striking to justify the somewhat extravagant assertion made about
them. The ornamentation is indeed peculiar and tasteful, but
aside from that, we see no reason to speak of them as magnificent
structures. The buildings are low and narrow; the rooms are
small, dark, and illy ventilated. “Light could only have been
admitted from one side, and the apertures for this purpose were
neither lofty nor broad.” Mr. Bandelier fittingly characterizes
the ruins as the “barbaric effort of a barbarous people.” Those
scholars who think we have in Mexico the ruins of a highly
civilized, powerful empire, regard these ruins as in some way set
aside for mourning purposes of the royal family. “According to
tradition,” says Mayer, “They were . . . intended as the places
of sepulture for their princes. At the death of members of the
royal family, their bodies were entombed in the vaults beneath;
and the sovereign and his relatives retired to mourn over the
departed scion in the chambers above these solemn abodes,
screened by dark and silent groves from the public eye.” Another
tradition devotes the edifices to a sect of priests, whose duty
it was to live in perfect seclusion, and offer expiatory
sacrifices for the royal dead who reposed in the vaults
beneath.45
With all due respect to traditions, we think a much more
reasonable explanation can be given. One reason why Mitla has
been regarded as such an important place, is because it has been
assumed that there were no other ruins like it, especially in
Mexico. This, according to Mr. Bandelier, is a mistake. He
examined one or two quite similar ruins in the near vicinity, and
at another place he found a group of ruins in every way worthy of
being compared to Mitla, but he was not able to examine them. So
we must either decide there were a number of these “Sepulchral
Palaces,” or else adopt some simpler explanation. But still
stronger is the fact, that at the time of the conquest, Mitla was
an inhabited pueblo. We have the account of a monk who visited it
in 1533. He mentions in particular the ornamentation of the
walls, the huge doorways, and the hall with the pillars. It is
extremely probable that if it was devoted to any such purpose,
some mention would have been made of it. We think Mr. Bandelier
is right when he concludes that these structures are communal
buildings, but little different from others.
As for the other ruins in Oaxaca, we will not stop longer to
examine them. At Guingola, in the southern part of the State, was
found a ruined settlement. The principal ruins were located on
the summit of a fortified hill, which, from a brief description,
must have been much like those we have already described.
We will now turn our attention to the Gulf-coast. The whole coast
region abounds in great numbers of ruins. It is in this section,
however, that tribes of people belonging to a different family
than the Nahua tribes, were living at no very distant time in the
past. So it is not doubted but that many of these ruined
structures, perhaps the majority of them, were the works of their
hand. When Cortez landed on the coast, in the neighborhood of
Vera Cruz, he was received by the Totonacas. These were a Nahua
tribe, but both to the north and south of them were Maya
tribes.46 We will, however, describe the ruins in the present
State of Vera Cruz under one head.
We notice, on the coast, the Gulf of Tampico, into which pours
the river Panuco. From an antiquarian point of view, this is a
most interesting locality. It was here that a feeble remnant of
De Soto’s disastrous expedition found a refuge in 1543. And it
was here that, at a far earlier period, according to the dim,
uncertain light of tradition, the ancestors of some of the
civilized nations of Mexico made their first appearance; of this,
more hereafter. Certain it is that, commencing at this river, we
find ourselves in a land of ruins.
It is to be regretted, however, that our information is not
definite in regard to them. We are told, in general terms, of a
great field of ruins, but in the absence of cuts, can scarcely
give a clear description of them. On the northern bank of the
Panuco, Mr. Norman found at one place the ground “strewn with
hewn blocks of stone and fragments of pottery and obsidian.”47
They were found over an area of several square miles. Many of the
blocks of stone were ornamented with sculpture. They imply the
presence, in former times, of some kind of buildings. We can not
form an opinion as to the number, style, etc. Mr. Norman regards
them as the ruins of a great city, the site of which is now
covered with a heavy forest.
Amongst these ruins are about twenty mounds, both circular and
square, from six to twenty-five feet in height. Some authorities
think that the Mound Builders went by water from near the mouth
of the Mississippi to this region. To such as place any real
reliance on this theory, these mounds are full of interest. But
some details of construction would seem to indicate a different
people as their builders than those who reared mounds in the Gulf
States of the Mississippi Valley. The main body of the mound is
earth, but they are faced with hewn blocks of sandstone, eighteen
inches square and six inches thick. Although one of the mounds is
quite large, covering two acres, yet in but one instance was a
terraced arrangement noticed. As a general thing, the facing of
stone had fallen to the ground, and some of the smaller mounds
had caved in; showing, perhaps, that they were used as burial
mounds. In other cases the mounds had entirely disappeared,
leaving the stone facing on the surface. This may account for
some of the stones scattered over the surface. A few miles away
there is another group of circular mounds.
Across the river in Vera Cruz, from very slight mention, we
gather that, substantially, the same kind of ruins occur. At
Chacuaco the ruins are said to cover three square leagues—but we
have no further account of them than that. Small relics of
aboriginal art are said to be common, and mention is made of
mounds. The antiquities of Vera Cruz are a topic about which it
is very difficult to form correct ideas. It will be noticed that
it presents a long stretch of country to the Gulf. The land near
the coast is low, and very unhealthy. About thirty miles from the
coast we strike the slope of the mountains bounding the great
interior plateau. This section is fertile and healthy, and was,
evidently, thickly settled in early times. We must remember that
it is always in a mountainous section of country that a people
make their last stand against an invading foe. It was in these
mountain chains where the Maya tribes made their last stand
against the invading Nahua tribes, and even this line was pierced
through by the Tonacas.
It is not strange, then, to find abundant evidence of former
occupation in all this section of country. One thing in its favor
was the number of easily defended positions. The country is cut
up by deep ravines. The early inhabitants used all the land that
was at all available for agricultural purposes. On steep slopes
they ran terraces to prevent the soil from washing. In the
smaller ravines they located great numbers of water-tanks, from
which, in the dry season, they procured water to irrigate their
land. Of this section, we are told, “there is hardly a foot of
ground in the whole State of Vera Cruz in which, by excavation,
either a broken obsidian knife, or a broken piece of pottery, is
not found. The whole country is intersected with parallel lines
of stones, which were intended, during the heavy showers of the
rainy season, to keep the earth from washing away. The number of
these lines of stones shows clearly that even the poorest land,
which nobody in our day would cultivate, was put under
requisition by them.”48
Papantla.
They no less conclusively show that a considerable body of people
had here been pressed by foreign invasion into a small,
contracted space. It is useless to attempt a more particular
description of these ruins. In the absence of cuts, the
description would only prove tiresome. Pyramids, both with and
without buildings on their summits, are comparatively frequent.
As they would be noticed where other ruins would be overlooked,
we have some cuts of the more remarkable ones. The preceding cut
is the pyramid at Papantla.
The base is ninety feet square, and the pyramid has seven
stories, as seen in the engraving. Only the last one contains
apartments; with this exception, the pyramid is solid. Stairways
in front lead up to the top. Mr. Mayer says “there is no doubt,
from the mass of ruins spread over the plain, that the city was
more than a mile and a half in circuit.” But we have no further
description of them. Other localities with pyramids and ruins are
known. At Tusapan occurs this ruin, which may be taken as a type
of all the pyramids in this region. This was the only building
remaining standing at Tusapan; but, from the ruins lying about,
this is not supposed to have been the grandest structure there.
Tusapan.
This will complete what we have to say of the ruins in territory
occupied by the Nahua tribes. Other remains of their handiwork we
will examine when we treat of their customs and manners. We will
now turn our attention to the ruins in the territory of the
Mayas. As the culture of these two people is so similar, we will
devote but one chapter to the two. Comparison is the great means
we have of fixing in the mind points we wish to keep. We have to
admit that the treatment of the Nahua ruins is not very
satisfactory; but it is difficult to obtain accurate information
in regard to them. We think what resemblance can be traced, is
more in the direction of the Pueblo tribes than of the Mound
Builders. The first ruin found in Mexico, Casa Grandes, in
Chihuahua, is evidently but another station of Pueblo tribes.
The fortified hill at Quemada is apparently but a further
development of the clustering houses with the little inclosures
noticed on the Gila. Mounds are, indeed, mentioned in a number of
localities, but they seem to be more nearly related to the
terraced foundation of buildings observed in Arizona than to the
mounds of the Mississippi Valley. Surely as striking a ruin as
any is at Mitla, but Mr. Bandelier does not hesitate to compare
it with some in the Pueblo country. Now, it is very unsafe and
very unsatisfactory to trace resemblances of this kind, and we do
not assign any especial value to them. But it only shows that, so
far as this method is of use, it points to a closer connection
with the Pueblo tribes than with the Mound Builders.
REFERENCES
Gregory’s “History of Mexico,” p. 19.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. II, p. 92.
The _Tierra Caliente._
Ober’s “Mexican Resources,” p. 2.
“Mexico As It Was,” p. 221.
“Six Months in Mexico,” p. 386.
Mayer: “Mexico As It Was,” p. 234.
Thompson’s “Mexico,” p. 144.
Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 526.
“Rambles in Mexico,” p. 140.
“Gratacap, in _American Antiquarian,_ October, 1883, p. 310.
“Native Races,” Vol. II, pp. 168-173.
As to this hill, Mr. Bandelier remarks: “As a salient and
striking object, and on account of the freshwater springs,
Chapultepec was worshiped, but I find no trace among older
authors of any settlement there—still less of a Summer palace—
at the time of the conquest.” “Report of an Archæological Tour
in Mexico,” p. 73.
Charney in _North American Review,_ September, 1880, p. 190.
“Recollections of Mexico,” p. 140.
We have several times remarked that it is not safe to judge
prehistoric population by the amount of ruins. “Indians never
rebuild on ruins or repair them.”
Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV., p. 537.
Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 547.
The ceilings in the pueblos of Arizona were often made of poles
covered with cement. See Chapter XI.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 550.
Bandelier: “Fifth Annual Report Arch. Inst.,” p. 86.
Bancroft’s “Native Faces,” Vol. IV, p. 610.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 613.
“Fifth Annual Report,” p. 86.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 581. These dimensions
are different in different accounts, as may be seen by
consulting Mr. Bancroft’s work.
_Lyons’s Journal._ From Mayer’s “Mexico As It Was,” p. 243.
There is something of a similarity between these ruins and
those of the coast tribes of Peru.
Another authority states that it is thirty feet square and
thirty feet high. Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 587,
note.
As seen in the Drawing. Mr. Lyons states there are seven
stories.
This was Clavigaro. Mayer’s “Mexico As It Was,” p. 245.
Thompson’s “Recollections of Mexico,” p. 29.
“An Archæological Tour in Mexico,” p. 163.
The altitude varies according to the side where the measurement
is taken. The average height is about one hundred and seventy
feet.
To be described hereafter.
See Chapter XI.
Different explorers give different figures.
Taylor’s “Anahuac,” p. 184.
“Mexico As It Was,” p. 180.
Mayer: “Mexico As It Was,” p. 184.
This is in strict keeping with what we have seen to be true of
their pueblo sites. This is the conclusion of Mr. Bandelier,
who discusses this subject in his essay on “Art of War Among
the Mexicans.” Peabody Museum Reports, Vol. II, p. 146, note
186.
Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 419.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” 393, note.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 395.
Bandelier: “An Archæological Tour in Mexico,” p. 295.
Mayer: “Mexico As It Was,” pp. 251-2.
Valentine, in “Proceedings Am. Antiq. Soc.,” Oct., 1882.
Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 595.
“Smithsonian Report,” 1873, p. 373.
Chapter XIV
THE MAYA TRIBES.
The geographical location of the Maya tribes—Description of
Copan—Statue at Copan—Altars at Copan—Ruins at Quiriga
Patinamit—Utatlan—Description of Palenque—The Palace at
Palenque—The Temple of the Three Inscriptions—Temple of the
Beau-relief—Temple of the Cross—Temple of the Sun—Maler’s Temple
of the Cross—Significance of the Palenque crosses—Statue at
Palenque—Other ruins in Tobasco and Chiapas—Ruins in
Yucatan—Uxmal—The Governor’s House—The Nunnery—Room in
Nunnery—The sculptured façades—Temple at
Uxmal—Kabah—Zayi—Labna—Labphak—Chichen-Itza—The Nunnery—The
Castillo—The Gymnasium—M. Le Plongon’s researches—The tradition
of the Three Brothers—Chaac-mol—Antiquity of Chichen.
Inthe Central American region of the Western Continent are found
the ruins of what are pronounced by all scholars to be the
highest civilization, and the most ancient in time, of any in the
New World. There it arose, flourished, and tottered to its fall.
