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ing between his teeth, a small shellfish, just then thrown upon the Tyrian beach by the waters of the Mediterranean. Improving upon the discovery, the Tyrians became so renowned for their dye used in regal and costly mantles, that in commemoration of the event, they placed upon their Coins the shell,-nor was the original discoverer forgotten, for upon a Tyrian Coin (Calmet, No. 16) the Dog is seen approaching the Shell! Some writers have questioned the manner of the discovery, but the last-mentioned Coin confirms the historical account.

The Shell was also adapted to personify the marine character of Tyrus,—and it being upon the Altar may be viewed as another emblem of that country,-which, with the Serpents and Eggs, cannot have been placed there by caprice or accident, but rather with absolute intent, having reference to an historical design in the Sculpture. The figures are all seated "cross-legged in the Oriental fashion." Their very position then substantiates Montezuma's assertion to Cortez, that his Ancestors many ages past, come from" the East."

One of the chief personages to the "negotiation," as Mr. Stephens calls the group, has a " Sceptre" in his hand, and there is none in the hand of the other King or Cadmus,-(as the ancient Phoenician Chiefs were called;)—this incident is another proof of the correct reading of the Act of Amity; for at the time of its performance, Tyrus had ceased to be a nation-but Sidon had not, the former had lost all her powers of safety,— the latter retained them,-and could, and did extend

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them to her "Daughter," who is represented as presenting a Shell,-perhaps the Secret of the "Dye"-as a tributary offering to her Parent,-who appears on the Altar more elevated than the other Chief figure. This still further illustrates the fact of the single sceptre and its application.

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Believing, from the general and early character of the Sculpture, that Copan was the first built city in Ancient America, we are still further warranted in the belief from the definition of the Chief Altar,—for it appears to illustrate in every particular, both by incidents and emblems, the last event of Tyrus in its Asiatic history, but which was the first event leading to the existence of the Tyrians in the Western Hemisphere. This important fact will be detailed in the History of Tyrus,-and at the present moment we will observe (without anticipating the event) that there is nothing in the Sculpture of the Altar, at variance with the illustration of that fact of History; but, on the contrary, every particular of the Sculpture completely defines the Nation and the incident. The basso sculpture of the Altar would, also, indicate an earlier erection than the surrounding " Idols," which are in Alto.

An analogy is, also, found in the political divisions, and the peculiar governments of the Mother-Country in Asia and Africa, and her descendants in Mexican America. In each Hemisphere there was a mixture of Monarchies and Republics ;-as thus,-Sidon and Tyrus were governed by Kings-while Carthage, after the death of her first and only Monarch-Dido-be

came a Republic, and remained so, and this fact created the lasting jealousy of the Romans. The same was in the Western Continent.-Mexico and other Nations were Monarchies, while other portions of the country were Republics. This is proved from the fact, that the most powerful war Montezuma the First ever engaged in, was that, in which the three Republics joined as a common cause against the brave, but despotic Monarch of Mexico.

As a National analogy may be viewed the Military character and locality of Copan,-this, also, strengthens our belief that this city was the first erected, for although on the Altars no Sculpture is found representing weapons of war,-and in a Temple to Religion there should not be, yet this Temple is but the centre, of what may be termed the Citadel of Copan. The entire Ruins (it will be remembered) are traceable for a distance of "over two miles," along the banks of the River,—and on the opposite side, at the distance of a mile, and on an eminence two thousand feet high, (thus overlooking every approach to the city,) is found a ruined Stone Structure, and almost evident from its locality, to have been originally a signal, or watchtower. The city is, also, built on the banks of the River, and above "the falls," thus forming a natural defence against any approach from the Sea,-while any attempt to reach the Citadel by water from the Source of the River, was frustrated by the erection of a high perpendicular wall (" nearly 100 feet"), forming a river façade of six hundred and twenty-four feet,"—

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(nearly the eighth of a mile)-this is based upon an elevated embankment of about "thirty feet,"—and was formerly protected from any flooding of the river, by a water-wall along the whole range of the Citadel-Temple. The great wall is in ruins at the summit, therefore many feet may have fallen down,-thus proving that its entire height with the embankment (as before expressed) must have ranged from one hundred and forty, to one hundred and fifty feet. Now there is nothing in Egypt (as a plumb-wall) to be compared with this, nor does the Nile of ancient days, possess a perpendicular wall, and there is no marine Nation of antiquity that can lay the analogous claim to such a wall, equal to Tyrus,-for her Citadel-city in Asia was bordered by the waters of the Tyrian harbour,-and to secure its safety from human invasion, or that of the Sea, the ancient inhabitants of that Island-mart erected perpendicular walls, one hundred and fifty feet in height! Copan then possesses an analogy to the capital of ancient Tyrus,—and as that was the last city left by the Aborigines in Asia, it appears but natural that they should endeavour to imitate it, in building their first city in a foreign land. We submit that this is a strong analogy, and founded upon justifiable reasoning.

The Wreck of an ancient Galley has been found in Mexican America, deeply imbedded in the sands,-now this must have been (upon a minute investigation) the remains of a Phoenician vessel,-for the Greeks and Romans had no galleys on the Atlantic waters, or even the Indian Ocean, until the time of Alexander,—but

the Tyrians had,—and, as will be proved (in the next Book of this Volume), nearly one thousand years before the Christian Era, and again, six centuries before the period of The Advent.

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Circumcision was practised in Mexican America from two distinct reasons. 1st. From a supposition that it was conducive to health; and 2dly, from a Religious custom; this last fact will be required for the third volume, the former only will be here brought forward, for the purpose of proving another analogy. Circumcision was practised by the Egyptians, Ethiopians, Tyrians, Colchians, and Cappadocians, upon the belief that personal safety would be the result; and the custom might, therefore, be viewed as a sacrifice to Hygeia, -the Goddess of Health,-and in this sacrifice many of the females of Egypt did not exempt themselves. The custom, however, was optional,—this is proved by the Egyptian Mummies!—There were no laws to enforce it (except upon the Priests of Egypt), as among the Israelites and Jews, with whom, as an entire people, it was, and is, one of the most sacred customs, established by a Covenant between The Father of the Universe, and the patriarch of Israel. In the division of the Land of Canaan between the Twelve Tribes, by JOSHUA, the Tribe of Asher was located on the confines of Sidon and Tyrus.-JOSHUA re-established the Covenant of Circumcision, after it had been purposely laid aside by MOSES during the "forty years" wandering in the Wilderness. It was, therefore, practised by the immediate neighbours of the Tyrians, and it is

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