The New York Herald Newspaper, December 25, 1870, Page 11

as iadeaasiiontn -* PRAVEL IN PERSIA ene /Speeial Visit to Pasargadw and | Persepolis, , | Apostrophe to Ispahan, Koomeshah, the Tomb of Shah Reza and Allah-ho Akbar. {the Temple and Tomb of Cyrus and the College of the Mug’. [QUARRIES OF PASARGADE. Sutaz, Nov. 16, 1870. Buperintively beantiful, considering tte situation pnd the doom to which at 43 fast hurrying, did Tapahan seem to me as, for the last time, I fear, I Jurned te view itfrem the gray, etassy ridge which ‘Soparates it from its offsuoot, Ispahsnek, which is pn tho road as you proceed to Shiraz, I shall always remomber it, for It had veen daguerreotyped too well ‘om my mind, Waking or dreaming, uppermost of all pleasant scenes, dashed with a certain melan- ~choliness, will remain on my mind the memory of dspaban, with the profound azure of its axy, its clear | air, its dusky groves, its gorgeous temples of plea- sure, its lofty minars and egg-shaped domes, and ae peaceful serenity and repose which soem to | dwell over the landscape. Live, eb, Ispahan as thou art! Let not one tree | grow older, not one rose or guimar bush wither, nor one flower die. Let thy palaces ever commemorate the lofty-minded and great Shah Abbas. Let thy golden Pantheous be forever golden, and thy medressehs and mesdjids intact untill the wood shail dissolve, Fiow on, oh, happy, Zaianderood, “River of Life’ rightly called, and, if thou canst flow faster, ow stronger. Thou, Ispahan, hast fulfilled my Orient dream, though thou art but a shadow of , thy former self, Ihave looked at thee closely and narrowly, and the more I looked at thee the mere loved thee, despite thy ruins and thy degenerate ;cluizens, I sorrow at parting with thee, but my | kismet ts written and the law of 1 is inexorable. Te thee, gorgeous fabric of gold and emerald, incar- | mation of airy phantasies, I bow my farewell. Will the HERALD, I wonder, judge the above ‘apostrophe rathor tall, stilted, florid, or any other serabbea word which ixasciple and unimaginative critics generaily induige in? By right their feelings should gravitate towards mine and confow with mine towards one common centre, whence we could see Persia with true eyes. I have not been back- ward in blaming those who mislead people, who have indulged in rhedomontades over the most commonplace things, and, to be exact, I must not atint praise when it is well deserved. But every man to his idiosyncracies; I to my task, FROM ISPAHAN, As we leave the Ispahan plain a littery group of rock splinters, of humbie height hefere the grander altitude of Takht--Rustam, assume an ex- traordinary resemblance to a gigantic bust of Hercaies. His ruffed, shert crop of halr, always ike a prostrate forest—for Hercules was no dandy and cared not for hairbrushes or Macassar un- guent—the full-bumped Samsonian head, vast and commodious; @ very prectpice of a brow; a nose, fit buttress for the mountain above it; cavernous recesses for the eyes, and a chin—ye gods! such a chin, were it set wagging! The bust 13 perfect, But as we move on the Hercules becomes a lion couchant—the lon of Judah, with his head between two outstretched paws. In a moment it has changed again—it has changed half a dozen times— the last view of it, trom the aogle of Lupt Hu, anamorphizing it, suggests a dragon. Bat I must be brief, very brief, for you and I must hasten to Pasargad@ and Persepolis, where we shall revel among ruins and meditate a plenty in the halls of Xerxes and Darius. If 1 only live to get there—the Eeliants and Buctiaris are on the warpath, and Fenighee travellers are worthy objects of plunder, We pass pleasant Mayar, hedged by its rug- ged wall of mountain, at a vehement pace; Koomeshah, amidst a dolefal plain, cir- eumscribed within narrow limits by sun-brick cored mountains; we arrive at long before Bight, almost isolated by heat of thermometic measure 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Not pleasaut at all, I say, as I plunge into the comfortable rooms of @ telegraph Khaneh, where I determine to pass the night, There 1s nobody in the telegraph ofice, so I constitute myself lord and master. With the pride ofa new proprietor I wander through the rooms, £aze significantly into the vacant anderom, and wink satisfactorily at the garden, though it has nothing save a few sickly looking red and white hollies. I went into the telegraph room and examined with ‘Wonder the magié instruments with which I could communicate in an instant with the HERALD office in New York. VIEWS OF THE TOWN. When evening came I had my bed made on the Housetop, and while smoking my callan had a view of the town, of a high mud wall surrounding the town, of a myriad of pigeon towers, whose dung is more precious than guano; of its acres of tomb- stones and lion sphinxes, & scant grove or two, the whole walled in by its lofty mountain framework. Near the town of Koomeshah 1s the tomb of Shah Reza—Imaum Reza—a most holy personage, which, a8 I found out afterwards, contains in tts courtyard two tanks, in which are some sacred fish. The tomb has stood nearly 800 years. A deep grove of tall ‘rees of poplar and elm surround it. “Allah-no Akbar, Allah-ho, ho, Akbar,” chanted by a multitude of voices, shrill antiphone of boys Tesponsive to the deep bass of men, is a ery I hear asl drop to sleep, with the clear heaven for my canopy. 3 EN ROUTE AGAIN. ,. The next morning [resume my rapid travel until Tam halted at Yezdighast, only ten faisakles from Koomeshah, until a fresh relay comes from Maxu- ‘peggy, tue intervening station. = IRAN AND FARO. Yozdighast marxs the divisional line between Iran and Faro—ancient Persla—the Persia of Cam- byses and Darius Hystaspes. Iran was Media in those days. Yezdighast Is a wonderful place. Ona ‘wail of the travellers’ room in the Chappsr Khaneh \I found the followiug doggetel, which I take tho Uberty of transcribing for your amusement. Its merits are descriptive truth :— Ob, Yerdighast! forever may thou rest, é Thue surr anided » ‘im silence and mute plains; For thiraty is thy lréam, huogry is thy outward look, Filthy and rotten is thy platform composite; imply and horseioss fs thy chapper kbaucl Nothing tp hy bins but famine rampant; Five tong hours was 1 doomed to sta) For lack of borses, with nothing to do But chide my servants and bite my finger nails And witness thy shameless filtniuess, “Phils curse T do bestow on thee; wich hearty spite ALadjure all, let none withdraw it, f YEZDIGHAST. ‘Yezdighast 13 visible after crossing a low ridge, fend as its houses begin to be seen you compare them to a cluster of anthills. Approaching nearer you gee a large graveyard containing many tombs, jfour, five and six hundred years old, a sphinx oF jUwo over some graves, @ cupolaed tomb covering saint, Passing the cemetery, Yezdighass pa before you in all its perfection of grotesque- ess, It stands on @ table bill in the middie ofa ry river bed. The bill Is probably 1,000 feet long yy 200 feet greatest width, and fifty or sixty feet igh above the river bed. The sides of she hill are erpendicular, A light draworidge on the western de is the only means of Communication with it, ne Chapper Khaueh 13 situated a few yards from its astern base. The Caravanéeral, a very flue butid- ing, is about eighty yards irom the Chapper Khaneh, m the southern side. All these buildings are hidaen fom the view of the traveller on the plain by Re lofty banks of the river bed, which are of a cal- Careous deposit, and consequently mach perforated fand eroded by former floods. ‘Tie bed of the river ‘May be 800 yards wide, well cultivated, producing all the vegetables and corn necessary for tne small opulation of Yezdighast. > tno rocky site of Yezdighast, anvil shaped, with ithe brown mud houses perched on the tabular sum- ‘quit, 18 tn Itself strange, but not the most extraordl- ‘nary feature of the plaice, to my mind, There are et 800 houses on the su:ninit, with thea backs facing outwaraly, while their fronts met each other ‘on two sides of the single sireet, wich runs fturongh from the drawbridge to the other end of tho wn; and as there is but ofe streot—the town site eing bat 200 feet in width at ita widest part, with Space for drains or cesspogis—tho 300 furnilies ave been compelled by stern necessity to construct heir water closets so as to project from the. walls. rJs it not strange that of the hundreda of travellers NEW YORK HEKALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1870.