Its glory had departed, its cities were a desolation, before the
coming of the Spaniards. The explorer who would visit them finds
himself confronted with very great difficulties. Their location
is in a section of the country away from the beaten track of
travel. Their sites are overspread with the luxuriant vegetation
of tropical lands, through which the Indian’s machete must carve
a passage. The states in which they are situated are notorious
for anarchy and misrule, and the climate is such that it is
dangerous for those not acclimated to venture thither during a
large part of the year. So it is not strange that but few have
wandered among these ruins, and described them to the world at
large.
Map of Central America.
But the accounts thus presented are interesting in the extreme,
though they have raised many questions that have thus far defied
solution. There is no doubt but what there exist large groups of
ruins not yet described, structures and monuments which might,
perhaps, throw some light on a past that now seems hopelessly
lost. But the ruins thus far described are so numerous, their
similarity is so evident, that we feel we have but little to hope
from such undiscovered ruins. There are, doubtless, richly
ornamented façades, grotesquely sculptured statues, and
hieroglyphic-covered altars, but they would prove as much of an
enigma as those already known. Our only hope is that some
fortunate scholar will yet discover a key by whose aid the
hieroglyphics now known may be read. Then, but not until then,
will the darkness that now enshrouds ancient Maya civilization be
dissipated.
As will be seen from a glance at the map, the most important
ruins are in the modern states of Honduras, Guatemala, Chiapas,
and especially Yucatan, the northern portion of this peninsula
being literally studded with them. The river Usumacinta and its
numerous tributaries flowing in a northern direction through
Chiapas is regarded as the original home of the civilization
whose ruins we are now to describe. From whence the tribes came
that first settled in this valley is as yet an unsettled point.
We notice that we have here another instance of the influence
that fertile river valleys exert upon tribes settling therein.
The stories told us of the civilization that flourished in
primitive times in the valleys of the Euphrates and the Nile are
not more wonderful—the ruins perhaps not more impressive—than are
the traditions still extant, or the material remains fallen in
picturesque ruins, of the civilization that once on a time held
sway in the Usumacinta Valley.
One of the most famous groups of ruins in this section of the
country is that of Copan, situated in Honduras, but very near the
Guatemala line. This is commonly spoken of as “the oldest city in
America,”1 and has some evidence to substantiate this claim.
Whatever be its relative antiquity, it is doubtless very old, as
it was probably in ruins at the time of the conquest. There are
several facts going to prove this assertion. When Cortez, in
1524, made his march to Honduras, he passed within a few leagues
of this place. He makes no mention of it, which he would have
been very apt to do had it been inhabited. Fifty years later
Garcia De Palacio made a report on these ruins to the king of
Spain. According to this report, it was then in much the same
state as described by modern travelers, and the same mystery
surrounded it, showing that it must have been in ruin much longer
than the short space of time from the conquest to the date of his
report. But few travelers have visited Copan, and fewer still
have left a good description of it. Mr. Stephens, accompanied by
Mr. Catherwood, explored it in 1839, and this constitutes our
main source of information.2
We feel that here is the place to speak a word of caution. In
common with other writers, we have used the word cities, in
speaking of the ruins of Maya civilization. In view of the
criticisms that have been freely expressed by some of the best
scholars of American ethnology, as to the generally accepted view
of the civilization of the Mexican and Central American races, it
is necessary to be on our guard as to the language employed. In
the case of Copan, for instance, all the remains known, occur in
an irregularly inclosed space of about nine hundred by sixteen
hundred feet, while but a portion of such inclosed space is
covered by the ruins themselves. Now it can, of course, be said
that this space contains simply the remains of public buildings,
so to speak—such as temples, palaces, and others—while the
habitations of the great body of the common people, poorly built,
and located outside of this area, may have vanished away. But, on
the other hand, it may also be that in this small area we have
the ruins of all the buildings that ever stood at Copan. In which
case the word city is a misnomer; pueblo would be more
appropriate. But looking at them in the simplest light, we shall
find there is still a great deal to excite astonishment.
Fragments of the wall originally inclosing the area in which are
located the temple pyramids and statues, are still to be found.
Very few particulars have been given of this wall. It was made of
blocks of stone, and seems to have been twenty-five feet thick at
the base, but the height is not given. The northern half of this
area is occupied by a large terrace, somewhat irregular in
outline, and impressed Mr. Stephens with the idea that it had not
all been erected at the same time, but additions had been made
from time to time. Instead of describing the ruins in full, we
will let the illustration speak for itself. The dimensions of
this terrace are, six hundred and twenty-four feet by eight
hundred and nine feet. The side fronting on the river was
perpendicular. The other three sides consist of ranges of steps
and pyramidal structures. All these steps and pyramidal sides
were once painted. The general height of the terrace was about
seventy feet above the surface of the ground.
Ruins of Copan.
Though Mr. Stephens warns us that this terrace was not as large
as the base of the Pyramid of Ghizeh, still it must have required
an immense amount of work, since careful computations show that
over twenty-six million cubic feet of stone were used in its
construction. This stone was brought from the quarries two miles
away. We must not forget that this work was performed by a people
destitute of metallic tools.
On the terrace were the ruins of four pyramids, one rising to the
height of one hundred and twenty-two feet. The surface of the
terrace was not continuous. In two places there were court-yards,
or sunken areas. The larger is ninety by one hundred and
forty-four feet, and has a narrow passage-way leading into it
from the north. Whatever buildings that once stood on this
terrace, have vanished away. At one place only, on the terrace,
fronting the river, are the remains of small, circular towers,
thought to have been watch towers. The whole terrace was thickly
overgrown by trees of a tropical growth. Mr Stephens noticed two
immense Ceiba trees growing from the very summit of one of the
pyramids. This structure has been called the Temple, and a great
many surmises have been made as to the scenes once enacted there.
If analogous to other structures in Central America, this terrace
was surmounted with buildings. They may have been temples or
palaces, or they may have been communal houses, not unlike those
of New Mexico, to the north.
But of more importance than the ruins of this temple, are the
statues and altars peculiar to this region. Mr. Stephens found
fourteen of them. It seems very singular, indeed, to come upon
these statues in the depth of a Central American forest, and they
give us an idea of the state of advancement of these old tribes
that nothing else does. They raise many queries. Why is it that
so many are found here—so few elsewhere? Are they statues of
noted personages, or idols? We are powerless to answer these
questions. These secrets will only be yielded up when the
hieroglyphics with which they are covered shall be read.
The places where these statues are found is seen to the right of
the main body of ruins. It will be seen that only one is within
the terrace area of the temple. Three others are situated near
it, but the majority are near the southern end of the inclosure.
We are not given the dimensions of all, but the smallest one
given is eleven feet, eight inches high, by three feet, four
inches width and depth; the largest, thirteen feet high, four
feet wide, and three feet deep. No inconsiderable part of the
labor on the statues must have been that of quarrying the large
blocks of stone out of which they were carved, and transporting
them to the place where found. They came from the same quarry as
the other stones used in building; and so were transported a
distance of about two miles. Mr. Stephens found, about midway to
the quarry, a gigantic block, “which was probably on its way
thither, to be carved and set up as an ornament, when the labors
of the workmen were arrested.”
Copan Statue.
There is such a similarity in all these statues that a
representation of one will suffice. This is the representation of
one of the largest statues. It is seen to be standing on a sort
of pedestal. A face occupies a central position on the front.
Some of the faces have what may be a representation of a beard.
In all but one, the expression is calm and peaceful. They were
once painted red. Traces of color were still visible at the time
of Mr. Stephens’s visit. In all but one the hands are represented
as placed back to back on the breast.
The complicated headdress and the ornaments on the robes utterly
defy description. The sides and back of the statues are covered
with hieroglyphics, though now and then a face is introduced. A
side view of another statue shows this feature. All are convinced
that we have in these hieroglyphics an explanation of each
statue, but what it is, is yet unknown. Mr. Stephens says: “Of
the moral effect of the monuments themselves, standing as they
do, in the depths of a tropical forest, silent and solemn,
strange in design, excellent in sculpture, rich in ornament,
different from the works of any other people; their uses and
purposes—their whole history—so entirely unknown, with
hieroglyphics explaining all, but perfectly unintelligible, I
shall not pretend to convey any idea. Often the imagination was
pained in gazing at them. The tone which pervades the ruins is
that of deep solemnity.”
In front of most of the statues is what is called an altar, which
would seem to imply that these monuments are really idols. “The
altars, like the idols, are all of a single block of stone. In
general, they are not so richly ornamented, and are more faded
and worn, or covered with moss. Some were completely buried, and
of others it was difficult to make out more than the form. All
differed in position, and doubtless had some distinct and
peculiar reference to the idols before which they stood.”
Statue, Copan.
These altars are strongly suggestive of sacrificial scenes. The
altar before the idol found in the court-yard on the terrace of
the temple, is one of the most interesting objects found at
Copan. It is six feet square and four feet high. The top is
divided into thirty-six tablets of hieroglyphics which we may
well imagine records some events in the history of this
mysterious people. Each side has carved on it four human figures.
They are generally all represented as facing the same way. We
give an illustration of the east side. Each individual is sitting
cross-legged on a hieroglyphic, and has a ponderous head-dress.
Hieroglyphics, top of Altar.
Mr Stephens found the quadrangle at the south-east corner of the
plan to be thickly strewn with fragments of fine sculpture.
Amongst the rest was a “remarkable portrait.” (Shown later.) “It
is probably the portrait of some king, chieftain, or sage. The
mouth is injured, and part of the ornament over the wreath that
crowns the head. The expression is noble and severe, and the
whole character shows a close imitation of nature.” Colonel
Gallindo, who visited Copan in 1835, discovered a vault very near
where the circular towers are located, on the terrace fronting
the river. This vault was five feet wide, ten feet long, and four
feet high. It was used for burial purposes. Over fifty vessels of
red pottery, containing human bones, were found in it.3
Bas-relief, East Side of Altar.
In this hasty sketch we do not feel that we have done justice to
Copan. It is, however, all the space we can devote to this
interesting ruin. We call special attention to the hieroglyphics
on the altar and the statues. We will find other hieroglyphics at
Palenque, and in Yucatan, evidently derived from these.4 They
have been made the subject of very interesting study, and we will
refer to them again at another page. We also notice especially
the fact that we have no ruined buildings at Copan. In this
respect it stands almost alone among the Central American ruins.
The distinguishing features, however, are the carved obelisks.
They are evidently not the work of rude, people. Mr. Stephens,
who was every way qualified to judge, declares that some of them
“are in every way equal to the finest Egyptian workmanship, and
that with the best instruments of modern times, it would be
impossible to cut stone more perfectly.”
Portrait, Copan.
A dark mystery hangs over these ruins. Their builders are
unknown. Whether we have here some temple sacred to the gods of
the Maya pantheon or some palace made resplendent for royal
owners, who can tell? Whether these are the ruins of the more
substantial public buildings of a great city, of which all other
buildings have vanished—or whether this is the remains of a
prosperous pueblo, whose communal houses crowded the terraces,
with sacrificial altars on the lofty pyramids—who knows? At long
intervals a passing traveler visits them, ponders over their fast
disappearing ruins, and goes his way. The veil drops, the
tropical forest more securely environs them—and thus the years
come and go over the ruins of Copan.
Nearly north from Copan (see map), about half-way to the coast,
on the bank of the river Montagua, is found a small hamlet, by
the name of Quiriga. Mr. Stephens, when traveling in the country
in 1840, after many careful inquiries, heard of ruins near that
place. Though not able to explore them himself, his companion,
Mr. Catherwood, did. The result of this gentleman’s exertion
makes us acquainted with another group of ruins, in many respects
similar to those of Copan, though apparently much farther gone in
decay. His visit was a very hurried one; and he was not able to
clear the moss away from the statues so as to draw them as it
should be done.5
We must notice that, though called a city, all the monuments and
fragments thus far brought to light are scattered over a space of
some three thousand square feet. No plan has been given. We
gather, however, from Stephens’s work, that a pyramidal wall
inclosed the ruins, as at Copan.6 No dimensions of this wall are
given. Within the inclosure (if such it was) was a terrace. Here,
again, dimensions are not given; but we are told it was about
twenty-five feet to the top, and that the steps were, in some
places, still perfect. It was constructed of neatly cut sandstone
blocks. No monuments or altars were observed on the terrace, but
in close proximity to it were fragments of sculpture. At another
place near the wall, Mr. Catherwood mentions eight standing
statues, one fallen one, and saw fragments of at least thirteen
others. They are represented as being very similar to those of
Copan, but two or three times as high. The hieroglyphics are
pronounced identical with those already described.
