Enterprise and Adventure/Mr. Squier's Researches in Central America
MR. SQUIER'S RESEARCHES IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
The Hon. E. G. Squier, an American antiquary and ethnologist, has for some time past devoted himself to travels and explorations in the land of the Incas, chiefly in connection with the original monuments of ancient civilization in that country. His travels have extended over three thousand miles, into Bolivia, across the great basin of Lake Titicaca, to Cuzco, the capital of the ancient Inca Empire, and across the Andes to the frontiers of the savage tribes in the valley of the Amazon. Of these researches he promises a full account; but some narratives of similar explorations, undertaken by him in Nicaragua, in Central America, have already been given to the world, which possess a singular interest.
One day, after a long sojourn in this region, Mr. Squier prevailed upon six stout sailors, whom he had occasionally hired to assist him in his explorations, to take him and his party of men of science over to the small uninhabited island of Pensacola, situate in the midst of a great lake. A young man in the service of the Doctor, who accompanied the expedition, had declared that on this mysterious isle, still held sacred in the traditions of the country, were ancient carved stones of great size, but almost entirely buried in the earthy and hidden in the luxuriant growth of trees and shrubs and creeping plants. It seemed strange that in all their inquiries among the most learned in the country they had never heard of the existence of these supposed monuments of antiquity. The Doctor was sceptical; but experience had taught the explorer that more was often to be gathered from the traditional lore of the barefooted people of the country than from the black-robed priests, and he was obstinate in his determination to visit the spot, and thoroughly explore its hidden treasures.
It was late in the afternoon when they started, but in less than an hour they leaped ashore upon the island. It was one of the "out-liers" of the labyrinth of small islands which internal fires had long ago thrust up from the depths of the lake around the base of a great volcano; and its shores were lined with immense rocks, black and blistered with the terrible heat which accompanied the ancient disruptions of which they were the evidence. In some places they were found piled up in rough and frowning heaps, scarce hidden by the luxuriant vines which nature trailed over them. In the island these rocks constituted a semicircular ridge, and nearly inclosed a level space of rich soil, a kind of amphitheatre, commanding a magnificent prospect. Upon a little elevation within this natural temple, they soon found an abandoned cane-hut, almost hidden by a forest of luxuriant plantains, which covered the entire area with a dense shadow, here and there pierced by a ray of sunlight, falling like molten gold through narrow openings in the leafy roof.
No sooner had the party landed than their men dispersed themselves in search of monuments, and they followed. They were not long in suspense; a shout of "Here, here," from the Doctor's man, announced that they were found, and the explorers hurried to his side. He was right; they could distinctly make out two great blocks of stone, nearly hidden in the soil. The parts exposed, though frayed by storms, and having clearly suffered from violence, nevertheless bore evidences of having been elaborately sculptured. A demand was made for the pickaxes of the men, and they were not long in removing enough of the earth to discover that the supposed blocks were large and well-proportioned statues, of superior workmanship, and of a larger size than any which they had yet encountered. The discovery was an exciting one, and the Indian sailors were scarcely less interested than themselves. They crouched around the figures, and speculated earnestly concerning their origin. They finally seemed to agree that the larger of the two was no other than the famous "Montezuma," for the name of the last of the Aztec emperors is cherished by all the remnants of the Indian tribes, who still indulge the belief that Montezuma will some day return, and re-establish his ancient empire.
By dint of alternate persuasions and threats, they finally succeeded in getting the smaller of the two statues completely uncovered. It represented a human male figure of massive proportions, seated upon a square pedestal. Above the head rose a heavy and monstrous representation of the head of an animal, below which could be traced the folds of a serpent. Above the head, too, was found the sacred sign of Tochtli of the Mexican calendar, and corresponding with the painted representations of the ancient Mexican manuscripts. This afforded conclusive proof of the assertion of the old chronicles that there was a Mexican colony in Nicaragua. Mr. Squier now called the indolent sailors to search the island further, stimulating their zeal by offering money rewards to any one who should make the first discovery. "I also," says Mr. Squier, "joined in the search; but after wandering all over the little island I came to the conclusion that, if there were others, of which I had little doubt, they had been successfully buried, and were past finding out, or else had been broken up and removed. Sol seated myself philosophically upon a rock, and watched an army of black ants, which were defiling past, as if making a tour of the island. They formed a solid column from five to six inches wide, and marched straight on, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left, pertinaciously surmounting every obstacle which intervened. I watched them for more than half an hour, but their number seemed undiminished; thousands upon thousands hurried past, until finally, attracted by curiosity, I rose and followed the line, in order to discover the destination of the procession—if it were an invasion, a migration, or a simple pleasure excursion. This simple incident led to an important discovery. At a short distance and under the cover of some bushes, the column mounted what appeared to be simply a large round stone, passed over it, and continued its march. The stone attracted my attention, and on observing it more closely, I discovered traces of sculpture. I summoned my men, and after a two hours' trial of patience and temper, I succeeded in raising from its bed of centuries another idol of massive proportions, but differing entirely from the first and possessing an extraordinary and forbidding aspect. The lower half had been broken off, and could not be found, and what remained was simply the bust and head. The latter was disproportionately great; the eyes were large, round, and staring; the ears broad and long; and from the widely-distended month, the lower jaw of which was forced down by the two hands of the figure, projected a tongue which reached to the breast, giving to the whole an unnatural and horrible expression. As it stood in the pit, with its monstrous) head rising above the ground, and with its fixed stony gaze, it seemed like some grey monster just emerging front the depths of the earth, at the bidding of the wizard-priest of an unholy religion. One man stood back, and more than once crossed himself as he muttered to his neighbour, "It is the devil!"
