again Jehovah, the Schiluh being the same as Hebrew Scheleach or Schiloth, "messenger or pacificator." The Indians called an accused or guilty person Haksit canaha; this, Adair assured his readers, means "a sinner of Canaan." How Canaanites reached America is another long involved story, supported by another long list of people, including the French scholar, Lescarbot, an advocate of the Parliament of Paris, in 1611, and President Esra Stiles of Yale (1783).

The late Theodore A. Willard, manufacturer of batteries, was an enthusiast on Maya antiquities who looked favorably on the Lost Tribes theory as well as the Atlantis myth. He recalled Bishop Diego de Landa's sixteenth-century account of an old Yucatec tradition that their first settlers had come from the east by water -- a legend almost invariably cited as evidence by supporters of the Phoenician, Egyptian, Israelite, and Atlantis theories -- and he called attention to the "distinctly Semitic cast of countenance" on human figures depicted in ancient sculptures and murals of Maya ruins. "The dignity of

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face and serene poise of these carved or painted likenesses," he wrote in 1926, "is strikingly Hebraic."

Contrary to popular belief, and indeed contradicting many a standard encyclopedia, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints denies that their Book of Mormon is concerned with the Lost Tribes, but it has been the most active and persistent organization seeking to prove that Hebrews came to America and founded here the Indian civilizations of pre-Columbian times, as recorded in their sacred book. For nineteen years young Mormon missionaries have visited my Tulane University office, some of them en route to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean in hope of finding concrete support of the Mormon contention. One, with an explorer's beard and a gold ring in one ear lobe, skippered a schooner to the Gulf and planned to set adrift there a little fleet of scale models of the sailing craft described in The Book of Mormon. He would trace them by means of colored stains they were to release automatically as they floated over the waters, to find which segment of the mainland the ancient seafarers from Israel were likely to have reached first as they were carried along by prevailing winds and currents. I never saw this young man again, but from a description of him, his silken beard and gold earring, which I heard a year or so later, I judge that I missed a second visit from him. I should like to hear the results of his experiment.

So far as I know, the American Indian is not mentioned in any other official church dogma. Article 8, Chapter 15, of the Articles of Faith for the Book of Mormon presents the Church's evidence for its belief that America was settled by people called Jaredites who came direct from the confused scenes at the Tower of Babel as described in Genesis; that the Jaredites, after a series of calamities, were destroyed in the second century B.C.; and that an Israelite named Lehi and his followers also came to this continent from Jerusalem about 600 B.C., splitting into two groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites, the former building the great pre-Columbian cities of Middle America and the Andes, becoming extinct about A.D. 324; the

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latter, a nomadic non-agricultural people who continued in a "degenerate condition," are now represented by the Indian tribes with which we in North America are more familiar.

L. A. Bertrand's Memoires d'un Mormon gives a somewhat different account of Mormon beliefs: The Jaredites crossed the ocean in eight vessels, landed in North America, and built there some highly civilized nations and large cities; their descendants defied the Lord, however, and were destroyed six hundred years before Christ. Jerusalem Israelites replaced them, landing on the west coast of South America; also some descendants of Judah came from Jerusalem to North America, then emigrated to the northern parts of South America. The first Israelite group separated into two nations: the first named for the prophet Nephi, who led them to America, and the second named for their wicked and corrupt chief, Laman. The Nephites went to northern South America; the Lamanites occupied the central and southern parts of the same continent. The Nephites spread east, west, and north, prospered greatly, but were constantly warring with the pagan Lamanites. The Judah descendants also became atheistic and semi- barbaric, but learned the sacred scriptures from the Nephites, who joined them and later colonized the northern continent. Eventually the Nephites, too, fell from grace and were punished by earth-quakes, fire from heaven, and war. Christ appeared to the Nephite remnants, and his apostles preached the gospel throughout the hemisphere, converting Nephites and Lamanites alike. They backslid again, though, and were "once more smitten by the arm of the Almighty." The Nephites perished in a great final battle near the hill of Cumorah (in New York state), where Mormon buried the sacred tablets eventually removed in 1827 by Joseph Smith.

