In the north-east of Guatemala are the ruins of another city, the
capital of the province of Quiche. It is surrounded by a deep ravine,
which forms a natural foss, leaving only two very narrow roads as
entrances, guarded by the castle of Resguado. The palace of the kings,
which stood in the centre of the city, surpasses every other edifice,
competing in magnificence with that of Montezuma in Mexico. It was
constructed of hewn stones, of various colours. So large was the city,
that it could send no less than seventy-two thousand fighting men to
oppose the Spaniards. The whole palace is now, however, completely
destroyed, and the materials have been carried away to build a village
in the neighbourhood. The most conspicuous portion of the ruins
remaining is called El Sacrificatorio. It is a quadrangular stone
structure, rising in a pyramidal form to the height of thirty-three
feet. At the corners are four buttresses of cut stone. Steps lead up
on the eastern side. On the top it is evident that an altar was once
placed, for the sacrifice of human victims, which struck even the
Spaniards with horror. The whole was in full view of the people who
collected round the base. The ruins differ entirely from Copan and
Palenque. Here no statues, carved figures, or hieroglyphics are seen.
It is therefore supposed that these cities are of a much older date, and
built by another race.