tensive buildings which had in them idols and sanctuaries. These

*
CAMPECHE
AND
417
TENOSIQU&
tensive buildings which had in them idols and sanctuaries.
edifices were built of lime and sand.
These
O n the walls w e r e enormous
serpents, and near them paintings representing their idols, round
a kind of altar stained with drops of blood still quite fresh.
On
one side of the idols were painted human figures massed in the
shape of a cross.
W e were amazed at the sight of things so
strange, as w e watched numbers of natives, men and
women,
come in to get a sight of us with smiling, unconcerned
counte-
nances." *
But
the
scene
soon
changes;
osier braziers,
burning copal, are brought, and the priests tell the
for
Spaniards
to leave the shore immediately under penalty of death.
Spaniards sailed a w a y , and did
not settle at C a m p e c h e
The
until
T h e s e ancient mounds, these temples, with their ceremonial
and gory
priests, carry
us back
to M e x i c o ;
but it would
be
vain to look for traces of such buildings along the coast, or in
the
proximity
of
Campeche became
Spanish
settlements.
the most
flourishing
In
process
city of the
of
time
peninsula,
and was plundered several times by F r e n c h and E p g l i s h privateers.
T o stop these frequent devastations, a strong wall w a s
built around
to enable
the wall, built
for
its inhabitants to rest
safety, seems
now to
in peace.
oppress
the
But
town,
which has outgrown it, and is spreading outside, w h e r e wealthy
merchants h a v e " quintas,"
in whose gardens the rich tropical
fiora displays its magnificence, casting a multicoloured lx:lt about
the town.
Campeche,
with
its tortuous
suburbs,
its
drawbridges,
its
unsymmetrical high buildings, is the least Eastern-looking place
in Mexico, and boasts no monuments worthy of mention.
Our
steamer stopjxxl some hours here, g i v i n g me the opportunity to
#
27
Iternal D i a z t t o m e 1. chap. iii.
rr m i l •n m
r%
418
THE
pay
a
ANCIENT
long-promised
correspondent,
pleasantest
talk.
under
days
CITIES
visit
OF T H E
to
Don
N E W WOKI.IX
F.
Ferrer,
charming
whose hospitable roof I spent one of the
I can
remember,
amidst
music
W e returned to our steamer en route
afternoon, and
a
and
pleasant
for C a r m e n in the
I looked forward to h a v i n g
the whole boat
to
myself, when a l a r g e canoe full of |X!ople rowed up alongside just
a s w e were settling down comfortably.
" O h d e a r ! " I thought,
" t h r e e d a y s ' v o y a g e with a surplus of eighteen people, not counting
half-a-dozen curs and parrots!
to b e c o m e of u s ? "
If the norte
g e t s up, what
is
T h e y were strolling actors who had long
secured all the available accommodation, so that we w e r e g i v e n
the choice of the deck, and it w a s with difficulty that I obtained
for L u c i a n , w h o w a s prostrated
a wee corner below.
of
the women.
is
it yellow
was
us
in
fever?"
is
the
they
whereupon
undisturbed
of
fever,
Presently his moans attracted the attention
" What
my r e p l y ;
with a s e v e r e attack
matter
41
inquired.
the
possession
whole
of
with
1
the
gentleman,
shouldn't
wonder/'
band made off and
our
berths, w h e r e
we
left
slept
the sleep of the just, and a r r i v e d at C a r m e n as fresh as larks.
This place is the great depot for woods known a s
Campeche,
and drives a brisk trade.
I
found
my
old
called Chinal on
maybe
the
basements of
in them,
bullets
friend
when
likewise
Don
Benito,
Usumacinta,
temples.
Some
of
plausible
these g u n s
in an
battle of Centla in
so
much
explanation
11
tombs,
made
long,
to light.
or
with
I
was
are now in the T r o c a d e r o .