President John Taylor of the Mormons said that the Mexican-Maya god, Quetzalcoatl -- Kukulkan, and Christ were the same being, citing Lord Kingsborough's observation that Quetzalcoatl is depicted in Indian art as a person crucified. Two current Mormon writers, Milton R. Hunter and Thomas

theories must accuse Ixtlilxochitl, Sahagu'n, Torquemada, the Senores of Totonicapan and Xahila, and Joseph Smith with ignorance or deliberate misstatements for saying that the colonizers came to America by boat from across the sea. These remarkable people are dead and cannot speak for themselves; however, the stone and ceramic figurines of the ancient colonizers are speaking quite eloquently out of the ground. They are 'voices from the dust' which constitute real evidence that will not easily be overcome; and, to a marked degree, it seems that this 'real evidence' points to the fact that the original settlers of Bountiful- land were very much like the ancient Near Easterners, both in mien and dress."

Since the Annals were not published in English until 1848 -- eighteen years after the first edition of The Book of Mormon -- members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints point out that the resemblances between the two books cannot be attributed to any knowledge Joseph Smith might have bad of the Indian chronicle. Gentile critics of Mormonism, however, maintain that by 1830, when Smith published his translation of the gold tablets, there were numerous books on the Lost Tribes theory which he could have read and which could have influenced him in his rendering of the sacred inscriptions. They also feel that in 1600 or thereabouts, when Ixtlilxochitl was writing, he was doubtless strongly influenced by Christian instruction, which would have tinged his stories of Indian creation, the flood, the ark, a Babel-type tower, and a confusion of tongues with subsequent scattering of populations.

About a century ago, Lucien de Rosny pointed out resemblances between the Hebrew Bible and the Guatemala Quiche Indian sacred book, Popol Vuh, a collection of traditions and history written down soon after the Spanish conquest by one or more Quiche Indians. De Rosny showed that both Bibles contain a story of the sea parting miraculously to let fugitive tribes pass; both tell of a confusion of tongues and a Tower of Babel; and both relate how sacred law was handed down to priests on a mountain top, the Maya god, Tohil, giving it to

motifs that figure in a number of ancient Maya and Mexican sculptures and paintings in books. Regarding this figure as Christ's cross, early writers saw in it evidence that Christian teachings had reached the New World before Columbus. Modern archeologists usually refer to it as a conventionalized tree, which apparently figures in pre-Columbian mythology, history, or religion. To Mormons the various elements that appear fairly consistently in this motif not only indicate historical connection with the Old World, which has produced very similar art forms particularly in Java and Cambodia, but also are identified with familiar stories in the Bible and in Greek mythology.

Another work that is most interesting for its trait distributions, and by far the most comprehensive statement of evidence favoring Mormon beliefs about ancient America, is Thomas Stuart Ferguson's One Fold and One Shepherd, published in 1958. Its theme is that Central America and Mexico received their very early high civilization from Mesopotamian Jaredites who landed on the Gulf Coast of eastern Mexico in the third millennium B.C., and from two small groups of Israelites, descendants of Joseph, who crossed the ocean in the sixth century B.C., and that The Book of Mormon tells the history of this Hebrew colony from the time of its departure from Jerusalem in 597 B.C. until the destruction of its American nation in A.D. 385. Ferguson reminds us that The Book of Mormon does not purport to explain the origin of all cultures in all epochs and in all zones of the Western Hemisphere -- only the high civilizations -- and that it does not contradict the presence of Stone Age cultures is America prior to or during the period of which it treats, nor the possible influences from southeast Asia that we shall describe in chapter 6. One Fold and One Shepherd, representing a tremendous amount of work and study by its conscientious and devoted author, assembles numerous resemblances between Mexican-Maya archeological remains and documents on the one hand, and of "Bible lands" (chiefly Egypt, Asia Minor, and Mesopotamia) on the other. In one section he lists 298 "elements of culture" common to Bible lands and Middle America in prehistoric times, ranging literally from "A" (adobe bricks) to "Z" (zodiacal sequence).