—TKIPLE SHEET. who have travelled this way and written avout this strange en ee ig oF rey noticed this reactor ea y Abpractars the hAifiside of Yezdighast and the Cara- vanseral rues @ stroam ut two yards wide and three inches deep, which, in contrast to the aithy stream on the chit walls, is sweet and ce Yez- Cifiset ta hehoun far He yond bread, which also bi a wonder, taking other things into consi Fortunately we were not competied to stop tong in the ace aforse ule selubbort ood, for the relay came up and we mounted, Our road was southeastward Fars, the Bakntiari mountatus on our vigan tue prev desert fud the Way tw ‘ezd's eternal mansion of the fire, Were aged seine in Greams of heaven expire, on our left. The desolate plains to our left are the home of the wild ass and hyepa, and tn the moun. talns on ourrigitare panthers andlynxes. A speci- men of the latter Lsaw, It Was @ most beautiful Animal, with soft, fawn-coiored fur and finely pen- ied the very picture of alertness and out hing. ‘Ts lynx 18, properly, the caracal. ‘Ihe classic authors Were accustomed to ascribe wonder- to it. Pliny writes that tt could seo ful powers through a brick wall. It was also credited that if this animal satin the midstof a field he could fer- tilize it; that the corn grew up spontancously tn His presence. A vineyard was thus also safe from the effects of @ halistorm. It was gutd also that ne emitted from his body the lapis lazutt, which pos- soma the quality of curing toothache and ‘aguish levers. LT tried to get a shot at it with my handy Winehes- tor repeater, but on the first puff of smoke he darted of into @ narrow ravine, Whose recesses he shared with the hyena amd the Jackal. Half way to Shool- gestan, the next station, we saw a tree on the slope of one of the hills to our right, I mention this fact, as it was surrounded by a fence, and because a tree 4n the open air ts so rare in Persia that when tt is found Bf ie immediately enclosed lest harm siouid come ie We passed Shoolgestan, Abadeh and Dehbid with- out Stopping, 80 thal we could get to Mesched -1-Marg- haub before night, as we were ina region where tne lawless Bakhtiari rove, who are acoustemed to deal harshly with travellers. It was very late when we entered the town of Murghaub, having passed but a quarter of an hour before trough a camp of 2,000 Khilaris, which we had stumbled upon without knowing. PASARGADA. The next morning we leit Mesched--Murghanb for the ruins of Pasargad®, which lay south about five miles, The road lay through @ richly euitivated plam, watered by the fine stream of Moorgh-anb aod its numerous canauts. Incliniag a littie towards the right we came to a group of low aud grayish hilis, on the most southward of which we caught a gitmpse of a whitish sieno wail, Ridtug up to it, we found it to bea marble platform, or rather & marble wall, which the hill. We followed (without dismounting) the vase of the hill, Keeping our eyes steadfastly xed on it, until we had goue all around it. [then dismounted, tetting the chappargee to take the horses back to Moorgh-aub stauon, and that | should want them on tue second morning, and proceeded to measure, with a tape line, the stones, the length of tie wails, &c. MEASUREMENTS OF THE PLATFORM. West side, 260 feet long; north side, 192 fest long; south sule, 300 feet long, consisting of 53 Jeet tirst rojection; depth of reti angle, 60 fect 8 laches); ront line betweea the projecting faces. 154 icet. Eastern projection, 83 feet possibie of measurement, though } think it runs about 200 feet furtuer, witn the entire southern siope of the hill. ‘The height of the western wall, so far as may be measured, ts 41 feet 4 inches; but it must have been much higher, considered simply as platform, as the buse is much buttressed with the débris from the hill and the fallen marble blocks. Ishould say the wail In tts entirety must have been nearly or quite a hundred feet. The walls are built witha facing of marblo blecks of nearly equal thickness, but not of breadth or length, the most general thickness belug two feet nine inebes, Starting from the bottom of the south- west angle of the platform upward we tind the first uer recedes from its bed one inch, the second er recedes eleven inches, the third six and a half inches and the fourth three inches, The vlocks are beveiled half an inch in depth und three inches in width along the square. ‘Tie breadth of this marble ashlaring ranges from two to six feer, The lengths of the blocks are from two to 21 feet, the longest 1 measured being 21 feet 3%, inches, situate In the north front. The bevels are exeel- Tently cut, of a poilshed smoothness, and each stone 4s joined to the Other so nicely that the point of the Mnest needle would not penetrate the joiniure. The faces of the blocks are roughly chiseled. On the Dlatiorm may be seen the way iu Which these stones were clamped together, and it ts, 20 doubt, the drm- ness of the iron clamps and the great labor which would be required to destroy the platiorm, that nas prevented its complete destruction. For 1t is evi+ dent, by the irregular loeseness of the displaced blocks, that great elforts have been made from time to time by the unwesthetic uatives te obtain the iron, Another confivmation of this purposed vandaiisin are the holes cut at regular intervals in the walls of the platform. A singuiar feature in the faces of some of these marble blocks are some marks made by the chisel, Winch secin te me to be numerals employed by the workmen to denote the positious the bidcks should occupy. These seem to Show, also, that they Were cut and prepared in the quarry, Just as the red pigment figures were used by the workmen ef Hiram ii the foundation stones of the Temple of Solomon. “SOLOMON'S THRONE." On this platiorm, now cailed Takht-i-Sniemian (Soloman’s throne) by the natives, stvod the “castie Ox Pasargadwe,” according to Pliny, wherein were the dweliings of the magt and the altars of the sacred fire. 1 have described the platiorm as cor- rectly ag possibie, that your readers may follow me intelligently. Cyrus the Greai, son of Cainbyses, King Of Persia, by Maudane, daughter of Astyages, King of Media, everthrew the Media-Babylonia em. ire in the year 557 &. O., In Lhe piain of Pasargade. Yo corrmeniorate this achievement he caused a city of houses to replace his tented city. On this hill, so we are led to believe by the ancient authors, Cyrus cuused to be erected a fort or castle containing the “holy place,” whither ne went to worship and where suceessors were alter- ase Jpaugurated as Kings of Persia. To establis. thé supposition here is the river Kur or Qyrus low- in yigy thr, iain, Jwo days? therch fe taatey Visite BRB fest he piain of Persepolis ows the Araxes. Lo corrobo- rate still turtuer these suppositions I venture a hy- pothesis which [do not think hag ever been s'ated before by anf traveller or writer, deduced from the remains of the temple of Jerusalem, built by Zerub- babel, Ezra and Nehemiah, Cyrus had conquered Babylon. the scene of Jewish captivity; the men had been taken captives and scattered through the cities of Persia ; they probably nad heiped to build most of the palaces of