RUINS OF A VAST CITY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4699, 16 May 1924, Page 2

RUINS OF A VAST CITY.

— • BRITISH FIND IN FOREST. J BURIAL PLACE OF KINGS. Mr F. Mitchell-Hedges, who, with Dr. T. W. F. Gann, of Liverpoll University. and eminent archaeologist and authority on Honduran antiquities, has discovered the ruins of i vast Maya city in the heart of British Honduras, describes their hardships and gives an account of the mighty ruins in lhe “Daily Mail" as follows ;— We arrived in our schooner at Punta Gorda, 121) miles to the south of Belize. In two dug-outs with Carib Indian paddlers we endeavoured to, reach the head waters of the Rio Grandb. Twenty-five miles up Dr. Gann’s dug-out capsized, Ringing him out and causing the loss of our stores. The result of this was that we were “bushed” in an impenetrably jungle all that night hi a tropical rainstorm which continued for 20 hours. The jungle was infested by ticks, and we were nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes and swarms of other insect pests. The river rose until it was impossible for us to continue. We returned to Punta Gerda, obtained horses, and began an awful ride through the dense bush, being compelled to hack our way with machetes. The horses were frequently bogged. We arrived finally at a Maya Indian village called San Pedro. The people arc extremely'primitive, art! the women wear no clothes about the waist. With four Maya Indian guides carrying axes and machetes we < ut our way through the bush, arrived at a river, crossed it in a dug-out, and again cut our way through the jungie for two miles until we arrived unexpectedly at a huge mound. We started the Indians clearing the bush. The felling of some trees disclosed a vast truncated pyramidal mound, faced with solid cat blocks of limestone and sandstone. The stone structure reared to a height of 300 feet above the valley. As we went on clearing the bush we found a series of terraces in ladder-like tiers, all standing on one stupendous terrace, on which were, as at present disclosed, six remarkable cut stone faced pyramids. The ter‘races alone occupy at least a square nii’e.

It was impossible to judge the total extent of the ruins, but they cover at lease several square miles. The continuance of the work of Lush clearing disclosed further icmarkable py 'amids. Later we came on an imposing stone Mairway, 55 foot broad, an overwhelming spectacle, leading to the summit of a stone-faced structure 132 feet long and 36 feet broad, and then crossing it and down on the other side. On the summit of the i -.otind firM discovered wc found the remains of a stone-faced burial vault which had fallen in. Dr. Gann's theory is that all these vast structures were probably the stone-faced burial vaults of the priests and kings, and that they are ' vey early, probably belonging to the First Empire of the Maya race. “Yom the account given by the native Indians the ruins extend for miles in every direction, and it is probably the largest aboriginal city on the American continent. We christened the city Lubaantun, which means, in the Maya language, “Fallen Stones,” owing to the destruction caused by generations of gigantic trees growing completely through the edifices. Owing to the loss of our horses we were compelled to make the return jo'<rney by river, 55 miles to Punta. Gorda. During the journey we suffered severely from lack of food. The heat wa.s over 100 degrees in the shade, and our bodies were covered with septic sores as the result of insect ’lites. We returned to Belize, where wc gave full information to the Government. The Government is co-operating with ps and lending every assistance. The Legislative Council has passed a law making a concession available. An exclusive concession is about to be granted by the Government in Council to Lady (Richmond) Brown, Dr. Gann, and myself for exploration and excavation over 70 square miles of territory. The excavation will 09 undertaken by the concessionaries for the benefit of the British ration, and will supply the necessary money, independent of any aid from institutions or others. will ci tail years of extensive exploration. There is a certainty of making many spectacular discoveries of ceramics and other art products. >