Of all North American tribes the Mayas were perhaps the most advanced in
culture, the nearest to civilization. They lived in the peninsula of
Yucatan and in the adjacent states of Tabasco and Chiapas in Mexico, and
in Honduras and Guatemala in Central America. While true Mayas did _not_
occupy the whole of this district, it was practically occupied by them and
peoples speaking languages closely related to theirs.
There are many Mayas now alive. It is a common but serious mistake to
imagine that Aztecs, Mayas, and other tribes of Mexico and Central America
at the time of the Conquest are extinct. Many tribes have died out; but
the famous Aztecs and Mayas are still numerous. The Mayas to-day are
short, well-built, broad-shouldered peoples with unusually dark skin. They
have much energy and are notable for their independent spirit. Within the
last few years they have given the Mexican government much trouble. They
have not given up their own language, but have learned to write it, and a
considerable number of books and papers have been printed in it. They
retain their ancient dress to some degree. Almost every one who sees the
modern Mayas speaks well of them,—as clean, neat, straightforward, and
reliable.
It is not the Mayan peoples of to-day, but those of the past, of whom we
desire to speak. They were the best builders in North America, and the
ruins of their cities testify to their skill. More than fifty years ago,
John L. Stephens, with an artist named Catherwood, traveled in Honduras,
Guatamala, Chiapas, and Yucatan. Mr. Stephens described their travels and
the ruins they explored, and Mr. Catherwood drew pictures of them.
Americans were astonished at these researches. These travelers visited
forty ruins of ancient cities in Yucatan alone. Since that time many other
travelers have been there, and much is known of Mayan architecture.
Most of the ruins appear to be those of buildings intended for
governmental or religious purposes. Few, if any, were houses for
individuals. Probably these fine, large buildings were at the center of
towns, the dwelling houses of which were frail huts of poles, branches,
canes, etc. These have disappeared, leaving no sign of their former
existence. All through Mexico, to-day, in Indian towns, the only permanent
constructions which would leave ruins are the church and the town house.
Everything else is frail hut.
Nearly every one of these old towns presents some peculiarity of interest.
We can, however, only briefly describe three. _Palenque_ appears to be one
of the oldest. It is in the most southern state of Mexico, Chiapas. The
more important ruins are those of the “palace” and five temples near it.
The buildings were all raised upon terrace platforms; they were long and
narrow; the walls were thick, and built of stones and mud, with cement.
The walls were faced with slabs of stone, often carved with figures of
gods, hieroglyphic characters, etc. Usually two long corridors ran
lengthwise, side by side, through the building. These open upon the
supporting platform by a line of rectangular doorways of uniform size.
There were no true arches, but the corridors had pyramidal arched
vaultings. The roof went up from all four sides, at a low and then at a
sharper angle. A curious crest or roof-comb surmounted the roof. Much
plastering was used in these buildings; the walls were sometimes thickly
and smoothly covered. Stucco figures were worked upon some of the walls.
One temple, called the “Temple of the Beau Relief,” had a great tablet of
stucco work, with the figure of a man seated upon a sort of rounded stone
seat; he wore a coiled cap, with great waving plumes. His hands were
making some sort of signs; he wore a necklace of beads, with a pendant
carved with a human face. The stone upon which he sits is supported on a
bench, the arms at the ends of which are lion heads, and the supports of
which are four heavily carved, but well-made, lion feet. In other temples
there were tablets of carved stone. Two of these are famous. One
represents the sun, as a human face, placed upon two crossed shafts; on
either side of this central object stands a profile figure, one of which
appears to represent a priest, the other a worshiper. Both stand on
curiously bent human figures. In the second tablet, two similar figures
are shown, but they stand at the two sides of a cross, upon which perches
a bird. On these tablets of the sun and cross are many curious hieroglyphs
forming an inscription.
_Copan_ in Honduras is another famous location of ruins left by some Mayan
people. The most interesting objects there are great stone statues or
figures with stone altars before them. These statues are taller than a man
and are cut from single blocks of stone. They differ so much in face and
dress that they have been believed by some writers to be portraits. The
persons ate usually beautifully dressed and ornamented. They wear beads,
pendants, tassels, belts, ear ornaments, and headdresses. The headdresses
are usually composed of great feathers. The sides and sometimes the back
of these figures are covered with hieroglyphics of the same kind as those
at Palenque. The “altars” in front of these stone figures, differ in form
and size, but are cut from single blocks of stone. One which is nearly
square has at the sides a series of figures of human beings sitting
cross-legged; there are four of these on each side, or sixteen in all.
[Illustration.]