Pasargadw, In the year 536 B. O., 81x years before the death of Cyrus the Great, the Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem aad revuild their temple, which had been destroyed by Nebu- chadnezzar. dn the Temple of Jerusalem, built by Zerubbabel, We have the exact imtiation of the stones of Pasar: ore. O68 statne: yet ine peraiben, pt but few + gh they were rich in 3 east wbout Ove iiundred yards, bein; ¥ the sight of & remuant of 8 pillar, or Monolith piainiy visivle above the surlace of the I came ‘to another area of This measures cigity-six feet long by sixty-five feet wide 1b its Luleriog, ‘There remain agit perestals, very clearly denoting that there were eight pillars, Seven of these pedestals are of », the other is of @ fine gray sandstone of @ Very hard material, ‘here are two remains of pyloas, east and weal, which seem to prove that tits Was @ wnost elegant building, of ner fish than any T'pad seen an any other part of the ruins, They ure ton feet Ave taches wide aud eighteen tvet decp—noble and chaste portals. Outside of this fine Hal is ove of those hollow columns already men- toned, with the inscription of cuneiform characters secn iv the ethers, which, trausiated according to Grotefeud, means, “{ aim Cyrus, the King; the Achemeaian.” Belew this inscription is the figure of » man with four wiaga, two spread out frem each shoulder, the tips rising Keveral inches higher than the bead, tho other two trom the shoulder, within the former two, 5) pepacine ons weedy along the mdes and legs of the figure, Me has bis hands ratsed, as Uf in the act ot praying. On the head, abeve a close skullcap rosetted over the ear, are two wide- spreadibg horns, and above the horns is a head- dress similar W Athor's, ef Egypt, consisting of three spherical bails SnEperHng, three — things not unlike three sickle handles, surmounted by three other balis. At each tip of the horas which crests the cap, aad en each side of this singular group 1s the scuiptured figure of something very like cornucepia—the fignre of the King, as iv evideatly is, habited in & sleeveless alb, spotiess, save Where the rich apparels of it follow the hem gaaw; not in its substructure, for that was mostly Solomon's work, and it is much diiverent to the laver work, Captain Warren introduced me into the pits and tunnels he has excavated, which lead to the substructure. a Jeet below the sur ace of the dévris, Which rises hill-like against the modern wails of the temple area, I saw the foundation stones of the temple, smovth-faced, without bevel or draught. The Jewish superinvendents of the temple were pre- bably taken from Pasargadie or Ecbatana, What more naiural than they should adopt in the building of thelr temple the manner and style of archilecture they had seen at Pasargade? Is it not rational to think that the Pasargade stonea were chiseiled and Cut in the same epoch ag those with bevel or draught at Jerusalem, aud Liat those of Jerusalem indicate the era of those at Pasargadie? ‘Tuis platiorim, which must be considerably over 500 Ivet long by 260 feet wide, coustructed in the chaste manier Ihave above described, what super- structure Gouid it have upheld? te walls around it are about twelve fect in thickness, It must have been a most stately affair, with 100 feet in height of a marble platform, glisiening white as suow, crown- ing this hill, with the city of Pasargadie stretched souti at its feet. in a aingle letter to a newspaper it would be impossibie to cnumerate all the sugges- ou8 and supp sitions made by savans, Following Adrian, Diodorus aud Pliny, we must call tt a casue— and mést splendid jt must Have beon—and rest con- tent with the fact slat here Cyrus the Great and his successors were crewned. ee Descending the southern slope of the hill and pro- ceeding southwest for a quarter of a mile we reach asmall square buliding, like @ tower, built of the same kind Of marvie a8 the caste ‘platform. It measures. nine Jeet each face and {3 about forty-flve ethigh. ‘The swunes used in its construction are perfectly smoot. In its Dorthera front there ap- pear traces Of @ square enirance, whicak may have been a door, and @ bit of cornice is still left on the sumiuill of one of the walls, Four or five hundred yards from this, south, pro- ceeding over culiivated ground, we came to @ pillar ora pyion column, and tae best descripuon 1 can give ol it is that if you place two sarcophagl on end, oue above the other, you have an exact linitalion of it, ‘Turee sides of Unis column are perfectly level; tue fourth is eughed deeply. 1 crept into one, the and the sides of it overlapped my body se ve- oes. On the north side of tue column are curs, ‘dg ig an artificial platform, are Liree more Of these holiow blocks on ‘These are of marble, aud one of them has the end, same cuvelform inscription, On examining mere closely this platforin I Had it Is the detined area of a vast hail, measuring 136 feet long by 36 feet wide, ac- cording tot Measurement taken twice with the tape 1 traced ten peuestals Of dark blue siatestone, such as are those of the bull men spainxes at Persepolis, Around the sides of the pedestals were portions Of the bags ig Me a jormeriy were in basso-relievo, on When, one are the legs and feet with claws, on anolber legs and feet with hoofs, anotuer has the legs of @ man; all are as purely defined as if they had been but sculptured Yesterday. Ou one side of this hail there are three entrances, the principal one being seven feet wide, the two sinalier being but four feet nine inches wide, ‘Yue door jambs Were square monolithic columns of dark blue glatestone sculpwured, ax we may see by the legs aud feet of the mythical veings visible on what f Jeit of tue jambs, In the centre of this area 43 a Bingulur column of white marble, perfectly smooth and round, consisting Of four pieces, pro- bavly Ufty feet in height. A ath piece of it Iles on the ground Close by, and is Used by the women of Ue Keliant overs to pound corn tu. Its clrcumler- hue. } neither does he give us the dimensions of the tomt ence ts ten feet six inches. Now, the pedestals of blueish slatestone whica I have hoticed wnat have been, when intact, about tweive feet in Neight; yet the base of us solitary column 19 net seen above ground, What could have been tts purpose? May it be taken for a pillar which upheld a siatue, similar to the column of Minerva, in the centre of the Parthenon? Lt has no inserip- tion, but is perfeculy bare, and its diameter ia too Swall lu suppose that ib Supported anything but a and run from the tnner bead of the arm to the bot- tom 01 the dress, Coming west again, near o village, we come to What 1s considered the most important relic extant Ol Pasargadw, This ts what the natives have learned to term Mader--Sulemian—Mother of Solomon,’? or of Solulan—the fourteenth Khalipu from Alt As it appears to us from the plain it is a very small house, with a low gabied warbie rooiet, surinount- ing a truncated pyrainid, Measuring the pyramid at its lowest tier [find it is forty-ilve feet iong by forty-two fvet wide, with seven layers of marbie blocks, each layer receding somewhat from the Other, the pyrainid rial vo the total height of eighvcen teet, The smail house on the summit Ineasures exterioriy tweuty feet six inches, by sev- euteen et high inches ee wins the npedoe is seven feet high, tea IX cages lon; seven fect wide; the cnirance is by a door tot feet high by twe ieet nine inches in width. layers of blocks make the total heignt of singular eduice, Tre first layer actng west ts co! posed of two unassive blocks, between which is the eutrauce; the second layer has Uaree blocks, the cen ral one of Which serves as a lintel for the ene tra the third is of two ehallower biocks, like thick siabs; the lourth forms @ quadrupled cornice; the {th f¥ above the