There are no traditions extant of these ruins. No thorough
exploration has been made. A city may have stood there; but, if
so, its name is lost, its history unknown. “For centuries it has
lain as completely buried as if covered with the lava of
Vesuvius. Every traveler from Yzabel to Guatemala has passed
within three hours of it. We ourselves have done the same; and
yet there it lay, like the rock-built city of Edom, unvisited,
unsought, and utterly unknown.”
A large extent of territory in Guatemala and Yucatan is as yet an
unknown country, or at least has never been thoroughly explored.
Strange stories have flitted here and there of wonders yet to be
seen. The country swarms with savages, living in much the same
state as they were when the Spaniards invaded the country. They
have never been conquered, and, in the rugged fastnesses of their
land, bid defiance to all attempts to civilize them. From all we
can learn, there are numerous groups of ruins scattered here and
there—but of their nature we are, as yet, mostly in the dark.
We have, indeed, historical notices of a few places; but, as the
color of an object is the same as that of the medium through
which it is viewed, we can not help thinking that the glamour of
romance, which the early Spanish writers threw around all their
transactions in the New World, has woefully distorted these
sketches. This same effect is to be noticed in all the
descriptions of the ruins. Where one party sees the ruins of
imperial cities, another can detect but the ruins of imposing
pueblos, with their temples and pyramids. It can be truthfully
stated, that this is a land of ruins. Every few leagues, as far
as it has been explored, are the remains of structures that
excite astonishment.
The meager reports given us raise our curiosity, but fail to
satisfy it. Almost all explorers relate stories of the existence
of an aboriginal city. The location of this city shifts from
place to place; always, however, in a section of country where no
white men are allowed to intrude. The Curé of Santa Cruz, in whom
Mr. Stephens expressed confidence, declared that he had, years
before, climbed to the summit of a lofty sierra, and then “he
looked over an immense plain, extending to Yucatan and the Gulf
of Mexico, and saw, at a great distance, a large city, spread
over a great space, with turrets white and glittering in the
sun.” We are afraid a search for this mythical city would be
attended with much the same results as rewards the child’s
pursuit of a golden treasure at the end of the rainbow.
As a sample of known ruins, we might cite two in the immediate
neighborhood of Quirigua. At the distance of a few leagues, both
above and below this latter place, are the remains of former
settlements. The accounts are very brief. Of the ruins below, we
are informed that they consist of the remains of a quadrilateral
pyramid, with traced sides, up which steps lead to the summit
platform, where _débris_ of hewn stone are enveloped in dense
vegetation.” Of the ruins located above Quirigua, we are simply
told “of a large area covered with aboriginal relics—in the form
of ruined stone structures, vases and idols of burned clay, and
monoliths, buried for the most part in the earth.”
These descriptions will serve as samples of many others, and,
though they are interesting in their way, we are afraid they
would grow tiresome by repetition. We will, therefore, only make
mention of one or two important points; premising, however, that,
beyond a doubt, similar ruins are scattered up and down the river
valleys of the entire country.7
Two cities of ancient Guatemala especially mentioned by Spanish
writers are Utatlan and Patinamit. Here, if we may believe their
recitals, were the capitals of two powerful monarchies. The
pictures they draw for us are those of cities of Oriental
magnificence. The system of government they describe is that of
absolute monarchy, founded on feudalism. We will briefly glance
at the remains of these “imperial cities.” Their location is seen
on the map. The approach to Patinamit is very difficult, indeed.
Situated on a high table-land, it commands an almost boundless
view. On every side are immense ravines, and the only way of
entering it was by a narrow passage cut in the side of the
ravine, twenty or thirty feet deep, and not wide enough for two
horsemen to ride abreast.
Mr. Stephens mentions coming to a wall of stone, but broken and
confused. The ground beyond was covered with mounds of ruins, and
in one place he saw the foundations of two buildings, one of them
being one hundred and fifty by fifty feet. He does not give us
the area covered by the ruins, but there is nothing in his
description to make us think it very large in extent. He also
quotes for us Fuentes’s description of this same place, written,
however, one hundred and forty years earlier. In this he speaks
of the remains of a magnificent building, perfectly square, each
side measuring one hundred paces, constructed of hewn stones,
extremely well put together. In front of the building is a large
square, on one side of which stand the ruins of a sumptuous
palace; and near to it are the foundations of several houses.8 He
also asserts that traces of streets could still be seen, and that
they were straight and spacious, crossing each other at right
angles. Fuentes certainly had remarkable eyes. He wrote a
description of Copan which not only differs from all accounts of
modern travelers, but also from the still earlier description by
Garcia De Palacio.9
Patinamit means “The City,” and is represented as the capital
city of the Cakchiquel “monarchy.” The site of the city was
certainly admirably chosen for defense, and we have no doubt but
what here was the head-quarters of a powerful tribe of Indians;
but, until scholars have settled some very disputed points about
the civilization of the Central American nations, we must be
cautious in the use of the words monarchy and palaces as applied
to these old people or these ruins.
Thirty-five or forty miles north-eastward from Patinamit we come
to the ruins of the most renowned city in Guatemala at the time
of the conquest. This was Utatlan, the Quiche capital, a city
which the Spaniards compared to Mexico in magnificence, and
which, at the time of its destruction, was at its zenith of
prosperity. The location was very similar to that of Patinamit.
It also stood on an elevated plateau, with immense ravines on
every side. It was approached only at one point, and guarding
this one point of approach was a line of fortifications. They
consisted of the remains of stone buildings, probably towers. The
stones were well cut and laid together. These fortifications were
united by a ditch.
Within this line of towers stood a structure, generally regarded
as a fort, directly guarding the line of approach. Steps led up a
pyramidal structure having three terraces, one over the other.
The top was protected by a wall of stone, and from the center
rose a tower. Beyond this fort was the ruins of the city. Mr.
Stephens describes a large ruin which is called The Palace. It is
said, in round numbers, to have been eleven hundred by twenty-two
hundred feet. As this area is more than fifty-five acres in
extent, we can see it was not a palace in our sense of the word.
The stones of which it was composed have been largely removed to
build the modern town of Santa Cruz. But the floor could still be
traced, and some remains of partition walls. The floor was still
covered with hard cement.
Adjoining the palace was a large plaza or court-yard, also
cemented, in the center of which was the ruins of a fountain.
Another structure still remaining was a small pyramid, at the top
of which was probably a temple, or, at least, a place of
sacrifice. No hieroglyphics or statues have been found here. A
few terra-cotta figures have been found, and one small gold
image. It would seem from this description that the ruins simply
consist of a few large structures. For aught we know, they may
have been communal houses.
Mr. Stephens, however, condenses Fuentes’s account, which is
truly wonderful. According to him, the center of the city was
occupied by the royal palaces, around which were grouped the
houses of the nobles. The extremities were inhabited by the
plebeians. He tells us there were many sumptuous buildings, the
most superb of which was a seminary, where between five and six
thousand children were educated at royal expense. The palace was
formed of hewn stones of various colors. There were six principal
divisions. In one was lodged the king’s body-guard, in the second
the princes and the relatives of the king, and so forth.
It is not necessary to remind the reader that it is very doubtful
whether such a state of things ever existed. It is related, for
instance, that the king marched from Utatlan with seventy-two
thousand warriors to repel the attack of Alvarade. This would
indicate a total population of between two and three hundred
thousand souls. It seems to us that a city of that size would not
so completely disappear in a little over three centuries that a
careful explorer could find only the ruins of a few large
buildings.
We do not feel that we have done near justice to the ruins of
Guatemala. As we have before remarked, there are, doubtless, many
ruins not yet brought to light. They are rapidly disappearing,
and we do not know that we will ever possess a description of
them, or understand their real import. The light of history,
indeed, fell on the two groups of ruins last described. But the
Spanish writers were totally unacquainted with Indian society,
and may, therefore, have widely erred in applying to their
government terms suited only to European ideas of the sixteenth
century. And it is not doubted but that their estimate of the
population of the towns, and of the enemies with which they had
to contend, were often greatly overdrawn. In short, the remains
themselves are remarkable, but every ruined pyramid is not
necessarily the remains of a great very great city, nor every
large building in ruins necessarily a palace.
Going northward out of Guatemala, we pass into the modern state
of Chiapas. This is described a country of great natural beauty
and fertility. And here it is that we meet with a group of ruins
which have been an object of great interest to the scientific
world. They have been carefully studied and described, and many
theories have been enunciated as to their builders, their
history, and civilization. The place is supposed to have been
deserted and in ruins when Cortez landed in the country. At any
rate, he marched within a few leagues of it, but, as in the case
of Copan, he is silent in regard to it.
They take their name from the modern town of Palenque, near which
they are located. This town was founded in 1564. It was once a
place of considerable importance, but its trade has died away,
and now it would not be known were it not for the ruins of a
former people located near it. Though distant from the village
only some eight miles, nearly two centuries went by before their
existence was known. Had they been visited and described at the
time of the founding of the village, no doubt much that is now
mysterious in regard to them would have been cleared away. But
for two centuries they were allowed to sleep undisturbed in the
depths of the forest, and in that time the elements played sad
havoc with the buildings, inscriptions, and ornaments. What are
left are not sufficient to impart full information. Imagination
is too apt to supply the details, and these ruins, grand in
proportion, wonderful in location, enwrapt by dense forests,
visited by the storms of tropical lands, are made to do service
in setting forth a picture of society and times which we are
afraid has but little real foundation to rest upon.
The ruins of Palenque are the first which awakened attention to
the existence of ancient ruins in America, and, therefore, it may
not come amiss to state more particularly the circumstances of
their first discovery. The existence of an aboriginal city in
this locality was entirely unknown; there were no traditions even
that it had ever existed. Of course the natives of the modern
town of Palenque must have known of their existence, but no
account of them was published. They are said to have been
discovered in 1750 by a party of traveling Spaniards. This
statement Mr. Stephens doubts. The first account was published in
1784. The Spanish authorities finally ordered an exploration.
This was made under the auspices of Captain Del Rio, who arrived
on the ground in 1787. His report was locked up in the government
archives, and was not made public until 1822.
The reception of this report illustrates how little interest is
taken in American antiquities. It was scarcely noticed by the
_Scientific World._ As Mr. Stephens remarks, “If a like discovery
had been made in Italy, Greece, Egypt, or Asia, within the reach
of European travel, it would have created an interest not
inferior to the discovery of Herculaneum, or Pompeii, or the
ruins of Paestum.” But, from some cause, so little notice was
taken of this report that in 1831 the explorations of Colonel
Galindo, whose works we have referred to at Copan, was spoken of
as a new discovery. In the meantime another government expedition
under the direction of Captain Dupaix explored these ruins in
1807. Owing to the wars in Europe and the revolution in Mexico,
his report was not published until 1835. Mr. Stephens visited the
ruins in 1840. His account, profusely illustrated, was the means
of making known to a large class of readers the wonderful nature
of the ruins, not only at Palenque, but in Yucatan as well.
In this outline we have given an account of the early
explorations at Palenque. Private individuals have visited them,
and governments have organized exploring expeditions, and by both
pencil and pen made us familiar with them. As to the remains
actually in existence, these accounts agree fairly well, but we
have some perplexing differences as to the area covered by the
ruins. Where the early explorers could trace the ruins of a large
city modern travelers can find but a few ruined structures,
which, however, excite our liveliest interest. One of the
earliest accounts speaks of the ruins of over two hundred
buildings. Another speaks of them as covering an area of many
square miles. Mr. Stephens thinks a few acres would suffice.
From the researches of M. Charney, it would seem that the ruins
are really scattered over quite an area. His exploration made in
1881, seems to confirm the older writers. With abundant means at
his command, he was enabled to explore the forest, and he found
many ruins which escaped the other observers. According to him,
the ruins are scattered over an area extending about one mile and
a quarter from north to south, and about one and three-fourths
from east to west. Throughout this space, the ruined structures
were in all respects similar to those previously described,
consisting altogether of what he calls palaces and temples.10
There seems to be no especial order in the arrangement of the
buildings. They are separated by quite an interval, excepting to
the south of the palace, where there are groups of buildings near
together. The fact that such careful explorers as Stephens and
Waldeck failed to notice these additional ruins, gives us a faint
idea of the density of the forest.
Plan of Palenque.
The plan represents the distribution and relative size of the
ruins of which we have definite descriptions. Those having no
numbers are some of the groups that were passed by as of no
account. We must understand that so dense is the forest that not
one of these structures is visible from its neighbors. Where the
trees are cut down, as they have been several times, only a few
years are necessary for it to regain its former density, and each
explorer must begin anew.