I can
mound,
give
for
is that
either
the
presence
a f t e r the
great
Cortez' artillery wrought
the natives tried to copy
being unacquainted
island
were
inches
brought
Tabasco, in which
destruction,
engine, but
Indian
an
mounds,
excavations
feet
terra-cotta, w e r e
presented with s o m e bullets, which
T h e only
having
terra-cotta guns, 4
of
who owns
with
this new war-
iron or the effect
CAMPECHK
419
AND T E N O S I Q U £ .
of powder, they reproduced them in the material most familiar
to them, fondly imagining that the result would be the same, and
buried them later with their chief.
T h e j o u r n e y from C a r m e n to Frontera takes t w e l v e
hours,
where we land the very day twelve months a f t e r our first visit,
and put up again at the detestable fonda.
HOTF.L O R I J A L V A
pox and yellow-fever h a v e
AT
W e learn that small-
FRONTfRA.
decimated
and
are decimating
the
town, but nothing daunted, for these epidemics seem to spare
foreigners, I fill tip the time 1 must wait here until
calls, by collecting ancient pottery.
a
steamer
Indian idols are of frequent
occurrence in Central A m e r i c a , but up to the present time no one
has cared to collect them, and the M e x i c a n
possess a single specimen.
figures
Museum does not
A m o n g those I picked up are v a r i o u s
resembling more or less those of the table-land,
while
420
THE
ANCIENT
C I T I E S OF T H E
NEW W O K I . I X
their differences of style connect them with the idols at Palenque.
Our drawing shows the two best preserved, and although v e r y
rude in make, they are not devoid of interest.
T h e figure to the
left is a Quetzalcoatl, easily recognised
the
from
serpent
sur-
rounding his head, and is the facsimile of a stone idol at Capan ;
while the larger to the right may have been meant for a priest
or a " t e c u h t l i "
knight.
W e are in full carnival, the entire population parading
the
streets in ludicrous travesties, making merry with music, j o k e s ,
and quips.
T h e Seftoritas come to our fonda to get subscribers
for the dance ; we g i v e our names and follow the stream.
ball is kept
requisition
up with
by all
The
much vigour, and Julian is soon in great
the pretty
Seftoritas, to the annoyance and
mortification of Lucian, who ends, however, by declaring that he
can well forgive his success, for lie is an obliging fellow and such
a hand at polishing his boots.
T h e s e words are drowned in the
tumult and cries of the dancers pressing round a man who has
just
been
shot
by
his
less
favoured
rival.
The
would-be
murderer is taken to the police station, while his victim is conveyed home by his friends and
the ball g o e s on more briskly
than ever.
A t last a steamer bound for the U s u m a c i n t a is in sight.
We
get on board with alacrity, and arc soon at J o n u t a ; but
here
the captain, on seeing the low e b b of the river, declares that his
ship cannot g o any further.
A f t e r much parley he is persuaded
to g o on, but we are startled by a tremendous bump in the middle
of the night, and find that w e are stranded.
W e wait for the day,
when, with a great deal of difficulty, we succeed in getting her
off, and push on to Monte-Cristo, where the captain
nolens
volcns
lands us, protesting that his ship cannot g o another yard.
But
our troubles do not end here.
our
W e are requested to show
passes, and as Monte-Cristo is not mentioned, w e are in d a n g e r
CAMPECHK
AND
TENOSIQU£.
421
of h a v i n g the whole of our property confiscated;
Fortunately
I had a letter from the H o m e Minister, recommending me to all
the authorities of the Republic.
I took it to the M a y o r , who g a v e
me full leave to continue my journey unmolested.
TKKKACOTTA
A n d now
we find that
IDOLS OF
TAKAbCO.
w e turn our thoughts how to get to T e n o s i q u e ;
it takes
twenty-four hours
by
four or five days
land.
We
procure
by
a
water, and
canoa,
in
some
which
we deposit our b a g g a g e , under the management of our faithful
Julian,
who will
follow a s quickly
a s possible,
while
Lucian
%
THE
and
ANCIENT
I, with a
arc
soon
six
hours
CITIES
OF T H E
guide, t a k e the road
left behind, and
later,
when
do
we
XEW
WOKI.D.
through
not s e e
find him
the
our g u i d e
reposing
by
woods.
We
again
until
the
side
of
a running stream.
" W h e r e is o u r l u n c h ? "
"What
1 roared out.
lunch?"