cornice, and supports the sold and sioping rool, Every stone of the pyramid and tomb is of pure white marble, In the luterior is a koran, and across a corner ure two strings to which are suspended tin and copper tunnels, contributed by pious Mosiems who, Wuer il, vowed to make an olfering to Bathsheba, and complied with their vows When they got well. ‘Three sides and the roof are much blackened withswoke, while the fourti— the one opposite the door—is still nearly white. ‘The duor is formed of twe linmense and thick slabs, over eighteen inches in thickness, and @ cavity nearly in the maddie Of the ttoor indicates where tue spoiler has been at work to rob the iron clamps be ener Probably, tue coillu or the hearse was ound. Around the pyramid at the distance of several feet from 1ts base, Pete quadrangle, are twea- ty-eight portions of circular columns, set in a mud wall some five er six feet high, thus forming. € thorough enclosure. Within the quadrangle are me ‘of Mosiems of the village, witch is a few eet outside vhe enclosure, Who thought that by being buried ciose to Batusheba’s tomb they had a better chance of heaven. inside or outside there are no inscriptions excopt in Arable on the interior ‘Waus, in which is inscribed among dorid fret- work—work Of a most cluisy aud unsktifal Persian or Arab hand—the words “Mader-l Suiclman.” NATIVE HISTORY FROM THE ANCIENTS, So much for the accurate description of what may be seou on the site of the ety of Pasargadi, togetier with What names the absurd natives have given the ruins. Let us now see wiat the ancicuts have to say. Avrian says:—'The tomb of Cyrus was in the royal parwiise of Pasargadv, rouud which was a grove of various trees. It was weil suppiied wilt watel, and (ke fHeids were covered with high grass. ‘The tomb below was of a quadrangular shape, built ol {reestone; above was & house of stone, with a roof, ‘I'he door that leads to 1 is so very narrow that @ man not very tall can get in with aim- culty. | Within is the golden couilin of Oyras, near which is a seat with feet of gold; the whole 1s hung round with coverlags of purpie, and carpets of Babyloa, In the victuity was built @ suai house for the Magi, to whose care the tomy had originally been entrusted, and so continued since the time of Cambyses from fathers to sons, THE TOMB OF CYRUS. Now let us glance overthe above briofly. “Tho tomb of Cyrus Was in the royal piradise of Pasar- w, surrounded by @ grove.” ‘he Persians are he moat Conservative people in the world, their habits and Customs are as Unchaugeable as wero the laws of the ancient Medes and Persians, All the Re pal tombs of modern Persia are surrounded ¥ groves. Witness the Lomb of Shah Abdul Agzim at Tehe! Fatima and Fath Alt Shah at Roum, Imaum Reza at Koomeshah, Nusseut and Alt at Kerbelah, and these “groves are of various trees,” ipplied with an ‘abundance of water.” “Tie felis around Were covered with high grass,” put they are to-day covered with tall wheat and barley, ‘ihe womb below was of @ quadranguiar shape built of Treestoue;’ and J ata Convinced that the pyramid contains the toinb, that tne body of Cyrus the Great 18 SUli Within it, Unanks to the piety of tie Mosiems, who will never disturb it so long as they believe that the edifice once contained, the boay of Bathsheva. Lhe body of the pyramid is coni- posed of gray “ireestene’—it rests upon a “quad- rangle of freestone,”’ the marble blocks, though large, being but the ashlar of the pyramid. ‘The door that leads to it 1380 very narrow,” being but two Teet nine inches in width; $0 that it dees not require @ remarkably stout man to be two fect nine laches across the shoulders. ‘Witkin is the golden coftin of Cyrus.” Weil, that may wot have contained the body of Cyrus, any more than the pyramidal hearses within the royal tombs of Persta contain the bodies Of the kings or Imaums entombed within their mau- solea. These hearses may weil be caiied coins; tiey are made of wood, covered with velvet pall or cash- mere shawis, adorned with jewels of great value, and rest over the vaults which contain the dead. Neither the Peri: jor the Turkish hearse ever con- tains the body, ‘he Whole was hung round with coverings of purple and carpets of Babylon,” The hearse of Sultan Selmt, or the pyramidal box which covers the vault, 13 covered with casamero shawis; @ tomb of one Of the Sultans (I believe it 1s that of Orckhan) at Broussa, 18 covered with cashmere shawls, and the walls of it are covered with rich hangings; the tomb of Shetka Sei, at Ardebell, is railed round with gold railings, tue Moor of itis covered with the rarest carpets, the wails of it are decorated in the most maguiiicent stylo. THR DWELLING OF THE MAGT. In the vicinity was the house of the “Magi,” which, 60 far as one may judge with moderate sense and discernment, ts to be found, or @ portion of it, 1 ti caravenseral of the village, Which ts not much over a hundred fect irom the wails that enclose the tomb of Cyrus, The foundations are very ancient; the alooves (though many of them have been repaired and newly built), whick might be in ype to be the cells where the Sabwan priests lived, are also an- Client, and their entrances are nearly a3 small as those of the tomb. A specimen of a Magian college may be seen at Bakou, on the Caspian, er in tie Temple of Unna-Purna, in Bonares; and these seem to corroborate tis rational supposition, , Further- more, it need not be very old; for the Sabwans were not expelled from Pasargad uatil the year u62 A.D There is only one thing which can possibly be urged against this supposition, aud that is that the famous inscriplion, “Un, mortals! Lam Cyrus, sun of Cambyses, founder of the Persian monarchy and Sovereign of Asia; grudge not therefore this monu- ment.” But Arrisn does not say on what part of the tomb the tuseription was written; for he was never at Pasargad@, ald received his in formation solely from Aristobulus, Who saw 1, and probably the tatter gave the description to Arrian Trom what he could remember. What he did relate concerning it seems to have been just so much as would strike the memory a8 most’ important—‘the quadrangle of freestoue,”? *« se of stone with # roof,” the ‘narrow door,” the “golden coffin and its rich trappings,” the (isaical grove,’? the “abundance of water,’ the “house of the Magi to Whom Was given a sicep, a certain quantity of Wine aud & Measure of coru.”” Excepting this Lnscription all things go to prove it to be the tomb of the great Cyrus. That the inscription was on the tonib there 43 no roum to doubt; for Strabo, Plutarch and Anesicritus coufirm the #t.tement. Some writers have ingeniously endeavored to as- sign the palace destroyed by Alexander at the insti- getion of Thais amoug the ruins of Pasargady. It with the greatest aliidence that 1 differ from them. One and all of the ruins seem to be the re- gull of the same agency, Whatever that was, whether it was fire or the vandalism of Amaris Arabs, I can- net believe that ib was fire that caused the de. struction of those monolithic door jamos and wall piers, but can readily comprehend how a@ pon- derous ram could have smashed them. Besides the Tents in the blocks and monolitus are wo clearly detined, too cloanly made to have been caused by tre. Fire such as would have been necessary to destroy, the massive buiidings must needs have been a “bonfire,” the eifect of which would be that the face Of the walls Would retain the sceritication | of the fire, that there would be sov of the bia Or At least some, which would have a slacky ap) ance, with their alto-relievi totally destroyed are hone of these traces; on the contrary, what left Of the Walls has yet that clean appearance ot newly chiseled stone, and the alto-relleyi are as perfect as when they were first seen adoraing tue Walls of the Achwmenian King’s palaces, TO