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Show AUTKM- AMl'lllCtN lllll.s. CuMit'ict'OUB among the iiijuy at-tracth at-tracth e featum of the Wctl 1'e 1'nlr lu 1691, will betliscollicilonof arehioo logical curiosltlra lertaliilng to tho Aiuerliau continent. Laudable etlorta aru belug made tu make this deiart-meiit deiart-meiit as extensive aud Interesting us possible. Tor many jeurs II his been well known that vast leltcs In the way of ruined cities, tnuples uiid mansions exist lu Central Amerlia l!! 1, tie attention has been palj tu the -Ulna by the copies of the countries In w -i'"S they exist. Hut a new Interest 'i . been awakened In them by our pic lsed Columbian Kxposttloti. 7hn people of the republics of tile Boiltll are active In their efforts to secure at thai great exhibit, an adrquite dlspliy of ancient A inerlenn curiosities. Lsst July the (Juvemment of Honduras Hon-duras ls-ned a decree turning over all thu ruins within Its birders to tho Mu-eum of Aichuology and l.tb nology nt Camrldgi, Mass., for a inlnd of ten years. The authorities of that Institution liamedlately took stipe to havo ths country thoroughly ex plored, A company was formed and nu expedition arranged by which the most exhaustive research could bo trosecuted. In tho latter mit of Ie remler 1a1 the expeljtion arrived rtt'cly In Central America, and pro tecdeJ to a lacs called Copan, where extensive ruins exist. Copan Is slluat ed nn a river of the same name lu that corner of Honduras which adjoins Guatemala on northwest and Salvador ou southwest. The ruins are scittered over a large area on tho left bank of the river. They am now half burled by denso vegeUlloii and immense forest trees. Ths buildings consist con-sist of pyramidal structures, terraced edlflcee, temples, mauslons and various other kinds of wciks. What are suposcd to lie altars covered with hleroglyi hloor symbollo figures alnund. Ths Inscriptions In the Interior In-terior of thu buildings a-pcaraa well preserved as when first carved. Hut those on the outside, owing to tho contact con-tact with end action of tbe elements, are under lg hcrable. Similar ruins exist lu Yucatan, Oiiatrmxla and Salvador. Many of Hum plainly show that Isrgu and poiuloua cities at one time nourished lu these regions. The celebrated travelers Stevens and Catherwcod visited Central America In 1839-40, an I maJc quite exte nslve researches. Ths rviults of their labors they publUheHlJu several Illustrated volumes. Though n great deal cf Interest was awakened, nnd other enlhusl astlo archailaglst vlsltid the countries metitlonoj, ;nd found the ruins as elescrlbol, yet nothing systematic sys-tematic or practical was ever attempted attemp-ted until thu present expedition waa sent out from Harvard University. This ono Is fully equipped lii every (articular. It Is accompanied by learned men of all rrofesslons. A regular re-gular plsn ol excavation aud clearing will be carried out. The Inscriptions will l closely scanned and carefully handled. All the material that can bu moved to thlo country will be ex Moiled ut the World' I'alr. Hut the work of the exiedltlon will be continued con-tinued fur ten years, and It will I. aided by the 1 oiidurau aud Guatemalan Guatema-lan governments, and possibly, now that serious Interest Is awakened, by the United State UovernmeliC DUqalchc state that Senator Stanford Stan-ford Is aiding the expedition financial,. |