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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



renowned for its scenery, which is very 

 like that of the far-famed Sagiienay, in 

 Quebec. 



On each side perpendicular walls of 

 green rise to the height of 300 to 400 

 feet, and at times so inclosed is it that 

 it seems the boat must run in among the 

 trees and overhanging vines. Then the 

 river broadens and we come out into 

 what is called the Golfete. a pretty body 

 of water ten miles in length and dotted 

 with numerous islands ; through another 

 narrow channel and out into the lake 

 proper. Here stands the old ruined fort 

 of San Felipe, built by the Spaniards in 

 1524 to g lard the approach to the town 

 of Yzabal, which used to be the principal 

 port of the Atlantic coast. A sand bar, 

 however, has formed across the mouth 

 of the Rio Dulce, which prevents any 

 large-sized vessels from reaching this 

 inland sea. 



Although of fresh water, many fish 

 come up from the sea, and even shark 

 are sometimes found here. Crocodiles 

 are numerous, and "mantas," a species of 

 hippopotamus, commonly called sea-cow, 

 are also found. All the way up the Rio 

 Dulce one sees by the hundreds the 

 beautiful white "garza," the lovely bird 

 from which is taken the much-desired 

 and expensive aigrette. 



Much further to the north, in a wild 

 and sparsely populated part of tlie coun- 

 try, lies the lake of Peten, or San An- 

 dres, of which, as yet, very little is 

 known. On an island in the center of 

 the lake is the city of Flores, known only 

 to antiquaries. Here are many curious 

 ruins and stone idols, the origin of which 

 is as yet unknown. 



There is a vast field for research in 

 this country, where little is known of the 

 races Avho were its first inhabitants. But 

 that the ancient American civilization 

 was highly developed is a fact beyond 

 doubt, for the remains of numerous 

 prehistoric cities have been discovered 

 throughout Central America. 



the: INI:xpI,ICABL,e: ruins 01^^ OUIRIGUA 



Among the most remarkable are the 

 ruins of Quirigua, in Guatemala. Situ- 

 ated in the valley of the Motagua River, 

 some 60 miles from its mouth, they are 

 completely hidden in a thick tropical 

 jungle, and consist of square and oblong 

 mounds and terraces. 



The chief interest, however, centers in 

 several carved monoliths, three to four 

 feet square and standing from 14 to 25 

 feet in height. The as yet untranslated 

 hieroglyphics on these bear some resem- 

 blance to the Egyptian, although curi- 

 ously enough the Greek cross can be also 

 traced. 



Many theories have been advanced as 

 to the origin of the people whose won- 

 derful works still stand amid the silence 

 of the primeval forests, shrouded in the 

 mystery of ages. There is, of course, 

 much controversy, some ascribing to 

 these ruins great antiquity, while others 

 assert that they are of comparatively 

 recent construction. No traditions have 

 been found among the Spaniards or the 

 Indians to shed any light upon the sub- 

 ject. The ])eople who built them seem 

 to have had a distinct, independent, and 

 separate existence. Much attention has 

 been given to the deciphering of these 

 inscriptions, but still much remains to be 

 done before the mystery will be solved. 

 Some may date back 3,000 years or more, 

 wdiile the later dates on others of the 

 Quirigua ruins may be assigned to a 

 place at the beginning of the Christian 

 era. 



And so with the poet we can well say : 



"World wrongly called the new ; this clime 

 was old 



When first the Spaniards came in search of 

 gold. 



Age after age its shadowy wings have spread, 

 And man was born, and gathered to the dead ; 

 Cities rose, ruled, dwindled to decay, 

 Empires were formed, then darkly swept 

 away ; 



Race followed race, like cloud-shades o'er the 

 field, 



The stranger still to stranger doomed to 

 yield." 