PERSEPOLIS. Southwest of the Tomb’ of Cyrus the gaping @ebouchure of a ravine, enfolded by very lotiy Mountains, is seen, Ou the third morning after my arrival at Pasargade 1 determined to take the circuitous and diMeult road to Per- sepolis, it being about six miles longer than by way of Mesched Uinoune and Buchun, and avout pine miles further tian by the ¢astera road down the Pasargadw plain. It was a venture on my part, for my baggage had been sent on to Shiraz by my chapprangee, 50 that when | travelled { could, by extraordinary exertion, make up for time spent on the plain of Pasargadw, and neither my servant nor myself knew the road. The ravine appeared so slmiiar to that whici leads to the tombs re ot) of the kings, behind the Theban suburb of Koorneh, Voat | thought there might be something there. A branch of the river Sabatan (dry now) issues ‘Ou Ula ravine In the spring. Following the left bank of it we entered ths pase formed by it, and after travelling avout half a mile were soon’ thyolved in it# mtricate windings, with the dark upright moun- bets full of manifold fissures and cavernous per- Orauons, and immense bouldery crags lunpending on the edge of peated ledges all around ua little further and we came to & winding gallery which Was cut ont of the perpendicular face of # vasaltio aud peyona the gallery on either wide of the deep pass was the uarcy of Pasargad@, ‘her they — were, asalt ° and siate, and marble, and freestone ods, and blocks at their base in the greatest pramaae| aad deep cutttugs above them Wheace they had been displaced. ‘That pass, to my mind, {sa geo-historical Volume, We need not wonder now that Pasar- fie Was ae opulent in marble and basalt pillars, to ve stone jambs and pedestals, in marble palaces @nd frecatone foundations; for here 1s the quart; Dut a couple of miles from the valley of Cyrus an city of Pasargade—it is Syene and Sitsiles over again, The prodigious solidity and splendor of the ‘buildings, rivalliug those of Egypt, could never have been obtained but for the ready access to such a vast Mine of valuable material. For here are no Nilea, nor Tivers, nor & Pirwe whereby the great blocks might be transported close to their destination. It ‘was all heavy work overland; fortunately the dis- tance was but short, QUARRIES, were obtained by water blasts; the juarrying is even ‘more palpable here than me qaactens of Syene. There are hundreds of them en the slopes and 1 of the cliffs, und there are hundreds more resting yet im their beds, but prepared by the chisels for the water-blasts, There are also traces ot the workmen about, in square niches, about a foot deep, su¢h as may be seen in the sandstone quarries of Slistlea; but some of these nicies deepen into tombs, like those in the face of the Arabian lulls which are seen 80 often from the Nile. The gailery which I saw 1s about 1,200 feet long and about five fect wide. From the saddle, as you ride through the gallery, you may easily look over the solid wall of rock whicn has been left to pro- tect baggy from the danger of the prectpice pe- low. As I have never seea a book where thts quarry, or gallery, or ravine has been described, and Tam sure [ have read over fifteen ‘fravels tn Pere ~ Jain compelled to be accurate in its deetrip- uo ho own judgwent, I have not the least agent Ra Farr gailery cut by the gine hauds which built Pasargad@. Hverything tends to con- firm it. For istance, the minute marks of the chisel in the rock are similar to those which may be seen in the Sontee mands in the quarries where blocks yet im their are prepared for the water- blasts, and, again, its near neighborhood to Pasar- gadw, ils evident antiquity is position, lying, as It docs, between Pasarga‘ie and its quarries. As We advanced the quarries became more exten- sive. The ravine at iniervais expanded into pretty vaileys overgrown with wlid aimend trees and acacias. About dive miles from the gailery we were aware of a stream rushing over tie bottom of the ravine, which gradually became quite a river, The Dame of it is Kasri Agaub, as [ learned from a mem- ber of an EKclant camp which we came across, About three farsakhs from Pesargad, the quarrie: extending at 1atervals all along the ravine, we came for the first time to a dark slate stone quarry of no @reat extent, which puts to contusion even the native travelier and geographer “Ha:mdallah,”’ who says:—“Ai the gateway of Persepolis stand two square pillars, each of which must exceed tn weight one hundred thousand maums (775,000 pounds), and there Is not in the vicinity any stone of the same appearance or Kind. Three farsakus further we ar- rived at Kawamabad, a most beautiful valley well cultivated, With several groves of trees scattered about it, MOUNTAIN GORGES. From Kawamabad we proceeded along the valley and shortly turoed east towards Saidoon, through another wild scene of mountains and passes, with vestiges here und there showing that marbie has been extracted from some of the hills in ancient tines, At Sutdoon, as the vaie tu wich it is situated leads to Persepolis and Istako, distant five Tiles, and as evening Was drawing near, we halted for the night. NEW YORK STATE LAND OFFICE, Meeting of the Commissioners. (From the Albany Argus, Deo. 19.) The Board of Commissioners of the Land OMice is among the most important of the State Boards, which convene from tine to time in our city, But litile 1s known of its proceedings (except by citizens having business with the Board) as its minutes are not required to be published, The Board consists of the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General, State Engineer apd Surveyor, and Speak @f Assembly. The Deputy Secretary of State is, by Virtue of hiz oMice, the secretary of the Board. 11s mectings are frequent, and are sometimes held several (mes in eact month. Several timportant ap- Plieations haye been set down for a hearing ata meeting to be held next Thursday. ‘Yms Board has the general care and superintend- ence of the State lands, ingluding sait lands, abau- doned cana: lauds and ladds udder the waters of navigable rivers and lakes, ‘The State lands which belonged to the State at the formation of the State governipent, or witch have siuee been acquired by treaty with Indian tribes, have from time to time been put into the market and offered for sale, except such as haye been reserved for salt manufucture, or by reason ofiocation ta the notrhern wilderness have been uusalable, ‘Tue State Engineer and Surveyor has the imme- diate charge of surveys and appraisals, and may sell the lands in the northern wilderness remaining unsold, As to other State lands, whe na sale 15 made at auction or under appraisal, the Stave Engl- neer, wader the Mreciton of the Land Commission - ers, asues a cortificate of sale to the purchaser upon the payment of one-fourta of tae con=ideration price, the residue being payable in six equal annual payments, with interest, In case of failure to pay lustalments, With interest, lor two or more years, lands thus purchased and beld are resold by the State for arrears at public auction, Every few years 4 saie of lands for anpaid taxes is held by the Comptroiler, and unless the taxes are paid and the lands redeemed from such sale within the time limited by aw, the title vests in the State, 5o, also, ali lands sold by the United states De- posit Fund Commissioners for arrears, which are not redeemed in due time, become the property of the State aud are subject to sale by the Commis- sloners of the Land Ofice. Occasionally, too, the State acquires title to lands by escheat. nds acquired at resales or tax iitic | lands, comprise the Layers portion of lands which come into market, In some cases purchasers pay the full amount ef consideration at time of pur- chase, Otherwise, upon the flaal payment of the talment