" W h y , the parcel w e put up b e f o r e w e started."
11
O h ! 1 didn't k n o w what it w a s , and I left it b e h i n d . "
E x p o s t u l a t i o n s w e r e more than vain, and w e had to satisfy
the c r a v i n g s of h u n g e r with a draught of rum and
We
press on
as
best
where
we
reach
a rancho
made
of
Here
w e cross the r i v e r on
Indian
may,
and
fresh e g g s ,
corn,
s o m e hours later
poultry,
somewhat
water!
restore
and
our
to the right
a
we
beverage
jaded
frames.
side, and a r r i v e
at
C a b e c e r a early in the e v e n i n g , and put up at two old dames',
w h o r e g a l e us with chicken broth and fried fish, which, seasoned
by
hunger,
at
Tenosique,
quarters
of
we
garrapatas,
delicious.
three
in a
scraping
find
miles
vacant
and
and
other
we
insects,
the
food, an
that
to g i v e tis s o m e salad
these
naturally
improved
with
the dearth
distant,
hut, but. d o
sweeping,
old
man does
enough
green
Hon
native
Gil
|>oor hamlet
by
name,
character
early
we
are
where
we
take
up
our
in the
way
we
will
get
rid of
which
eat
us
best, and
mosquitoes,
alive.
I still
As
to
remember
recourse to turnip-leaves ;
hard
juice
to
the
by
way
bite, and
of
hardly
vinegar.
food m a d e us g u l p it d o w n
will to like it. and w e almost
This
day
cannot
had
were
next
what
his
he
bitter o r a n g e
of any
The
But
with
a
succeeded.
dates
back
settled
here.
to the present
to
1535,
It s e e m s
day;
when
a
to h a v e
Spaniard.
kept
its
for D o n S a t u r n i n o tells
me, that thirty y e a r s a g o it had still a cacique, " tropiles " (subs),
and a picote.
O f late it has acquired
some
importance, from
423
its being the great entrepot
of ebony wood, sought
for in the
remotest parts of the State.
We
ruins
the
hear the most
I
wish
other
to
side
Usumacinta.
conflicting reports
explore, lying some
of
They
the
Sierra,
were
on
visited
with
regard
fifty miles
the
twelve
to the
distant
on
left
bank
of
the
years
ago
by
the
mayor of this place, " when they were still held in high esteem
A B I T OK
by the
Laeandones.
A
TRNOSKiUfi.
guard
was
placed
and on stated d a y s religious ceremonies
since the fall of a favourite idol, whose
the rubbish, the building
has
this piece of good news,
I direct all
men,
mules,
promise of
and
horses;
double
pay,
for * their return
and
from
as
Peten.
been
the
temples
head lies now
abandoned."
we
latter
and
obtain
we
they
have
by
procure
with
the
to
wait
arrive at
the g h a s t l y
but
among
Cheered
my energies to
Hut when
I see their wretched condition,
the
were performed,
former
for the
over
last
wounds
424
THE
which cover
forming
ANCIENT
them,
the
I
feel
arduous
T h e i r owner assures
i
will be all right.
CITIES
great
journey
me
OF T H E
NEW W O K I . I X
misgivings
which
is
as
in
to
their per-
store
that with a week's
rest
for
the
them.
animals
I must needs accept his word for it, hoping
the best, for there is nothing else to be done.
T o reach
the
ruins, a space of s o m e five leagues of
forest
will h a v e to be cleared on the right side of the river, which will
take us opposite the ruins, but a canoe must likewise be made
•
to ferry us across.
F o r this purpose
I despatch s o m e men in
advance, while w e fill up the w e a r y time of waiting
to catch some
fish.
Curiously enough, a number of sea-fish is
found here in the Usumacinta,
when
swollen
by
by trying
rain
1 0 0 miles from its mouth ; and
it brings from distant G u a t e m a l a
large
quantities of lobsters, together with pumice stones.
W e set out on the 1 5 t h of March, 1 8 8 2 , and are soon in a
tangle of wood and beset with obstacles
of e v e r y
kind ; while
the mules g e t unloaded, g o astray, tarry in green pastures, and
arc altogether v e r y
troublesome.