After completing the drawings of these curious monuments and works of art, all relating to a period of civilization, of which scarcely any other record remains, the party prepared themselves for a voyage to the great uninhabited island of Tapatera, situated amidst a group of islets perhaps the most singular in the world. These islands were found to be still more rich in monuments and statues. On the first day the men succeeded in raising ten ancient figures, besides fragments. Wearied now with fatigue, they disposed themselves in groups around the statues, or stretched themselves at length among the bushes. "Wearied myself," says the eloquent and enthusiastic ethnologist, "but with the complacency of a father contemplating his children, and without yet venturing to speculate upon our singular discoveries, I seated myself upon a broad flat stone, artificially hollowed in the centre, and gave rein to fancy. The bushes were cleared away, and I could easily make out the positions of the rained teocalli, and take in the whole plan of the great aboriginal temple. Over all now towered immense trees, swathed in long robes of grey moss, which hung in masses from every limb, and swayed solemnly in the wind. I almost fancied them in mourning for the departed glories of the place. In fact, a kind of superstitions feeling, little in consonance with the severity of philosophical investigation, began to creep over me. Upon one side were steep cliffs, against which the waters of the lake chafed with a subdued roar, and upon the other was the deep extinct crater, with its black sides and sulphurous lake; it was in truth a weird place, not unfittingly chosen by the original priesthood as the site of their strange and gloomy rites. While; engaged in these fanciful reveries, I stretched myself, almost unconsciously, upon the stone where I was sitting. My limbs fell into place as if the same had been made to receive them—my head was thrown back, and my breast raised; a second, and the thought aroused my mind with startling force—'the stone of sacrifice!’ Was it the scene, the current of my thoughts?—but I leaped up with a feeling half of alarm. I observed the stone more closely; it was a rude block altered by art, and had beyond question been used as a stone of sacrifice."
A large number of these interesting relics were safely conveyed to the sea-coast, and embarked aboard vessels bound for the United States, in which country they have engaged the attention of the learned, and have materially assisted in adding to the knowledge of the inhabitants of this interesting portion of the American continent in that obscure period when, as yet, no European foot had ever been set upon its shores.
Discoveries of this description are in the highest degree interesting, because they give evidence of the advanced state of civilization which must have existed in the countries bordered by the Gulf of Mexico before the settlement of the Spanish colonies. The histories of savage nations are little more than annals of wars and conquest; but though expeditions like those of Mr. Squier do not often supply information as to martial or political history, they give yet more valuable insight into the social position of a state. It may be questioned whether it is not more important to find that the art of sculpture was brought to a very considerable degree of excellence among the ancestors of a people whom we call savages, than to supply a vacancy in a dynasty, or to follow the changing fortunes of Central American armies. Among some of the Mexican tribes there is at the present day a wild, legendary tradition of the existence of a magnificent city, undiscovered by Europeans, in which Aztec rule still prevails, under a sovereign of the line of Acamapitzin, and therefore a prince of the same dynasty as Montezuma. The hope entertained so largely by the Central American tribes that the latter monarch will return to reconstruct the empire of Mexico, reminds us of the old Welsh legends of King Arthur. But though native independence was doomed to utter and final extinction when the Spanish invasion commenced, there are abundant remains to show that a very important state was overthrown when Spain established its ascendancy in Central America; and that the arts and refinements of peace were studied by the Aztecs of Mexico, as well as the extension of political power, and the conquest of neighbouring nation.