of principal and interest, the holder State Engineer's certificate or sale or his legal assignee, applies .o the Coimmissiouers of the Land Oilice for a patent, as State conveyances are calied, for the land described therein, Whenever this Board directs the issue of patents (which for tax lands, and, eccasionaily, in other cases, are quit claim only), the same are made out and recorded at the office of the Secretary of State. All these patents contain a reservalton te the State of all gold and silver mines. Under an act passed tn the year 1857, after the abandonment of lands for camal purposes py the Canal Board, the owners ef lands adjaceat to the abandoned canal Who desire to resume possession, may, Upow proof, acquire title by letters patent from the Land Comuissioners, under rules which have been established. The progress of improvements fn the city of Sy- racuse Ras miuade it necessary for Lhe State from time to time to seli @ part of the State salt Jands, aud to acquire other lands adapted to suca use. When sold and patented @ reservation of ihe saits springs 15 contained in the patent. Under an act passed by the Legislature last win- ter, an appraisal of Certain lands in the Third ward of the city of Syracuse has recently been ordered, preliminary to the coustderation of an application fox @ sale thereof aud removal of salt works. from ao rapidly improving part of the city. “Tn addition to the duties named, the Board 1s sometimes called Upon to set apart or lease lands for the Mantifacture Of Coarse Hall in cases of the discovery of mines of gold and silver, in case the discoverers fail to make arrange- ments with the landowner for the right’ to work the same, the Board, under an act of 1867, may grant the right and easement to enter upon and break up and work such lands to corporations formed for that purpose. . The Board 1s also frequently called upon to con- sider and adjust claims amectiug the rights of the Indian tribes of the State as vo their land and an- nuities. ‘The State Geological and Agricnitural Hall (for- meriy the old State Hail), m this city, 18 by law placed under the control of tne Commissioners of the Land Onlice. ‘The following ts 9 summary of the number of let- ters patent issued trom the oilice of the Secretary of State during the y ars 1593, 1569, and thus fur'for 1si0i— 1968. 1869, 1870. Letters patent, full warranty..... 45 oT 38 QUIL CLALIN. «ee eeee ne ees 5 6 5 Tax lands patents, quit claiu 0 3 3 Abandoned canals, quit claim _ 8 6 Sait land patent, Warranty........ 19 iM 8 Water Grant patents..... Byy 84 80 It will be seen that the aj grant pater iacrease. The grants made are chiefly upon - the Hudson river, the waters adjoining Long and Staten Isiands, along Harlem river, with an occasional paient in Lake Eric, Champlain or Ontario. ‘rhe proposed erection of a railroad upon the west shore oi the Hudson river has gteatly increased the huniber of applications on the pari of land owners desiring to secure the river front, Aloug the shores of the Harlem river and Spuyten Duyvil creek, opposite the er end of New York city, &great nuuber of applications for dock privi- leges are coustautly being made, and at tue present tue several applications are pending which involve the question of the territonai right and the rights acquired by charter of the city of New York. . Great care is observed by the Board in tne making of grants for land under water, and under one of the Tuies & committee of the Board visits the premises aid reports upon the propriety of making the same plications for water S$ are most uuiucrous, aud upon the before action by we board, This rule was feand to be necessary on account of conflicuing lines and see #od to protect not only the navigable chan- nels of streams, buv also the riygits of individuals OUBA. The New Captain General, Yalmaseda, to Tuke the Field, The War of Extermination—Burning of Estates—Insurgents Outside of Puerto Principe—A Panic— Nows from Las Tunas, The New Captain Grneral—His Promises to Suppress the Insurrection—All Available Troops to be Scut to the Frout—Valmnseda to Take the Kield—The Departure of Do Rodas—Military Operations—The Attacks on the American Consul General, Havana, Dec. 17, 1870. Naturally, upon the advent of a new Captain General, we are promised a suppression of the insur rection. Itis the custom. Valmaseda, fn initiating his effort, 1s preparing to send everything availabie tothe front, To this ead the volunteers will again garrison all the forts of the city, and the troops here, mostly mado up of convalescents, who have been sent here from time to time, will in oe placed in the deadly breach, Im conversation he expresses entire conddence in his ability to crush out what the Spaniards consider as the last lingering remnants of the insurrection now existing, which ho would have done before had he not been hampered by the orders of hts superiors, who, it 1g to be inferred, did not want him to do jt, However, it may be doubted if tho gents Valmaseda can Accomplish what guch able Generals as Lersundi, Dulce and De Rodas tallied im, though they,all promised as loudly as he. It is fur- ther stated that he intends to take command of operations liimself, establishing hts headquarters at Puerto Principe, as did his immediate predecessor, As announced, General De Rodas took his departure on the 15th, going by the Spanish mail steamer Porto Rico to Cadiz. Valmuseda bad given or- ders that tn his departure the same honors should be patd him as were given to Lersund! on his de- parture, and the Sixth battalion of volunteers, with band and banner, was detalled to escort him to the wharf, He left the palace, accompanied by Valma- seda, the Reneion governor, Lopez Robe: id other prominent officials, moving te the Muelle Ga- balerla, where ho was met by tue commanders of the several volunteer buttalious, He embarked at once for the steamer, which soon alter moved out of the harvor, acsompanied by two sinall steamers dressed with fags, carrying bands of music and a numerous crowd, Passing the Morro # gun Was tired. Thecrowd cheered in adieu, and auother Captain General sailed away, the insurrec- tion still existing; the straggie against the dominion of Spat tn this island still going on as fiercely as ever, With De Rodas went the late Intendente, Don Emitio Santos; the late Polttical Secretary, Cesario Fernandez, aud a cousiderabie number of employes thrown out by the change in administration, Accounts from the inesurrectionary districts indicate that advantage 1s being taken of the season ‘to press operations with energy. A movement trom which great results were anticipated has just been concluded by the arriva! of Brigadier Chiuchilla at Moron. ile started out some weeks since, explor- ing the coast from Guanaja to Savana la Mar, uu points from whe.ace comimunication is kept up by the Cubans with Nassau, and the mountain of Cubitas in the victuity, thence extending his operations through the mountains of La Carragua to Moron, ‘The hardships which the troops were couipeiled te undergo were of tue most unexampled character, owing to the bad weatuer and the condition of the roads, They were often compelled to march tn water up to their walst and ty encamp on ground where thelr foots.eps caused the water to ooze out, They were coftinually har assed by the band of Madrinales—one of the boldest and most successful of the insurgent chiefs. ‘The Spaniards report as the result the killing of twenty- two Cubans, including the cilef, Bencomo, and sun, and the secreluries of Cornelio Porro; but as that chief was not in that vicinity the statement is doubly less false. The “notorious diarlano Macnado”—a cliet never before heard of—1s also reported Killed, Througi Spanish sources from Cascoero, the 7th, we learti of the death of Tomas Agramonte, an tn- surgeut