W e h a v e left behind us the low marshy level, and are nearing the Cordillera, bearing to the south-east on the Pctcn road.
T h e forest seems absolutely interminable with magnificent cedar
and palm-trees, o v e r 1 0 0 feet high, the trunks of which almost
disappear under
flowering
lianas, while the broad-leaved P a l m y r a
palms commingle with Brazil wood, and form boundless d o m e s of
verdure.
It would be pleasant enough could one get used
being eaten
up by
mosquitoes
and garrapatas.
where w e encamp, although not possessed
carefully marked
in
the maps
for the
even
The
to
stations
of a hut, are
benefit of
muleteers;
they are a l w a y s on risihg ground, in the vicinity of water
and
ramon for the animals, their staple food on
Our
d a y ' s journey has told already on
cut down ramon.
the march.
them ; the men disperse
to
Julian is putting up our camp-beds, while cook
CAMPECHK
AND
TENOSIQU£.
425
is busy with our supper, which usually consists of
Scotch
broth,
made
of dried
meat,
rice, a n d
a
black
kind of
beans,
round of biscuit, and a cup of coffee, e x c e p t pn d a y s when
a
our
larder has been replenished 011 the w a y by a wild duck, a peccari,
and sometimes a m o n k e y !
In the e v e n i n g the men, g r o u p e d round the fire, indulge in
a social weed, while recounting adventures more or less authentic,
then we all retire behind o u r mosquito
weary
limbs
on
soft
green
leaves.
interrupted by the roar of the
of nocturnal
curtains and
rest
O u r slumbers
wild beast,
birds, and howling monkeys.
the
our
are
often
plaintive
cries
W e rise before day-
break, and what with breakfast, saddling and loading our animals,
the sun is high on
the
journey.
No
incident
progress,
but
towards
buildings,
vast
horizon
we can continue
our
b r e a k s the w e a r i s o m e monotony of
our
noon
I
before
notice to our
right
traces
esplanades, the stone e d g e s of which
are
intact, whilst the g u i d e s a y s that towards the valley of S .
to our left, are entire monuments
Izancanac, perhaps.
still
standing—the
of
still
Pedro,
town of
Indeed, the whole country is c o v e r e d with
ruins, to study which a lifetime w e r e not too long.
T h e region is full of the memory of the conqueror.
have travelled this v e r y
road on his march
to
H e must
Honduras.
It
was in these woods that, under pretext of a conspiracy, he caused
Guatemozin to l>e executed.
T h e y o u n g A z t e c prince displayed
the intrepid spirit of his better d a y s ; he reproached Cortez for
his want of faith, protesting the while his innocence.
monument
has
independence
just
been
raised
to
the
in that Tenochtitlan which
upholder
A
of
tardy
Indian
he defended a s
a s there w a s stone upon stone, whilst not e v e n a bust
long
marks
the presence of his murderer.
T h e region w e now traverse, covered with immense forests,
was cultivated
and inhabited before the C o n q u e s t ;
great cities
426
THE
ANCIENT
CITIES
OF
THE
NEW W O K I . I X
rose in this trackless labyrinth, the vestiges of which h a v e been
noticed by us, whilst frequent mention of them is found in various
authors.
On this route Cortez saw " a great city," with strong
buildings of stone on the summits of mounds, just a s at the present
day.
T h i s city, known a s
11
Bitza," had been abandoned on the
approach of the Spaniards, but provisions of all kinds were left.
W h e n its inhabitants returned, Cortez asked w h y they had fled.
41
Because w e were afraid."
11
W h a t is the meaning of all these provisions ?
Why
are
all the crops gathered in ? "
41
Because
if the Lacandones,
with whom
had come and conquered us, w e would
everything to s t a r v e
them
out.
But on
w e are at
feud,
h a v e done a w a y
with
the contrary had w e
prevailed, w e would have given hot pursuit and lived
at
their
which
were
expense." *
Next
Cortez
passed
a town,
the environs of
peopled with deer so tame, that the S p a n i a r d s could catch them
by riding a f t e r thcm.t
T h e country must, therefore, h a v e been
open to allow of the Spanish cavaliers g i v i n g chase.