The largest structure, marked one on the plan, is known as the
palace. This is only a conjectural name. We have no reason,
except its size, to suppose it the residence of a royal owner.
Its base is a pyramid which, Mr. Stephens tells us, is of oblong
form, forty feet high, three hundred and ten feet in front and
rear, and two hundred and sixty feet on each side. The pyramid
was formerly faced with stone, which has been thrown down by the
growth of trees, so that its form is hardly distinguishable. The
sides may once have been covered with cement, and perhaps
painted. Dupaix, who examined these ruins in 1808, so represents
them. Mr. Stephens expressly states that the eastern front was
the principal entrance. Mr. Waldeck, however, detected traces of
stairways on the northern side. M. Charney has settled the point,
that the principal entrance was on the northern side.
The principal bulk of this pyramid seems to have been earth; the
facing only being composed of stone. Mr. Bancroft thinks he has
discovered evidence that there were four or more thick
foundation-walls built from the surface of the ground to support
the buildings on top of the pyramid; that the space between these
walls was subsequently filled with earth, and that sloping
embankments, faced with stones, were built upon the outside.11
The summit platform of this pyramid supports the building, or
collection of buildings, known as the palace. Though generally
spoken of as one building, we think we have here the ruins of a
number of buildings.
Bas-relief, Palenque.
Probably the original inhabitants built a continuous structure
close to the edge of the platform, leaving the interior for an
open court. Subsequently, as population increased, rather than
resort to the labor necessary to raise a new pyramidal structure,
they erected other buildings on this court. From the plan, as
given by Mr. Stephens, there seems to have been no less than five
such put up, besides the tower. Thus covering the platform with a
somewhat confused mass of buildings, and, instead of the large
open court, there were left only three narrow courts, and one
somewhat larger—seventy by eighty feet.12 The building erected
near the edge of the platform, inclosing the court, was some two
hundred and twenty-eight feet on its east and west sides, by one
hundred and eighty feet on its north and south sides, and about
thirty feet high.
General View of Palace.
Our general view, taken from Mr. Stephens’s works, represents the
ruined eastern front of this building, surmounting the pyramid.
Trees are seen growing all over the ruins. The outer wall is
pierced by numerous doorways which, being somewhat wider than the
space that separates them, gives to the whole the appearance of a
portico with wide piers: no remains of the doors themselves have
been discovered. Drilled holes in the projecting cornice,
immediately above the doorway, gave Mr. Stephens the impression
that an immense cotton curtain, perhaps painted in a style
corresponding with the ornaments, had been extended the whole
front, which was raised or lowered, according to the weather. The
lintels of the doors were of wood. They had long since vanished,
and the stones over the doorway fallen down. Of the piers
separating the doorways, only fifteen were found standing, but
the crumbling remains of the others were readily traced on the
ruins.
Each of the standing piers, and presumably all the others, was
ornamented with a bas-relief in stucco. This cut gives us a good
example of this style of ornamentation. We notice portions of a
richly ornamented border. This stucco work consists of human
figures in various attitudes, having a variety of dress,
ornaments, and insignia. The stucco is said to be nearly as hard
as the stone itself. Traces of paint, with which the figures were
once ornamented, were still to be seen. The conjectures in regard
to these figures, have been innumerable. Vividly painted, and
placed in a conspicuous place on the wall, we may be very sure
they were full of significance to the builders. Three
hieroglyphics are placed over the head of each group, but so far,
they are as little understood as the figures themselves. We can
imagine the effect, when the building was still perfect and
entire, and all the piers were thus ornamented.
Cross-section Palace, Palenque.
Passing to the top of the pyramid, we find the construction of
the building whose outer wall we have been describing, to be
substantially as follows: Three parallel walls, from two to three
feet in thickness, composed of hewn stones, were erected about
nine feet apart. At the height of ten feet, the walls commenced
approaching each other; not, however, in an arch, for this was
unknown, but in a triangular manner, the stones in each course
projecting a little farther out. This cut represents a
cross-section of the buildings, and shows also the slight
cornice. All inequalities in the surface, as here represented,
were then filled with cement, thus furnishing a smooth surface,
which was then painted. The two outer walls were plentifully
supplied with doorways; the central wall had but few. We are only
given the description of one, which may not apply to all. This
one, opposite the entrance on the east side, has a trefoil-shaped
arch over the door, thus giving it this shape. Besides the few
doorways, the central wall had numerous depressions, or niches,
some of which served for ventilation, others for the support of
beams, and perhaps others as receptacles for torches or idols.
This principle of construction is substantially the same for all
the buildings in the interior of the court, and indeed for all
the buildings at Palenque.
Trefoil Arch.
Passing through the doorway just described, we come into the
second corridor, and continuing through that, we come to what was
once a large court; but, as we stated, it was subsequently built
over so as to leave only a few courts. The largest one, eighty by
seventy feet, is immediately before us, with a range of steps
leading down into it. On each side of the stairway is sculptured,
on stucco, a row of grim and gigantic figures. The engraving
opposite represents the same. “They are adorned with rich
headdresses and necklaces, but their attitude is that of pain and
trouble. The design and anatomical proportions of the figures are
faulty, but there is a force of expression about them which shows
the skill and conceptive force of the artist.” From this small
court stairways lead to the other buildings situated around it.
Entrance to Principal Court.
Stucco ornaments were plentiful. In one room, rather more richly
ornamented than the others, was found a stone tablet, which is
the only important piece of stone sculpture about the palace. We
are told it is of hard stone, four feet long by three feet wide,
and the sculpture is in bas-relief. It is set in the wall, and
around it are the remains of a rich stucco border. Its
significance is unknown. We must notice the small medallion,
containing a face, suspended by a necklace of pearls from the
neck of the principal figure. Mr. Stephens conjectures that it
may represent the sun. Mr. Waldeck gives a drawing of this same
subject; but instead of a face, he represents a cross.13
Stone Tablet.
In the general view we see a tower rising up from the mass of
ruins. Mr. Stephens speaks of this tower as follows. “This tower
is conspicuous by its height and proportions, but an examination
in detail is found unsatisfactory and uninteresting. The base is
thirty feet square, and it has three stories. Entering over a
heap of rubbish at the base, we found within another tower
distinct from the outer one, and a stone staircase, so narrow
that a large man could not ascend it. The staircase terminated
against a dead stone ceiling, closing all further passages, the
last step being only six or eight inches from it. For what
purpose a staircase was carried up to such a bootless termination
we could not conjecture. The whole tower was a substantial stone
structure, and in its arrangements and purposes about as
incomprehensible as the sculptured tablets.”
At the best we can do, it is hard to give such a description of
this ruin that it can be readily understood, so we will present a
restoration of it by a German artist,14 taken, however, from Mr.
Bancroft’s work.15 This is very useful to us, since it conveys an
idea of how the palace looked when it was complete. This view
also includes a second structure, which we will examine soon. We
notice the numerous doorways leading into the first corridor, the
ornamental pier-like portions of the wall separating the doors,
and the several buildings on the court; rising over all, the
tower, which would have been better if the spire had been
omitted.
Palace, Palenque.
This may have been a real palace. Its rooms may have been the
habitations of royalty, and its corridors may have resounded with
the tread of noble personages. M. Charney thinks the palace must
have been the home of priests, and not kings—in fact, that it was
a monastery, where the priests lived who ministered in the
neighboring temples. He thinks Palenque was a holy place, a
prehistoric Mecca. We must be cautious about accepting any theory
until scholars are more agreed about the plan of government and
society among the Central American tribes. But, whatever it was,
many years have passed by since it was deserted. For centuries
tropical storms have beat against the stuccoed figures. The
court-yards and corridors are overrun with vegetation, and great
trees are growing on the very top of the tower. So complete is
the ruin that it is with difficulty the plan can be made out. The
traveler, as he gazes upon it, can scarcely resist letting fancy
restore the scene as it was before the hand of ruin had swept
over it. In imagination he beholds it perfect in its amplitude
and rich decoration, and occupied by the strange people whose
portraits and figures may perhaps adorn its walls.
Ruined Temple of the Three Tablets.
We must now describe the more important of the remaining
structures of Palenque. Glancing at the plan for a moment, we see
to the south-west of the palace a ruin marked 2. This is the site
of a pyramidal structure known as the “Temple of the Three
Tablets,” or “Temple of Inscriptions.” The pyramid is not as
large in area as the palace, though of a greater height. It
measures in height one hundred and ten feet on the slope, but we
are not given the other dimensions. All the sides, which were
very steep, seem to have had steps. Trees have grown up all over
the pyramid and on the top of the building. This illustration,
taken from Mr. Stephens’s work, can not fail to impress on us the
luxuriant growth of tropical vegetation, and we can also see how
such a growth must accelerate the ruin. The stone steps leading
up the sides of the pyramid have been thrown down, and such must
be in time the fate of the building itself. The building on the
summit platform does not cover all the area. It is seventy-six
feet front by twenty-five feet deep and about thirty-five feet
high.
This small cut is a representation of the same building on a
small scale, but cleared of trees and vines. The roof is seen to
consist of two parts, sloping at different angles. The lower part
was covered with stucco ornaments, which, though too much injured
to be drawn, gave the impression that, when perfect and painted,
they must have been rich and imposing. The upper slope is of
solid masonry. “Along the top was a range of pillars, eighteen
inches high and twelve apart, made of small pieces of stone laid
in mortar and covered with stucco, having somewhat the appearance
of a low, open balustrade.”
Elevation Temple of the Three Tablets.
In this wood-cut the front wall, as in the palace, presents more
the appearance of a row of piers than any thing else. Each of the
corner piers contains on its surface hieroglyphics, each of which
contains ninety-six squares. The other piers have ornaments of
stucco similar to those we have already examined on the palace.
In the building itself we have the usual three parallel walls. In
this case, however, the second corridor is divided into three
rooms, and there is no opening in the third wall, unless it be
three small openings for air. The central wall is four or five
feet thick.16 The interior is very plain.
The principal point of interest about the building, from whence
the name is derived, is three tablets of hieroglyphics. One on
either side of the principal doorway of the middle wall, and the
third in the rear wall of the middle room. Being so similar to
other tablets, it is not necessary to give separate cuts of them.
The similarity to those of Copan is very great, the differences
being in minute points, which only critical examination would
detect. Mr. Stephens tells us that the Indians call this building
a school. The priests who came to visit him at the ruins called
it a temple of justice, and said the tablets contained the law.
We do not think either are very safe guides to follow.
At number three on the plan are the ruins of an edifice which is
fast disappearing. The outer wall had already fallen at the time
of Mr. Stephens’s visit. It stands on the bank of the stream. The
pyramid base is one hundred feet high on the slope. The building
on the top is twenty-five feet front by eighteen feet deep. In
the inner corridor could be dimly traced the outlines of a
beautiful piece of stucco work. At the time of Waldeck’s visit it
was still complete, so we are enabled to give a cut of it.
The Beau-Relief.
We are sure the readers will not fail to notice the many points
which make this such an exceptionally fine piece of work. In the
original drawing the grace of the arms and wrists is truly
matchless, and the chest muscles are displayed in the most
perfect manner. The embroidered girdle and folded drapery of the
figure, as well as the drapery around the leopard’s neck, are
arranged with taste. The head-dress is not unlike a Roman helmet
in front, with the addition of numerous plumes. The sandals of
the feet are secured by a cord and rosette, while the ornaments
on the animal’s ankles seem secured by leather straps.17 Mr.
Waldeck, however, who drew this sketch, is supposed to have drawn
at times better than his model.18 This is generally called the
“Temple of the Beau-relief.” Mr. Holden, in his able article
already referred to, comes to the conclusion that this figure
represents the god Quetzalcohuatl, the nature god of the Mayas.
Temple of the Cross. (Smithsonian Institute.)
Eastward from the palace, and across the creek, are seen on the
plan the location of two other structures. The one marked is a
somewhat famous structure, which, for reasons that will soon
appear, is called the “Temple of the Cross.” The pyramid in this
case is one hundred and thirty-four feet on the slope. It,
however, stands on a terrace about sixty feet on the slope. The
forest is so dense that, though other structures are but a short
distance from it, yet they can not be seen. The last two
engravings represent the building and the ground plan. This is
not a fanciful sketch, but is a restoration, “from such remains
and indications that it is impossible to make any thing else out
of it.”
Plan of Temple. (Smithsonian Institute.)