ofl Saucti Spiritus papers mention the narrow escape from capture of Beubata’s children, As he has no chiidren the story needs contirmation. Havana ts about to be supplied with water from a new source, being brought through pipes a distance of SLX or eight miles, running under the Almendares river. The water is from pure and limpid springs, and will supply a bg ay desideratuin he: The attacks upon the United States Cor eral here, Mr, Thomas Biddle, tn one of York dailies, 13 exciting much astonishment and move indignation in Havana, itis weil understood here that in the performance of his duties, whether in the ordinary routine of the Consulate, or in look- ing after the interests of American citizens, always in danger from the rapacity of Spanish offictais, he has displayed an ability and energy standing out in most Javorable contrast with lis predecessors sent out from Washington since the begluning of the in- surrection. He has the entire coaudence of the American residents, and has the respect and esteem of the authorities, without witch be could accom. plish little or nothing. Letter from the Jurisdiction of Holguin— Sketches of Afluirs Since the Beginning of the Lusurrection—The War of Extermina- tion—Tho Cubans Holding Their Owo—Want of Arms and Ammunition—Succossful Attack on Bariny—Capiure and Execution of Aur- recrechea. GrBara, Dee, 13, 1870, ‘Phis small village, on the north coast of the island, formerly containing some 1,400 inhabitants of all shades of color, but materially decreased since the war, derives its importance from belng the port of entry for Holguin and the other places in the Jurisdiction of that name. In January following the breaking out of the Insurrection in October, 1868, the Cubans held eatire possession of the jurisdiction save this place, having compelled the detachment of Spanish soldiers in Hoiguin to evacuate and make thetr way hither by circuitous routes as best they could. The defence of the place by the Spaniards was of the most herole character, lasting forty-five days, near the termination of which their supplies became exhausted, and they were obliged to kill and eat their horses. On taking possession the Oubans started a paper, then called. La Estrella de Cuba, the publication of whick continued dunag the time they occupied the piace, The houses were almost destroyed during the siege, the Spaniards sacking those that remained before their departure. None of these have been rebulit, and. the city, occue pied by troops, a few Spaniards and presentados presents a picture of utter desolation. The Cubans did not remain long, however, as mobilized voluuteers, under Colonel Benezazl, were sens here, before whom they retired to the country. This place wa3 attacked in the early part of January, 1869, by tha insurgents, and would have been captured but for a few pieces of artillery in the trenches, fol- lowing the occupation of Helguin, communt- cation between here and that point Was entirely cut off for months, save by a consider- able force. This place was almost constantly in a condition of siege, and de'aila of the combats be- tween the convoys moving inland and the insurgents gave interest to the correspondence from tis i tity. These combais were often very sanguin- ary. ‘The hardy sous of Holguin had left their cattle, farmis and tobacco plantations to meet the minions of a bated despotism, and, giving and receiv. ing no quarter, made crunson the soil of their birth, A band Known asthe “fhunder Company” was wont to fight with wonderful dash and reckiess- ness and with very geveral success too, though the a@osence Of arullery always preveated the Cuban forces from holding the tow: In the fall of 1809 reinforcements were sent here, military posts were cstabiisied at the more Prominent pots tWbroughout the jurisdiction ad the plan of operation by expeditionary columns throug the country was commenced. With it, Wo, practically commenced & war of exterminatio: kvery man was calied on to leave the country and present himself to the troops on penalty of death, and if he latled to do so. the penalty was certainly inflicted. The troops moved through the country, shoollug down every man they met, no matter how tanocent. Women, if caught, were grossiy malireated and, with welr chilaren, compelled to leave tier homes, wiere they gained a subsisieuce from the sot, and move into the towns, where they subsisted on clarity or starved, Tne natural regut followed, ‘he country became uninhabited, overrun with the luxuriant Yet useless vegelabics of the tropics. AS a navural Tesuli, too, every man was driven into the rauks of the insurgenis, Med with a bitterness of hatred Corresponding to the provocation, aud which has nm precedent in the world's history. Stantly recurring encounters the indict quite as great loss as they susta the most part on the defensive, they only atlack when hokling tno advantage or when @uxtous to obtain certain supplies. ‘Tney are in great want of arms and ammuniiion, once sup. lied with Which they could drive the few thousand jpwmish troops from the jurisdiction, In the latter part of November they appeared in the Partido (Polico di trict) of Bariay, and attacked two small Villages, called respectively Upper and Lower Bariay, entering the houses and shops, carrying off quantittes of rice, sait, coifee, hams and otier sup- plies. Troops were seat in pursult of them, but to no parpoes ‘The Spaniards here are at presentiuoliant over the re capture of the chief Aurreerocticx, a well pat and very active insurgem@™, who laa been operating In this bagels since the break- dng out of tae fapurroat . He was sethat bing pf literary he at one Within the insargent Ww: rom the Now York papers, As usual, when aDpy- thing 18 accomplished by the Spwotards, his cape ture was the work of preseniados, Guided by four Of these, some Of the volunteers of Holyula, dressed 4s Lositriects, penetraied He woods, passuyg several advance guards, ana found we generat ina ou with is recrotary and a body guard, consistl four negroes. The usual satutations passed, th voinnteers stated that they desred a conference with the citizen general, Wulch was granted. When Aurrecrectiea was inforaied who his yisiors were he atiemp.ou resistance, but was struck down by acute Jans in the hands of a corporal. With ht secretary, named Don Facunds Cuble, he was brongit to Hol’ guin on the loth and ehot on the 1th, He Was ® native of Venezuela and Hity years of age, 4 Some litle business 14 transac ed here, and for @ pince sO swall IL presenis @ lively appearanoa, Aste from supplymg the troops, some cattle are brougt in and sent to other parts of the island, ai Binal quantities Of tobacco, raised near those place: @urrisoned by the troops, are brongit here for ship. ment, ‘There Is one sugar estate in close proximity, Upon Which sume sugar Will bo raised Lhiy season, Letter from tae Cloco Villns—Charncter of Insurgent Forces—Thrcatened Barning ef Estutes—How They Are Protected=Operas tons fn the Nicltl—Herole Defence of an Tanurgent—A aid tho Vagrants. Sara Chaita, Dee, 10, 1870, The headquarters of the forces operating throughs Out Yie Cinvo Villas, wa the Aye districts of Villy Clara, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Remedios and Santf Espiritu are called, aro established at this place, and the troops are kept constantly in pursuit of marande, ing bands of moanted Insurgents, who seem deter mined to free thelr country, if ab all, by robyery apd Phllage. pe From ne description given me by an American, Who saw Ofe of these banda as It passed an estate on Which he was employed, the fumous company of Fal+ staf most have beeu well dressed and disctpiined ta comparison with them, They ave mostly made upof negrocs aud Chinamen, a@ tew native Cubans being in command, und are constantly on the move, evad- ing