The New World Archeological Foundation, organized a few years ago by Mormons and financed largely with Mormon contributions, has for several years been carrying on exploration and excavations in southern Mexico among ruins of the pre-historic epochs during which they believe the Sumerian and Israelite colonies were founded in the Americas. While quite willing to explain their beliefs when the occasion seems appropriate, the Latter-day Saints for the most part avoid the heated, bitter debates that have characterized this general area of subject

matter, although they resent the fact that gentile anthropologists will not take The Book of Mormon seriously enough even to become familiar with its contents or give it a fair trial as an authentic historical source. Mormons are confident that archeology will fully substantiate their beliefs about the pre-historic inhabitants of America, just as it has confirmed many of the cities and events described in the Bible. I taught one summer in Utah, where perhaps half of my students at the state university were Mormon. Outside class, the question of American Indian origins never came up at all, and even in class the students showed a more relaxed attitude toward moot questions than I had anticipated, for the very day I arrived in Salt Lake City the newspaper carried a warning from one of the church officials to a statewide youth meeting that the Devil was known to try to poison students' minds through the plausible-sounding teachings of university professors. (I heard Billy Sunday tell a tabernacle full of South Carolina college students and faculty the same thing about forty years ago.) The next most aggressive Mormon statement I have encountered was an extremely mild one in a 1924 book by Lewis Edward Hills, New Light on American Archaeology. Quoting the Eighty-second Psalm, "They have taken crafty counsel against God's hidden ones," Hills explained that the ancient Americans were God's hidden ones, and the counsel and craftiness were sub sequent attempts to destroy the belief that these people were Israelites. "This," Hills added, "I believe, is still going on."

According to Hills, the Land of Many Waters, Rivers and Fountains (Mormon 701:5) was the Valley of Mexico; the Tower of Sherrizah was the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, which many U.S. tourists have visited; Behor was what is now the ruined Cholula, and Ammonihah (Mormon 360: 14, 15) was Tikal, the greatest Maya ruin known, buried deep in the Peton jungle of northern Guatemala and now being explored by the University Museum in Philadelphia. The City Bountiful of The Book of Mormon (545:25, 26) was in the northern part of the land, Bountiful, in foothills overlooking

lagoons near the Gulf of Mexico. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in present -- day and continuous revelation, says the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "by direct word of mouth and visible presence of God; by voice communication without visible presence; by visitation of angels and deliverance of messages; also by impressions upon the mind of men by the Spirit of God. Revelation in any of these manners is the supreme source of knowledge, and the final arbiter of doctrine for the Church, even superior to the written word." Lewis Hills experienced the second of these types of revelation as he was trying to locate on a map of Mexico the hill named Shim mentioned in The Book of Mormon. "I started to mark it on the map north of the city of Desolation. As I started to put it down a voice spoke to me and said, 'The hill on the other side.' I looked immediately at my Rand & McNally map before me, and there, sure enough, I saw a mountain called 'Mount Zem.' The Book of Mormon called it the hill Shim, and it is called Mount Zem. It is very clear to me: Shim and Zem are the same."

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THE  EARLIER  HISTORY  OF
OBSCURANTISM  IN  AMERICA

LOST  TRIBES

JOSEPH SMITH,  NEPHITES,  AND  JAREDITES

ENTER  THE  WELSH

Captain Abraham Chaplain... a gentleman whose veracity may be entirely depended on, assured the author, that in the late war (1775-1781, while at Kaskaskia with George Rogers Clark)... some Indians came there, and, speaking in the Welsh dialect, were perfectly understood and conversed with two Welshmen in his company. [22]

*  *  *

AN  APOLOGETIC  POTPOURRI

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[ 88 ]



JOSEPH  SMITH  AND  THE  ARCHAEOLOGY
OF  REVELATION

The (Nephite) city of Zarahemla, burnt at the crucifixion of the Savior, and rebuilt afterwards, stood upon this land.... We are not going to declare positively that the ruins of Quirigua are those of Zarahemla, but when the land and the stones and the books tell the story so plain, we are of the opinion that it would require more proof than the Jews could bring to prove the disciples stole the body of Jesus from the tomb, (than) to prove the ruins of the city in question are not those referred to in the Book of Mormon. [41]

It has been the cry of late, through the columns of the newspapers, that the "Mormons" are going to Mexico! That is quite right, we intend to go there.... We intend to hold our own here, and also penetrate the north and the south, the east and the west... and to raise the ensign of truth; we will continue to grow, to increase and spread abroad, and the powers of earth and hell combined cannot hinder it. [53]