“The building is fifty feet front, thirty-one feet deep, and has
three door-ways. The whole front was covered with stucco
ornaments. The two outer piers contain hieroglyphics.” We notice
a new feature about the roof. It is similar to the roof of the
temple of the “Three Tablets,” in having two different slopes—the
lower one covered with stucco ornaments, but the range of pillars
along the roof is here replaced by a peculiar two-storied
arrangement nearly sixteen feet high. Mr. Stephens says: “The
long sides of this narrow structure are of open stucco-work,
formed into curious and indescribable devices, human figures with
legs and arms spreading and apertures between, and the whole was
once loaded with rich and elegant ornaments in stucco relief. Its
appearance at a distance must have been that of a high, fanciful
lattice. It was perfectly unique—different from the works of any
other people with which we are familiar, and its uses and
purposes entirely incomprehensible.”
It was evidently added to the temple solely for the sake of
appearance. One writer19 believes the roof structures were
erected by some people that succeeded the original builders of
the temple. The plan of the temple gives us a clear idea of the
arrangement of the inner rooms. Our principal interest centers in
the altar, which we notice placed in the center of the back room.
We give an illustration of a similar altar-form in the temple, at
number 5 of the plan. In form it is that of an inclosed chamber,
having a roof of its own. The altar in the Temple of the Cross
was very similar to this. Mr. Stephens’s description is as
follows: “The top of the doorway was gorgeous with stuccoed
ornaments, and on the piers at each side were stone tablets in
bas-relief. Within, the chamber is thirteen feet wide and seven
feet deep.”
Altar in Temple of the Sun.—(Bureau of Ethnology.)
The room was plain within, and right against the back was the
famous “Tablet of the Cross.” This tablet was six feet four
inches high, ten feet eight inches wide, and formed of three
stones. The right-hand one is now in the National Museum in
Washington. The central one, though torn from its original place,
is still at the ruins. The next cut gives us only the sculptured
part of the tablet. On both the right and left-hand were tablets
of hieroglyphics. A long chain of ornaments hung suspended from
the cap of the right-hand figure. The two figures are regarded as
priests. The cross is very plainly outlined, and is the regular
Latin one. Considerable discussion has arisen as to what supports
the cross. Dr. Brinton thinks it a serpent.20 Others think it a
human skull.21 We must also notice the bird on top of the cross.
It is almost impossible to make out the species. The right-hand
figure is offering it something.
Tablet of the Cross.
We must refer to some more tablets found at Palenque before
proceeding further. At number five of the plan was a temple but
little smaller than the one just described. There is, however,
such a similarity between the buildings, that it is not necessary
to give illustrations. The temple, also, had an inclosed altar;
and against the back of that was placed the tablet which was very
similar to the one just described. This illustration represents
the sculptured portions. On each side were tablets of
hieroglyphics. It needs but a glance to show that the priests
are, evidently, the same personages as in the other tablet.
The Sun.
The one on the left is standing on the back of a human being. The
one on the right is, perhaps, standing on a beast; or, if a human
being, he is crushed beneath the weight of the priest. Two other
human figures support a platform, from which rise two bâtons
crossed like a St. Andrew’s cross. These support a mask, from the
center of which a hideous human face looks out. The Aztecs
sometimes represented the sun by such a mask, and hence the name
“Temple of the Sun.”
In still another temple, situated but a short distance from the
others, was discovered a third tablet, which is shown in the cut
opposite. We give all the tablet, showing the hieroglyphics as
well. We must compare this with the first tablet given. The
priests are, evidently, the same—but, notice, they stand on
different sides of the cross. The same priest is making the
offering as in the first, and the same bird is seen on the top of
the cross. The priests stand on flowered ornaments. The support
of the cross resembles the same thing as in the first but whether
it is a human skull, or a serpent, is hard to tell. The cross
itself is not as well outlined. The two arms are floral
ornaments. We must also notice the two faces seen on the upright
part.22
Maler’s Cross.
These tablets are all of great interest. That of the cross, the
first one given, has attracted more attention than almost any
other in the field of American antiquities. This is largely owing
to the cross. As far as the sacred emblem itself is concerned, we
do not think this tablet of more significance than that of the
sun. It is well known that the cross, as a sacred emblem, had
peculiar significance in the ancient religions of the world. Its
use as such has come down to us from time immemorial. On the
first expedition of the Spaniards, in 1518, to the coast and
islands of Yucatan, they discovered that the cross was of some
significance to the natives. In the island of Cozumel they found
a large cross, to which the natives prayed for rain.23
Mr. Brinton thinks that the source of this veneration of the
cross, like the the sacredness of the number four, of which he
gives numerous illustrations, is the four cardinal points.24 From
these points blow the four winds which bring the fertilizing
rains, and thus render the earth fruitful; and hence the cross,
in so many and widely separated portions of the earth, is used as
the symbol of the life-giving, creative, and fertilizing
principle in nature.25 He thinks this is, perhaps, the
significance of these Palenque crosses. It is true we have
different forms of the cross; but in ancient sculpture they seem
to have been of equal importance.26
The results of these inquiries into the hidden meaning of these
tablets are not devoid of interest; but, thus far, but few
conclusions of value have been obtained. They have been made to
do service in support of some far-fetched theories. The early
Spanish writers on these subjects concluded that the crosses
found in Central America were positive proof that St. Thomas had
traveled through the country preaching the doctrines of
Christianity. The padres, who came to visit Mr. Stephens at the
ruins, “at the sight of it, immediately decided that the old
inhabitants of Palenque were Christians, and fixed the age of the
buildings in the third century.”
Wilson finds in the tablets of the cross a strong argument for
the existence of a great Phœnician empire in Central America.
This tablet represents, he thinks, the sacrifice of a child to
Astarte,27 also called Ashtoreth, the great female deity of the
ancient Semitic nations on both sides of the Euphrates, but
chiefly of Phœnicia. The original meaning of this word was “Queen
of Heaven.” Modern scholars do not think these early speculations
of the slightest worth. Dr. Charles Rau28 concludes that as
reasonable a conjecture as any is the supposition that it
represents a sacrifice to the god of rain, made, perhaps, at a
time of drought, apparently influenced to that conclusion by the
fact that the natives of Cozumel regarded a cross in such a
light,29 and further that a cross represents the moisture-bearing
winds.
E. S. Holden30 has made a critical study of the hieroglyphics of
Copan and Palenque. Though far from complete, most interesting
results have been obtained. We can not do more than set forth the
results of his investigations.31 He concludes, from a careful
study of the tablets of the cross and of the sun, that in both
the left-hand priests are representatives of the god of war,32
the right-hand priests being in both representatives of the god
of rain and water.33 In Mexico these deities frequently occupied
the same temple.34 He does not state his conclusions in regard to
the central figures in the tablets. Mr. Brinton thinks the
central figure in the tablet of the cross is a rebus for the
nature god Quetzalcohuatl. The cross was one of the symbols of
Quetzalcohuatl, as such signifying the four winds of which he was
lord. Another of his symbols was a bird. We notice the two
symbols present in the tablet. Mr. Holden also finds that the
glyph standing for this god occurs several times in the tables of
hieroglyphics belonging to this figure.
According to these last views, then, the old Palenquians seem to
have been a very religious people, and Quetzalcohuatl, the god of
peace, seems to have been their principal deity, differing in
this regard from Mexico, where all honor was paid to the god of
war. We are not given any explanation of the Temple of the Three
Tablets, but the other temples have to do with the worship of
this benign deity. The beautiful stucco-work in the Temple of the
Beau-relief, Mr. Holden thinks, also represents him. At the
Temples of the Cross, if we be right as to the meaning of the
central figure, the priests of the god of war and the god of rain
do honor to him.35
Mr. Bandelier makes a statement in regard to the cross which, if
it be accepted, clears away a number of theories. He remarks:
“The cross, though frequently used previously to the conquest by
the Aborigines of Mexico and Central America as an ornament, was
not at all an object of worship among them. Besides, there is a
vast difference between the cross and the crucifix. What has been
taken for the latter on sculptures, like the ‘Palenque tablet,’
is merely the symbol of the ‘Newfire,’ or close of a period of
fifty-two years. It is the fire drill more or less ornamented.”
According to this view, these interesting tablets have reference
to the ceremonies observed by the Mayas at the expiration of a
cycle.36
It now only remains to describe some miscellaneous relics
obtained from Palenque. But few specimens of pottery have been
found. One of the early explorers speaks of finding an earthen
vessel about a foot in diameter. Waldeck made an exploration in a
portion of the palace area, and found a gallery containing hewn
blocks of stone and earthen cups and vases, with many little
earthen balls of different colors. He also speaks of a fine
specimen of terra-cotta.37
The only statues known were found near the Temple of the Cross.
There were two of them, and they supported a platform before the
central doorway. One was broken to pieces; the other is here
represented. Many writers point out resemblances between this
figure and some Egyptian statues.
Statue Palenque. (Smith. Inst.)
In the village of Palenque, built in the wall of a church,38 are
two stone tablets which once stood on each side of the doorway of
the altar containing the tablet of the cross.39 Mr. Stephens was
under the impression that they were originally placed on the
altar of the tablet of the sun, and they are so represented in
the cut (Altar in the Temple of the Sun.) earlier. This plate
represents the left-hand figure. The only explanation which we
have met is contained in that oft-quoted article by Mr. Holden.
He regards it as the representation of the Maya god of war. We
are warned that the weak part of Mr. Holden’s method is his
assumption that the mythology of the Mayas was the same as that
of the Aztecs, when the evidence is not strong enough to assert
such a fact.40
We feel that we have been somewhat lengthy in describing the
ruins of Palenque. But it is one of the most important groups of
ruins that this continent possesses. The most faithful work on
the part of the scholars of all lands has not as yet succeeded in
clearing up the mystery connected with it. We can tread the
courts of their ancient citadel, clamber up to the ruined temples
and altars, and gaze on the unread hieroglyphics, but, with all
our efforts, we know but little of its history. There was a time
when the forest did not entwine these ruins. Once unknown priests
ministered at these altars. But cacique, or king, and priest have
alike passed away. The nation, if such it was, has vanished, and
their descendants are probably to be found in the savage tribes
of Yucatan to-day. “In the romance of the world’s history,” says
Mr. Stephens, “nothing ever impressed me more forcibly than the
spectacle of this once great and lovely city, overturned,
desolate, and lost, discovered by accident, overgrown with trees
for miles around, without even a name to distinguish it. Apart
from every thing else, it was a mournful witness to the world’s
mutation.
“‘Nations melt From power’s high
pinnacle, when they have felt The
sunshine for awhile, and downward go.’”
The ruins at Palenque have been so well known, that but little
attention has been given to other ruins in the States of Tobasco
and Chiapas; and yet, according to M. Charney, imposing ruins of
great extent exist in the western part of Tobasco. At a place
about thirty-five miles from San Juan, in a north-westerly
direction, he found veritable mountains of ruins “overgrown with
a luxuriant vegetation.”41 In the absence of cuts, we can not do
more than give a general idea of these ruins.
Bas-relief on the left-hand of the Altar of the Corss. (Bureau of
Ethnology.)
He asserts that the whole State of Tobasco, and part of Chiapas,
is covered with ruins. One landed proprietor informed him that,
on his estate, he had counted over three hundred pyramids, all of
them covered with ruins. In this connection he refers to the
assertions of some of the early Spanish voyagers, that, when
skirting the shores of Tobasco, they “saw on the shore, and far
in the interior, a multitude of structures, whose white and
polished walls glittered in the sun.” On one large pyramid, one
hundred and fifteen feet high, he found the remains of a building
two hundred and thirty-five feet long.
This building is named the palace. In this building we met with
the type that we have learned is the prevailing one further
south—that is, three parallel walls, forming two rows of rooms.
In general, the rooms are not well arranged for comfort,
according to our opinion; but they were, doubtless, well adapted
to the communal mode of life prevalent among the Indians. M.
Charney seems to have been strongly impressed with the number and
importance of the ruins in this State; but, strangely enough,
others have not mentioned them.42 He says: “I am daily receiving
information about the ruins scattered all over the State of
Tobasco, hidden in the forests. . . . The imagination fails to
realize the vast amount of labor it would involve to explore even
a tithe of these ancient sites. These mountains of ruins extend
over twelve miles. We still see the hollows in the ground whence
the soil was taken for the construction of these pyramids. But
they did not consist merely of clay; bricks, too, entered into
their construction, and there were strengthening walls to make
them firmer. These structures are more wonderful than the
pyramids and the other works at Teotihuacan, and they far surpass
the pyramids of Egypt.”