the forces in pursuit of tem. ‘To protect the estates from their ravages small detachments of from twenty-five to thirty men are placed upon them, under command of the planter, who is also permitved to arm such of his hands as can be relied ou, These have been thus far suficient for thelr protection, the tasurgeuts not dariag to attack them, As last year, so ul present, threats of exten: sive boriings are being made, but they f tem hobody. Soue wwe or tired estates have been dostroved in other Jooalitios—in Ctenfuegos and ‘Trigidad— bat thus far tubs vicinity has: ee ome lt Is expecied that the crops Wii equal, Lf pot sure pass, those of last your. ‘The column of “Napoles,” as it is called, has just returned from one of its eXpeiitious through the country. ‘Tuese are generaily followed by a gran+ diloquent repors of What bas been accor mae by the commander, Wav has nobody to con trudict tim, aud Witose interest It is to Make Bia Operations appear a8 successful as possible. In the expedition meulioned twenty-three iusurgents are reported killed, among them Don Antonio Entenza and Major Valentin Vargas, both of considerable Prominence tn the insucrection, Dou Kafael Oe+ pee Was taken prisoner, and wid be shot, A Mum er of boxes of AMMuULition Were capiured. ‘The Guardia Civil, a body of police, is constantly moving along the roads, and, being very Well dis- ciplined and fattuful, does much towards preserv- ing gooa order. Recently @ number of these came Upon turee insurgents, tue heroic defence of one of Whom has excited much adutiration here. OF the otlers one ran away, making his escape, and one was killed; the third stationed himself behind & pam tree and opened w brisk fire with & repeating rifle. He daugerously wounded one ot tie guard, sent a ball through the arm of the sergeant commanding, also wounding hig horse aud Keeping the whole party at bay until he fell, pierced by a ball Lurough the head. Upon oxaue iaing his body it Was ascertained that he had rer ceived ten balis from his adversaries, notwithstand. ing which be hud so well susaiued himself that the , Guard did not Know he had been strack. The tree betind which he stood was riddicd with balis, He was not identified With certaiuty, but is thought wo uate been the captain Of a baud und vamed Belem gora. The effect of the insurrection has been to throw Many out of employment, and to increase vagranoy to an alarming extent in iis Vicinity. 50 great has this evil become that the commanding general tag Jssued stringent orders to remedy tt, and the are] are making raids upon the vullard saloons ant ebber places of resort, arresting suck persons @3 are found there, ‘The natural effect of tls has been $0 create a flutter among the gamblers, thieves aud Vagabonds in general, many of whom will doubt. less be driven to the country and to urms againss the government by tue arbitrary micasures of the auLhortics, F Insurgents Outside of Puerto Principe—Ilow Supplies Are Obtained—A Tannery De- atroyed. PUERTO PRINCIPE, Dec. 13, 1870, The tasurgents continue in the vicimity of this city, and there Is no safety outside of the forts, But re. cently a white man and four negroes went outside to forage and were all killed by & party of Cubans, All the cattic for the supply of the city are obtamed by cetachments of troops that are sent through the country for that purpose, aud on every occasion with considerav.e loss, The coutra-guerriilas arrived oo th With 240 head, much to the satisfaction of the bilaats, as the supply had become very small. Mt Operauions have been marked by no spectal interest, During the latter part of last month the contra-guerrillas were guided to an extensive ta: hery, Which had been iu operation for many mont: turbing out large quantities of leather, Ochers are known to exist, but the ch of the country 1a such that they are never discovered save through some tratior, Among the presentados the name of Felix Hernandez, a Well Kuown citizen Of this place, appears. Letter from Santiago do Cuba—Great Destruce Uon of EstatesPeoplo Crowding into the City—Cholera Broken Out Among Them—A Panic—Miitary OperatiousNews from Las Tunas, ANTIAGO DE Cun, Dec. 11, 1970, Matters present a most gloomy appearance in this cily, and never since the breaking out of the insur- rection was the depression so general and tor such good reason. Tho destruction of estates by the in- surgents for the past two months has been. very great and ts continuing, despite the efforts of the troops, and already hopes of a crop of any import ance are gone. The planters have been compelled to abandon their places, bring their uegroes, and hundreds of the poorer people are rushing Into the cily, fearing to be encompassed Within the imsur- gent lines and killed Mf found there by the troops, Crowded Lato fithy tenements, without wholesome food, and, indeed, with litte of any Kind, # cholera bas broken out among them and is now rag. ing with great viruieace. Large numbers are dying daily and @ perfect panic @Xists amoug the iatable tants. ‘fue governinent bas caused notices to be publishea stating that there f ala ut they have little i tions ple called upon to ex the ave been taken and tho peo ise cleanliness and care in t—superfuous advice to those Who are starving. Of military operations we know litte, According to ollicial reports the troops continue moving through the country, winning constant victories) but no good result ts ever seen, and it is known that no coulidence whatever can be placed in the state. ments, ‘The death of the clue, Antonio Rivero, ta reporied. We bave information from Las Tunas, io the jurisdiction of that name, to the 2st ult, Tite place i occupied by & detachment of troops, and communication with the outer World is seldom, A force had gone out and continued tts march for ter Jeagues without meeung with any insurgents, It was then attacked by a force under Farona, Gar- cid aud Ramou Pena, which tired upon the column from the wood acd compelled its return, harassed for most of the distance, The Spauiards state that tue last named chief was Killed. Two Men Severcly Injured—One of Them. at the Point of Death—Melancholy Details. A very loud report was heard tn the vicinity of the intersection of Gold and Tilary streets, Brooklyn, at about a quarter past five o'clock last evening, which startled the neighborhood and gave rise ta the momentary lear that an earihquake was in pro gresa. Such was not the case, however. But im quiry developed the fact that an explosion had oo curred th No. 165 Gold street. The circumstances of tie case are these:—Martin Flizgerald and Joho Walsh, both young men, laborers, were employed to work in @ tenement house in Bridge st near Taliman. They were engaged in removing ruvbish from the gellar, “Late in the atternoon they discovered & small copper box, Ugitty sealed, and, beleving that it contained wax, they secreted it, and brought it to their home to delve into the reas ure. Once there they placed the box ide a stove, in order to melt ti Jen -seams. Meantime the two men stood around, superinteuding the epera- tion, when, without the slightest warning, a tear- fuk explosion took place. The two — unfore tunate wen were thrown to the farthest end of the room, and the windows were blown out. i itzgerait was feariully burned, and t6 Js believed fatally, He was taken to the City Hospi- tal, whither he was followed by his widowed mother, Who was bemoaning in piteous tones the” sad ailiction with which 1t had pleased Divine Providence to visit her, she ing lost all her onl dren during the past year, John Walsl was also badiy injured, but was notsent to tie hospital, The “internal machine’—for such it may be termed—was left tn the coe. by a sea captain, it 13 believed, who recently moved out of the buliding. The contents af the box were evidently altro-;