In the neighboring State of Chiapas, we find the location of
several groups of ruins. At Ocosingo, we have the evident traces
of a large settlement. Mr. Stephens mentions four or five
pyramids crowned with buildings. Immediately beyond these
pyramids he came upon an open plateau, which he considered to
have been the site of the city proper. It was protected on all
sides by the same high terraces, overlooking for a great distance
the whole country around, and rendering it impossible for an
enemy to approach from any quarter without being discovered.
“Across this table was a high and narrow causeway, which seemed
partly natural and partly artificial, and at some distance on
which was a mound, with the foundation of a building that had
probably been a tower. Beyond this the causeway extended till it
joined a range of mountains. . . . There was no place we had seen
which gave us such an idea of the vastness of the works erected
by the aboriginal inhabitants.”43
The ruins at Palenque are considered by some to belong to the
ancient period of Maya architecture; those we are now to examine
are regarded as of more modern date. This is at least true with
respect to the time of their abandonment. Though the efforts of
explorers in Yucatan have been attended with rich results, still
few places have been fully described. The country is fairly
dotted with sites of aboriginal settlements. In all probability
there are many that are yet unknown. Hidden in tropical jungles,
they are fast falling into meaningless mounds of _débris._ The
early Spanish explorers, skirting the coasts of Yucatan, gazed in
astonishment at the views they occasionally obtained of pyramids
crowned with temples and imposing buildings. But this gleam of
historic light was but momentary in duration. It served but to
throw a sunset glow over the doomed tribes and civilization of
the Mayas. By the aid of that dim, uncertain light, we are asked
to recognize a form of government and society which, under the
clearer light of modern researches is seen to bear an equally
strong resemblance to institutions more in keeping with the
genius of the New World.
The few travelers who visit the country are generally content to
revisit and describe places already known. This is not strange,
considering the difficulties that have to be overcome. The
country swarms with savage Indians, who are jealous of the
intrusions of strangers. We have, however, this consolation:
those ruins already brought to light show such a uniformity of
detail, that it is not probable that any new developments are to
be expected. The ruins that are already known are sufficient to
illustrate all the points of their architecture; and we can draw
from them, doubtless, all that can be drawn from ruins, throwing
light on the civil organization of the Mayas of Yucatan.
Plan of Uxmal.
We can not do better than to describe some of the more important
ruins, and then notice wherein others differ. Examining the map,
we see that Uxmal44 is one of the first ruins that would meet us
on arriving, in the country. It is more fully described than any
other, though perhaps not of greater importance than those of
some other localities. As at Palenqué, while the principal ruins
are said to be situated in a small area, the whole section
abounds in mounds and heaps of _débris,_ and it may well be said
that buildings as imposing as those already described are
concealed in the forest not far removed from the present ruins. A
plat of ground seventeen hundred feet long by twelve hundred feet
wide would include the principal structures now known.
The most imposing single edifice here is that called the
Governor’s House. The only reason for giving it this name is its
size. Being of large size, and located on a terraced pyramid, it
has received a name which may be very inappropriate. We will
first notice the pyramid on which the building stands. At
Palenque the pyramid rises regularly from the ground. Here the
pyramid is terraced. In order to understand clearly the
arrangement of these various terraces, we introduce this drawing.
The base is a somewhat irregular figure, though nearly a square.
Another pyramid cuts into one corner of the terrace. The first
terrace is about three feet high, fifteen feet broad, and five
hundred and seventy-five feet long. The second terrace is twenty
feet high, two hundred and fifty feet wide, and five hundred and
forty-five feet in length. The third terrace, on which the
building stands, is nineteen feet high, and its summit platform
is one hundred by three hundred and sixty feet. The height of
this platform above the general surface is a little over forty
feet.45
Pyramid at Palenque.
The material of which the pyramid is composed, is rough fragments
of limestone, thrown together without order; but the terraces
were all faced with substantial stone work. At the time of Mr.
Stephens’s visit the facing of the second terrace was still in a
good state of preservation. Charney believes the platform was
paved with square blocks. This pyramid was not entirely
artificial—they took advantage of a natural hill, as far as it
went. No stairway or other means of ascent to the first terrace
is mentioned. From its low height, probably none was needed. The
second terrace being twenty feet high, some means of ascent was
required. This was afforded, as seen in the drawing, by an
inclined plane, at the south side one hundred feet broad. From
the second terrace a grand staircase, one hundred and thirty feet
wide, containing thirty-five steps, led up to the summit of the
third terrace.
No buildings or other ornaments are mentioned as having been
found on the lower terrace. The wide promenade of the second one
supported some structures of its own, but they were in too
dilapidated a condition to furnish a clear idea of their original
nature, except in one instance—that is of the building at A of
the drawing. This building was ninety-four feet long, thirty-four
feet wide, and about twenty feet high.
The roof had fallen in, so that we do not know the arrangement of
the rooms in the interior. The simplicity of ornaments on the
outer wall is commented on. Instead of the complicated ornaments,
so apparent on the buildings of Yucatan, the only ornament in
this case was a simple and elegant line of round columns,
standing close together, and encircling the whole edifice. At
regular intervals on the upper cornice appeared a sculptured
turtle. From this circumstance, the building was named “The House
of Turtles.” No steps lead to the terrace below or to the one
above. “It stands isolated and alone, seeming to mourn over its
own desolate and ruinous condition.”
At B, along the south end of the terrace, there was a long, low
mound of ruins, and arranged along its base was a row of broken
columns about five feet high and nearly five feet in
circumference. Some have supposed, from this, that columns
extended along the entire promenade of the second terrace. This
would indeed give it a very grand appearance; but there is no
foundation for such a view. East of the central stairway at C,
was a low, square inclosure. This contained a standing pillar,
now in a slanting position, as if an effort had been made to
throw it over. It was about eight feet above the surface of the
ground and five below. The Indians called it a whipping-post. Mr.
Stephens thinks it was connected with the ceremonial rites of an
ancient worship. He found a similarly shaped stone in connection
with other buildings at Uxmal, and at other places in Yucatan.
Two-headed Monument, Uxmal.
Still further east, at D, he found a rude, circular mound of
rough stones. On excavating this, he was rewarded by the
discovery of a double-headed monument. It was carved out of a
single block of stone. The probabilities are that it was
purposely buried when the natives abandoned Uxmal, to prevent the
Spaniards from destroying it. Scattered about over this platform
were found excavations much like well-made cisterns in shape. As
it is something of a mystery where the inhabitants obtained
water, it is a reasonable supposition that these were really
cisterns. Similar excavations were discovered all over the area
of the ruins.
Leaving the second terrace, and passing up the ruined stairway,
we find ourselves on the summit platform of the third terrace,
and see before us one of the long, low, richly ornamented
buildings of Yucatan. This cut presents us an end view, but gives
us a good idea of the building as a whole. It does not occupy the
entire summit; there is a wide promenade all around it. Its
length is three hundred and twenty-two feet; its width,
thirty-nine feet, and its height twenty-six feet.
End View.
In order to understand clearly the arrangement of the rooms, we
will here give the ground-plan. The two end portions may have
been additions to the original structure. There are, at any rate,
reasons for supposing the small rooms in the two recesses of
later construction. We must notice that we have here the usual
three parallel walls and two rows of rooms. All the walls are
massive, the rear wall especially so. It is nine feet thick
throughout, and so are the transverse walls of the two recesses.
Supposing the rear wall might contain rooms, Mr. Stephens made an
opening through it. He found it to be solid.
Ground Plan.
The stones facing the walls and rooms are smooth and square, and
the mass of the masonry consists of rough, irregular fragments of
stone and mortar. This cross-section makes this meaning plain. We
can but notice what an immense amount of useless labor was
bestowed on the walls and ceilings of this building. We gather
more the idea of galleries excavated in a rocky mass, than of
rooms inclosed by walls. The rooms are very plain; no attempt at
decoration was observed. In one or two instances the remains of a
fine coat of plastering was noticed. “The floors were of cement,
in some places hard, but by long exposure broken, and now
crumbling under foot.” The arches supporting the roof are of the
same style as those at Palenque—that is, triangular,—though, in
this case, the ends of the projecting stones were beveled off so
as to form a smooth surface. At Palenque, we remember, the
inequalities were filled with cement. Across the arches were
still to be observed beams of wood, the ends buried in the wall
at both sides. The supposition is that they served to support the
arches while building, and afterwards for the suspension of
hammocks.46
Cross-section of Uxmal.
There are no openings for light and ventilation, consequently
some of the rear rooms are both damp and dark. The lintels over
each doorway were of wood. This was the common and ordinary
material employed for lintels in Yucatan, though in one or two
instances stone was used. They used for this purpose beams of
zapote, a wood noted for its strength and durability. Some inner
lintels still remain in place. The one over the central doorway
of the outer wall was elaborately carved, the others were plain.
The outside of the building is also of interest to us. By a
careful examination, we notice a cornice just above the doorway.
The wall below the cornice presents a smooth surface of
limestone, no traces of plaster or paint appearing; above the
cornice the façade is one solid mass of rich, complicated, and
elaborately sculptured ornaments. This is not stucco work, as at
Palenque, but the ornaments are carved on stone. Mr Stephens
tells us, “Every ornament or combination is made up of separate
stones, each of which had carved on it part of the subject, and
was then set in its place in the wall. Each stone, by itself, is
an unmeaning fractional portion, but placed by the side of
others, makes, part of a whole which, without it, would be
incomplete.”
It is not possible to give a verbal description of all of the
ornaments; we can notice but few. Over each doorway was
represented a person apparently seated on a sort of throne,
having a lofty head-dress, with enormous plumes of feathers
falling symmetrically on each side. Though the figures varied in
each case, in general characteristics they were the same as the
one here represented, which was the figure over the central
doorway of the building.
Figure over the Doorway. Ornament over the Doorway.
Among the most commonly reappearing ornaments at Uxmal, and at
other places, is one that has received the name of the
“Elephant’s Trunk,” and has given rise to no little discussion.
One occurs immediately above the figure. Part of this ornament is
represented in this plate. The central part of this figure, which
appears as a plain band, is in reality a curved projecting stone,
which, when looked at sideways, has the appearance given in this
cut. Though requiring a little imagination, the majority of
travelers see in this some monster’s face. The eyes and teeth are
seen in the first engraving. This projecting stone is the nose.
Elephant’s Trunk.
We stand in amazement before this sculptured façade. We must
reflect that its builders were not possessed of metallic tools.
It extends entirely around the building, though the end and rear
walls are not as elaborately decorated as the front. A little
calculation shows that it contains over ten thousand square feet
of carved stone. The roof of the building was flat. It had been
covered with cement. But vegetation had somehow acquired a
foothold, and the whole is now overgrown with grass and bushes.
Such is a brief description of this “casa.” Hastening to ruins,
it appeals powerfully to the imagination. It is a memorial of
vanished times. We wonder what of the strange people that pressed
up these stairs and entered these rooms? For many years it has
been abandoned to the elements. Year by year portions of the
ornamented façade fall. Though the walls are massive and the roof
is strong, it is but a question of time when a low mound of ruins
will alone mark its site.
Like the palace at Palenque, this structure has given rise to
conflicting theories as to its use. While many of the writers on
this subject claim that it was the residence of royalty, there
are, on the other hand, those who think it is simply a communal
house of village Indians, or the official house of the tribe. In
whatever light we shall ultimately view it, it is surely an
interesting monument of native American culture. The labor
necessary to rear the terraced pyramid, even though advantage was
taken of a natural eminence, must have been great. The building
itself, though not of great dimensions, except in length, must
have required the labor of a large number of Indians for a long
time. For purposes of defense, the location, from an Indian point
of view, was an excellent one, since with them elevation
constitutes the principal means of defense. The terraces could be
easily ascended from but one point, where an enemy could be
easily resisted. In a general way, it may be regarded as a
representative of Yucatan buildings, and so we will be able to
more rapidly describe the remaining structures.
Plan of Nunnery.
On the general plan we see, to the north of the structure we have
just described, a group of ruins marked “C.” This is regarded as
the most wonderful collection of edifices in Yucatan, and as
exhibiting the highest state of ancient architecture and
sculpture in North America. They are known as the “Nunnery,”
which we think is a very absurd name. The pyramid on which they
stood is also terraced, though on one side only. We give a
drawing showing the position on the summit platform of the four
buildings forming this group. Since we have so many ruined
structures to describe, we must avoid such details as will prove
tiresome. We will give in a note the dimensions of these
buildings, and of the pyramid, and pass at once to some points of
special interest.47
Traces of stairways are mentioned as leading up to the terrace,
but none of the steps remained in place. The southern building is
seen to have doors in both the court and terrace walls, but in
this case the middle wall is unbroken. All the rooms of this
building are single. In the plan it appears divided into two
buildings; the opening is, however, but a triangular arched
doorway, through which access was had to the court.
There is no one to dispute our right of way, and so, climbing up
the ruined stairs, and passing through the deserted gateway, we
emerge into a courtyard, now silent and deserted and overgrown
with bushes and grass. It was once paved and covered with cement,
and in the center are the remains of a stone pillar, similar to
that in front of the governor’s house. When the houses were all
occupied this court must have presented an animated scene. But,
now that the buildings are tenantless and going to ruin, it must
impress all beholders with a sense of the changes wrought by
time.
Room in Nunnery.
It will be noticed that the northern building does not stand in
quite the same direction as the southern one, which detracts from
the symmetry of the whole. It stands on a fourth terrace, twenty
feet higher than the others. A grand, but ruined, staircase leads
up the center of the terrace. At each end of this staircase built
against the terrace, could be distinguished the ruins of a small
building. There is one unusual feature about the ruins in the
eastern building. In general, only two rooms open into each
other. In this building, however, six rooms form one suite, and,
furthermore, all the doorways of this suite are decorated with
sculpture. As this suite of rooms was evidently a place of
interest, we will introduce this illustration, which gives us a
good idea of the appearance of the rooms on the inside. We would
do well to compare this cut with that of the room in Pueblo
Bonito. The arched roof is not a true arch but simply the
triangular arch we have already spoken of.
Façade, Southern Building.
The principal attraction about these buildings is the beautiful
façades which overlook the court-yard. They are pronounced by all
to be the finest examples of native American art. With one
exception, they are neither complicated nor grotesque, but chaste
and artistic. As in the Governor’s House, the part below the
cornice is plain, but the remaining part, both front and rear, is
covered with sculpture. On entering the court-yard from the
arched gateway of the southern building, we notice that its
façade is composed of diamond lattice-work and vertical columns,
while over each doorway is something that resembles a house, with
a human figure seated in a doorway. This cut represents but a
small portion of this façade, but it gives us an idea of the
whole.
Façade, Eastern Building.
The façade of the eastern building was in the best state of
preservation of any. We give a section of this also. The
ornaments over the doorway, shown in the cut, consist of three of
those mysterious masks, with the projecting curved stone, already
described. “The ornaments over the other doorways are less
striking, more simple, and more pleasing. In all of them there
is, in the center, a masked face, with the tongue hanging out,
surmounted by an elaborate head-dress. Between the horizontal
bars is a range of diamond-shaped ornaments, in which the remains
of red paint are still distinctly visible, and at each end of
these bars is a serpent’s head, with the mouth wide open.” It is
necessary to examine the drawing attentively, to distinguish
these features. Some think the masked face represents the sun.
Serpent Façade, Western Building.
The western façade is known as the Serpent Façade. It was very
much in ruins at the time of Mr. Stephens’s visit. When entire,
it must have been of great beauty. Two serpents are trailed along
the whole front, and by the interlacing of their bodies divide
the surface into square panels. In the open mouth of these
serpents is sculptured a human head. The panels are filled with
ornaments similar in design to those of the “Governor’s House,”
and among the ornaments of each panel are found one or more human
faces, while full-sized figures are not entirely absent. This cut
represents but a small portion of the façade. It gives us,
however, an idea of the whole. We notice, over the doorway again,
the elephant’s trunk ornament.
The northern building, standing high above the rest, on its own
terrace, was doubtless intended to have the grandest front of
all. It was, however, in such a ruined state, and the few
remaining fragments so complicated, that no drawings have been
given us. Human figures are represented in several places; two
are apparently playing on musical instruments. We recall that at
Palenque, the roof of some of the temples bears a curious
two-storied work, erected apparently for ornamental purposes. The
same instinct reappears in this building. At regular intervals
along the front they carried the wall above the cornice, forming
thirteen turret-like elevations ten feet wide, and seventeen feet
high. These turrets were also loaded with ornaments. Another
curious feature about this building is, that it was erected over,
and completely inclosed, a smaller building of an older date.
Wherever the outer walls have fallen, the ornamented cornice of
the inner building is visible.
When we reflect on the patient labor that must have been expended
on this pyramid and these buildings, we are filled with
admiration for their perseverance and ingenuity. They had neither
domestic animals or metallic tools. The buildings were massively
built and richly ornamented. The sculptured portion covers over
twenty-four thousand square feet.48 The terraced mound supporting
the house contained over sixty thousand cubic yards of materials,
though this may not be wholly artificial. To our eyes, as these
rooms had neither windows nor fire-places, they are not very
desirable. But we may be sure that the builders considered them
as models of their kind.
Leaving this interesting ruin, we will now visit one of the
temples. This is east of the Nunnery, and is marked “D” on the
plan. The mound on which this building stands is high enough to
overlook the entire field of ruins. This cut represents the
eastern side of the mound, up which a flight of stone steps lead
to the building on the summit. There are some grounds for
supposing a grander staircase, supported on triangular arches,
led up the western side.
Temple, Uxmal.
The building on the top is not large—only seventy-two feet long,
and twelve feet wide—and consists of but three rooms, none
opening into each other. The front of the building, though much
ruined, presented an elegant and tasteful appearance. There seems
to be no doubt that this temple was the scene of idolatrous
worship; perhaps of human sacrifices. In a legal paper which Mr.
Stephens saw at Meridia, containing a grant of the lands on which
these ruins stand, bearing date 1673, it is expressly stated that
the Indians at that time had idols in these ancient buildings, to
which, every day, openly and publicly, they burned copal. Nor is
there any doubt that this was the continuation of an old custom.
In the end room of this temple are engraved two circular figures
which, by some, are considered as proofs of the presence of
Phallic worship.49
The buildings we have described will give us a very good idea of
the structures of this ancient city. We have described but a few
of them, but we have now only space to make some general
observations. We wish to point out some resemblances to the ruins
at Palenque. In both, buildings that served as temples were not
large, but of small dimensions, and contained but few rooms. They
occupy the summits of high pyramids. Such was probably the
building on the summit of the pyramid at “F” (see plan). The
buildings on the top of this pyramid, like that just described,
had but three rooms. A very large pyramid is seen at “E.” Our
information in regard to it is very meager. A square platform was
found on the summit. It is not unreasonable to suppose that this
platform was intended to support a temple. But, before it was
erected, the presence of the Spaniards put an end to all native
building. There are, however, no proofs to be advanced in support
of this statement; it is a mere suggestion.
We think the House of the Nuns illustrates the general plan of
building employed at both places. That is as follows: They first
erected a rectangular pyramid or mounds often terraced. Buildings
were then put up parallel to the four sides, thus inclosing a
court. At Palenque this court, as we have seen, was built over.
Besides the House of Nuns, there are several other instances at
Uxmal of courts with buildings on their sides. Looking at the
plan, we see one at “G,” and a still more ruined one between that
and “F.” Such a court, with traces of ruined buildings, also
exists between the nunnery and the temple, at “D.” It is not
improbable that groups of low ruins existing to the westward of
the structures described would be found, on examination, to
reveal the same arrangements.
As for the grand terraced pyramid supporting the Governor’s
House, it may well be that other buildings would have been added
in process of time, as population increased. It is not necessary
to suppose they erected all the buildings around a court at once.
It seems very reasonable to suppose the northern building of the
House of Nuns the oldest. The direction is not quite the same as
the others; it stands on a higher terrace; and, furthermore, the
present exterior walls are simply built around the older
building. It may be, however, that the great terraced mound of
the Governor’s House was intended to support but one building. As
there is the best of reason for supposing that Uxmal was
inhabited at the time of the conquest, there is nothing to forbid
the conclusion that the erection of pyramids, temples, and
buildings was still going on.
Hieroglyphics, which formed such an interesting feature at
Palenque, are here almost entirely wanting. A few rows occur
around the head of the figure over the principal doorway of the
Governor’s House. They are of the same general character as those
already described, but are “more rich, elaborate, and
complicated.” As to the probable antiquity of these ruins, we
must defer consideration until we become more acquainted with the
ruins of Yucatan.
The places we have now described will make us acquainted with the
general character of the ruins scattered all over Yucatan. We do
not feel as if we would be justified in dwelling at any great
length over the remainder, though one or two important places
must be mentioned. A word as to the frequency with which the
ruins occur. We want to repeat that Yucatan, even to this day, is
far from being thoroughly explored. Almost our only source of
information is the writings of Mr. Stephens. But he only
described a few places. In a trip of thirty-nine miles he took in
a westerly direction from Uxmal he saw no less than seven
different groups of ruins. Some of these, though in a very
dilapidated state, presented points of great interest. When he
started he knew of but few of those ruins. Some he heard of quite
by accident while on his way, and some he first saw as he
journeyed along the road. We must suppose the whole country
equally well supplied.
After he had left Uxmal for good, at the village of Nochahab (see
map), a little inquiry brought him information of so many ruins
that he did not have time to visit them all. As to the question
of use to which these buildings were applied, we must either
suppose they had an immense number of temples and palaces—one or
the other every few miles—or else they were the residences of the
people themselves. And, though it may seem very strange that an
imperfectly developed people should ornament so profusely and
delicately their ordinary places of abode,50 yet it is difficult
to understand why they should rear such an abundance of temples
and palaces.
At Kabah (see map) Mr. Stephens found a most interesting field of
ruins, rivaling Uxmal in extent, if not surpassing it. One group
of buildings, arranged much like the House of Nuns, has some
interesting features about it. The highest terrace in this case
is nearly square, and the building on its summit is nearly the
same shape. We have here two rows of double rooms, separated by a
middle wall, very massive, as if two of the typical Maya
buildings had been placed back to back. The front of this
building was elaborately ornamented. In all the buildings at
Uxmal the part above the cornice only was ornamented. Here the
entire front was covered with carved stone. To make room for
further ornaments the roof bore an additional appendage, like the
second story of the Palenque temples. This building must have
presented a wonderful appearance when entire.
Another feature at this place has reference to the pyramid. We
are familiar with the idea of a terraced mound supporting
buildings. In one of these Kabah structures the buildings are
arranged in a different and suggestive way. That is, the pyramid
was terraced off. There were three ranges of buildings, the roof
of one range forming a promenade in front of the other. In
another of the Kabah structures was found a wooden lintel,
elegantly carved. Mr. Stephens tells us the lines were clear and
distinct, and the cutting, under any test, and without any
reference to the people by whom it was executed, would be
considered as indicating great skill and proficiency in the art
of carving on wood. At the expense of a great deal of hard work,
he succeeded in getting this lintel out and removed to New York,
where it was unfortunately destroyed by fire.
They worked stone to better advantage at Kabah than at Uxmal. For
the first time we meet with lintels of stone and a doorway with
carved jambs. The lintels were supported in the center by a
pillar. The pillars were rude and unpolished, but they were not
out of proportion, and, in fact, were adapted to the lowness of
the building. We will only mention one more structure. This is a
lonely arch, of the same form as all the rest, having a span of
fourteen feet. It stands on a ruined mound, disconnected from
every other structure, in solitary grandeur. “Darkness rests upon
its history, but in that desolation and solitude, among the ruins
around, it stood like the proud memorial of a Roman triumph.”
There was the usual pyramid with a temple. In a plan given of the
field of ruins seventeen groups are seen, and, without a doubt,
many more exist in the immediate forest.
Arch, Kabah.
M. Charney has of late years made a discovery which conclusively
shows that this was an inhabited place at the time of the
conquest. In a room as ruined as the rest he discovered the
stucco-figure of a horse and its rider. They are formed after the
Indian manner by an inexperienced hand guided by an over-excited
imagination. Both figures are easily recognized. The horse has on
its trappings. We can see the stirrups. The man wears his
cuirass. We all know what astonishment the appearance of men on
horseback produced among the Indians, and so we are not at a loss
to divine the cause which led to the construction of this figure.
We must remember Mr. Stephens was hurried for time. Portions of
this figure were mutilated, and other portions had been covered
over by a layer of stucco, which Charney had to remove before the
figure could be distinctly made out.51
Zayi.
Within a radius of ten miles from Kabah are located no less than
six so-called cities. The general appearance of all is the
same—low ranges of buildings on terraced mounds, and ornamented
façades. One of these places, by the name of Zayi, is of interest
to us, because it gives us a hint as to how these people
constructed their buildings. Amongst other buildings they found
one large terraced mound, with buildings arranged on it in a very
significant manner. There were three ranges of buildings, one
over the other—the roof of one range on a level with the
foundation of the range above. A grand stair-way led up the
mound. This feature is illustrated in the plate above. We can
imagine what a grand appearance must have been presented by this
great terraced mound, when its buildings were all perfect.
Plan of Zayi. (Bureau of Ethnology.)
The plan of this mound and buildings is shown in the last cut.
Ten rooms on the north side of the second range presented a
curious feature. They were all filled up with a solid mass of
stone and mortar, and this filling up must have gone on as fast
as the walls rose, and the arched ceiling must have closed over a
solid mass. A very reasonable explanation is given of this state
of things by Mr. Morgan.52 He considers that such was the
rudeness of mechanical knowledge among these people that the only
way they could construct their peculiar arched roof was to build
it over an internal core of masonry. Once put together over such
a core, and carried up several feet, the down weight of the arch
would articulate and hold the mass together. Then the core of
masonry would be cleaned out, and the room was ready for use. If
this be true, it follows that these rooms were the last erected.
They were not yet cleared out when the operations of the
Spaniards put an end to all native building. We must notice the
structures at Zayi are in as ruined a condition as the
others—thus strengthening the conviction that their abandonment
was at about the time of the conquest of the peninsula.
We have not space to follow Mr. Stephens in all his journey.
Every few miles he came across one of these peculiar structures.
A common design is apparent in all; but all are alike enveloped
in mystery. At Labna he found an extensive field of ruins, equal
in importance to any in Yucatan. The next illustration represents
an arched gateway, which reminds us of that in the “House of
Nuns.” Passing through this he found himself in a ruined
court-yard, fronting which were the remains of buildings; but
this was only one of many groups of ruins, and Labna was but one
of many places visited. At Labphak Mr. Stephens found “the
tottering remains of the grandest structure that now rears its
ruined head in the forests of Yucatan.” This was a terraced
mound, faced by buildings on three sides, leaving an immense
stair-way occupying the fourth side.
Gateway at Labna.
Small interior stair-ways are mentioned in this building, but no
particular description is given of them. At two places sculptured
tablets were found. These tablets are worthy of notice. They were
the only ones Mr. Stephens found, except at Palenque. It will be
seen, on the map, that this ruin is nearer Palenque than any of
the places in Yucatan yet described. Stucco ornaments, so
apparent at the latter place, were now becoming numerous again.
At Uxmal stone for building could be had in the greatest
abundance—it was not as plenty here. The builders, apparently,
adapted their ornamentation to the material at hand; and, while
at Palenque they employed stucco in ornament, at Uxmal they
carved stone.53
We must now leave this interesting section of Yucatan, though
only a few places have been mentioned. The reader is well aware
of the difference of opinion with which these ruins are viewed.
Some of them are unquestionably temples. If we regard the others
as palaces and the public buildings of great cities, we are at
once puzzled to account for their great numbers. If we look on
the majority of them as communal residences of the inhabitants,
we are amazed at the mass of decorations with which they are
adorned. But our admiration stops there—we are accustomed to
speak of them as stately edifices. This is owing to their
exterior ornaments, and their position on terraced mounds. The
houses are often of great length, but not striking in other
regards. The rooms, in the majority of cases, are small, low,
dark, and ill ventilated. A great amount of useless labor was
bestowed upon the walls, which were unnecessarily massive.
Near the center of the northern part of the peninsula is seen a
place marked Chichen, to which is generally added the word Itza,
making the entire name of the place Chichen-Itza. In this case
the ancient Maya name has come down to us with the ruins—Chichen
meaning the “mouth of wells,” having reference to two springs
which supplied the place with water. Itza is the name of a branch
of the Maya people. This place is of interest to us in several
ways. It was, unquestionably, a renowned city in aboriginal
times. Here the Spaniards met with a very severe repulse. As a
ruin it attracted the attention of early writers, and it has been
the subject of antiquarian research in recent times. The
description of the buildings will not detain us long. They are,
evidently, the work of the same people as those whose structures
we have already described.
One of the most important buildings is known as the Nunnery,
reminding us at once of the collection of buildings of that name
at Uxmal. In this case, however, the pyramid is represented by a
solid mass of masonry one hundred and twelve by one hundred and
sixty feet, rising with perpendicular sides to the height of
thirty-two feet. This is seen to be a departure from the method
of constructing pyramids hitherto described. The proprietor of
the estate on whose grounds these ruins are located used this
mound as a stone-quarry. An excavation of thirty feet revealed no
secret chambers.
The probabilities are that it is solid throughout. A grand
staircase, fifty-six feet wide, leads up to the top of this
mound. Mr. Stephens tells us that three ranges of buildings
occupied the summit, and his drawings represent the same. The
roof of the one forms a promenade in front of the one above. So
each range of buildings rests on a foundation solid from the
ground. Mr. Bancroft describes this mound as having but two
ranges of buildings on the summit. Of these buildings the second
range was, seemingly, the most important. Several of its rooms
contained niches in the back wall, extending from floor to
ceiling. From traces still visible, they were once covered with
painted ornaments. One of the rooms was fifty-seven feet long and
nine wide.
In the rear wall of this room were nine of these niches. “All of
the walls of this room, from the floor to the peak of the arch,
had been covered with painted designs, now wantonly defaced, but
the remains of which present colors, in some places, still bright
and vivid; and among these remains detached portions of human
figures continually reappear, well drawn, the heads adorned with
plumes of feathers and the hands bearing shields and spears.” To
this pile of masonry, at one end, a wing had been attached. This
building was similar in design to other buildings in Yucatan.
Theoretically we would expect this wing to be much later in time
than the buildings on the mound. That it is so, is proven by the
fact that in two rooms the internal core of masonry, as described
at Zayi, had not been wholly removed.
We have noticed in all these structures, the builders first threw
up a mound or pyramid to support the building. In one of the
Chichen edifices the earth had been excavated from all around it,
so as to still present the appearance of a mound. Perhaps the
most prominent object at this place is a stately pyramid, with an
imposing building, represented in the plate below. The mound
itself is nearly two hundred feet square, and rises to the height
of seventy-five feet. On the west and north sides are ruined
staircases.
Castillo, Chichen-Itza.
On the ground, at the foot of the stairway on the north side,
“forming a bold, striking, and well conceive commencement to this
lofty range, are two colossal serpents’ heads, ten feet in
length, with mouths wide open, and tongues protruding. No doubt
they were emblematic of some religious belief, and, in the mind
of an imaginative people passing between them, to ascend the
steps, must have excited feelings of solemn awe.” The temple on
the summit of this pyramid has some peculiar features about it.
It is nearly square—forty-three by forty-nine feet—only one door
in each side. In the room within, instead of partition walls
supporting arches, were two immense beams, resting on square
pillars, and supporting two arches—the only instance in the ruins
of Yucatan of such use of beams.
Gymnasium at Chichen-Itza.
We now wish to speak of one class of ruins which are present at
Uxmal, but which we did not describe. They are two parallel
walls. On the plan of Uxmal they are noticed between the
Governor’s House and the House of Nuns. This illustration
represents this feature. These walls are each two hundred and
seventy-four feet long, thirty feet thick, and twenty-six feet
high. The distance separating them is one hundred and twenty
feet. About one hundred feet from the north end, is seen a
building fronting the open space between the walls. A building
stood in a like position at the south end. In the cut a stone
ring is seen projecting from each side. On the rim and border of
these rings were sculptured two serpents, represented below. The
general supposition is that this structure was used in the
celebration of public games. Mr. Stephens refers us to the
writings of Herrera, an early historian, for a description of a
game of ball played at Mexico, where the surroundings must have
been much the same as is here represented.
Ring.
Most of the structures in Yucatan have been left in undisturbed
quiet since the visit of Mr. Stephens. Five years after his
visit, the Indians rose in revolt, and a large portion of country
through which he traveled in perfect safety has, since then, been
shunned by cautious travelers. As he says, “For a brief space the
stillness that reigned around them was broken, and they were
again left to solitude and silence.” At Uxmal, and some places
near the coast, more recent travelers have investigated the
ruins, wondered over them, and passed on, without materially
adding to our knowledge respecting them. In 1873 a French
scientists Dr. A. Le Plongon, accompanied by his wife, visited
Yucatan for the purpose of exploring the ruins. They spent a year
in Meridia, thoroughly studying the customs of the country, and
preparing for work.
Their first field of work was this ancient city, Chichen-Itza. As
a result, he lays before us a picture of life and times not only
vastly remote from us, but surpassing in wonder any thing
hitherto presented. In the field of American antiquities we need
scarcely be surprised at whatever conclusions are presented to
us. We believe, however, we are not too harsh in saying that
scholars, as a rule, consider Le Plongon as too much carried away
by enthusiasm to judge coolly of his discoveries.54 The most
important part of his discoveries seem to have been in the
buildings in connection with the Gymnasium last described.
At the time of the Spanish conquest, a very common tradition
among the natives was that, in ancient times, three brothers
governed the country. This legend of three rulers in olden times,
was not peculiar to the Mayas, but was found among all the Indian
nations of Central America.55 In our opinion this last statement
at once shows we have here to deal with a question belonging to
mythology and not to history. But M. Le Plongon considers the
buildings at Chichen, especially those of the Gymnasium,
illustrative of the lives of the three brothers, and of the queen
of one of them. In brief, he tells us the names of these three
brothers were, Chaac-mol, Huuncay, and Aac. The first of these,
Chaac-mol, means Tiger King. It was he who raised Chichen-Itza to
the height of its glory. M. Le Plongon would have us believe that
the merchants of Asia and Africa traded in its marts, and that
the wise men of the world came hither to consult with the
H-men,56 whose convent, together with their astronomical
laboratory, is still to be seen. Aac was the younger brother of
the three. He conspired against the life of Chaac-mol, and
finally killed him. The queen of Chaac-mol then erected the
buildings around the Gymnasium as his memorial.
Building at end of Gymnasium.
At the south end of the eastern wall Mr. Stephens noticed two
ruined buildings, an upper and a lower one, of which our next cut
is a representation. He was struck with the remains of painting,
which entirely covered the walls. He tells us the walls were
everywhere covered with designs in painting, representing, in
bright and vivid colors, human figures, battles, houses, trees,
and scenes of domestic life. We give, in a plate, detached
portions of these figures. We must understand that, in the
original, these were beautifully colored. The colors used were
“green, yellow, red, blue, and reddish brown, the last being
invariably the color given to human flesh.”
Painted Stucco-work.
M. Le Plongon contends that these paintings represent scenes in
the lives of the three brothers and the Queen of Chaac-mol, “in
the funeral chamber.” Says he: “The terrible altercation between
Aac and Chaac-mol, which had its termination in the murder of the
latter by his brother, is represented by large figures
three-fourths life size.”57 And in another place he tells us:
“The scenes of his death is impressively portrayed on the walls,
which the queen caused to be raised to the memory of her husband,
in the two exquisite rooms, the ruins of which are yet to be seen
upon the south end of the east wall of the Gymnasium. The rooms
were a shrine where the conjugal love of the queen worshiped the
memory of her departed lover. She adorned the outer walls with
his effigies, his totem-tiger, and his shield and coat-of-arms
between tiger and tiger;58 whilst on the admirably polished
stucco, that covers the stones in the interior of the rooms, she
had his deeds—his and her own life, in fact—painted in beautiful,
life-like designs, superbly drawn, and sweetly colored.”59
He tells us further, that Aac, after the commission of his crime,
fled to Uxmal for protection, where he built the edifice
described as the “Governor’s House.” The seated figures over the
central door-way, he says, represents Aac. In the hieroglyphics
around the head he finds the name. Although neither Mr. Stephens
nor the other travelers mention any thing of the kind, he says
that, under the feet of this figure, “are to be seen the bodies
of three figures, two men and one woman, flayed.”60 Though the
figures are headless, he has no doubt but that they represent
Huuncay, Chaae-Mol, and the queen, his wife. We are further told
that the ruined structure on the second terrace, called the
“House of Turtles,” was Aac’s private residence.
Queen consulting the H-men.
This wonderful story of the lives and adventures of the three
brothers was revealed to the doctor by a careful study of the
detached painting mentioned by Mr. Stephens. One of the paintings
which served him so good a turn is shown in the cut above, which
he considers represents the queen, when a child, consulting one
of the wise men as to her future destiny.61
Perhaps as interesting a portion of his discoveries as any, is
finding sculptured figures of bearded white men on the pillars of
the temple, and painted on the walls of Chaac-mol’s chambers. He
thinks they have Assyrian features. He also claims to have
discovered figures having true Negro features.