Cogolludo calls the region
Guatemala, Prospero,
and s a y s :
between
44
Y u c a t a n , Chiapas, and
T h e natives of Prospero h a v e
their ears and nostrils b o r e d ; they wear in the latter a vanilla pod
or a c a r v e d piece of wood ; their hair, of which they are vain, is
worn long and adorned with f e a t h e r s ; they also practise tattooing.
T h e y told father S i m o n that the country round w a s more densely
populated than Y u c a t a n , that they went by the name of
which means apart.
Locates,
and spoke the M a y a language ; that the other
tribes were the Mopanes, Lacandones, A h a b e s , Cihaches, Chinamitas, e t c . ; that the town
•
Villa Guticrrc Soto Mayor,
d o n e s , " c h a p . v. p. 3 0 .
t
Ibid. c h a p .
vi. p. 4 3 .
44
of
Locen numbered eight
hundred
H i s t , o f the C o n q u e s t of Itza a n d the
Lacan-
427
houses;
that the inhabitants were known for their clear com-
plexion,
their good
looks;
that they wore gold collars round
their n e c k s ; and, finally, that many ancient buildings with stone
idols in them, were found in the S i e r r a . " *
Meanwhile our journey becomes more and more
harassing;
w e have been obliged to leave one of the horses and a mule to
the jaguars, and not to, overload the others, Lucian and 1 ride
in
turn
the
only
remaining
horse.
We
cross
the
Arroyo
Y a l c h i l a n t on the G u a t e m a l a border, not far from L o c e n , and
leaving the Peten road, we steer to the south-east-south, on the
path cleared by our men, and encamp on the bank of the running
stream in which w e lave our dust-travelled limbs.
T h e next day w e climb the range of hills which divide us from
the upper Usumacinta, and which are almost impassable for loaded
animals.
T h e sharp stones destroy the leather of our boots, and
cut the mules' feet to pieces, while we are in d a n g e r of being lost
•
down the ravines and precipices.
T h e better to case the mules'
backs, we leave here such provisions as we shall not require, for
g a m e will not be wanting on our way, and e v e r y t h i n g will be
safe until we return.
A scaffolding supported on poles fixed to
the ground is made, on which wine, biscuit, salt meat, and beans
are deposited.
Here
w e encamp for the
night — the
T e n o s i q u e — a n d the next day we begin
sixth
since w e left
the ascent of
Mirador
and A g u i l a ; the latter, although not more than 1 , 3 0 0 to, 1,400 feet
in height, is exceedingly steep and arduous.
W e meet an old
montcro, Doii P. Mora, who left his native village three months
since, and
business
is
is
to
living
mark
•
in
the Sierra with two
mahogany
trees ready
C o g o l l u d o , t o m e 1. lib. xii. c a p . v i i l
t S e e note at end.
Indians,
for
the
whose
market.
178
THE
Don
ANCIENT
CITIES
oF
THE
NEW W O K I . I X
Pepe has built himself a hut on the Chotal
shoots whatever comes within the
the supj>ort of
himself
range
ot
his
and his companions.
fellow is reduced to a deplorable
volunteers some valuable
state
hints, which
by
river;
he
muzzle, for
The
i>oor
old
marsh
fever;
he
I repay
with
a
glass
of wine and a few cigars.
1 UK
CSLMACIJUA
AT
J*AvO
YALC1IILAN.
S o m e hours more and we reach the broad level, and set
up our t£nts on the Chotal, a tributary of
The
the
forest round
air
with
silently among
is teeming with l i f e ;
their
shrill
the higher
peer inquisitively
cries, yellow-crested
branches,
* T h e H o c c o . or Powise ( C r a x al«tor\
Usumacinta.
parrots and aras fill
while
at us, and herds of wild
much prized for its delicate
the
hoccos*
howling
move
monkeys
boars rush madly
is a bird nearly the size of a turkey, and
flesh.—TKANSL.
CAMPECHK
past us.
We
AND TENOSIQU£.
arc in the country
of
the
429
Lacandoncs;
here
and there traces of cultivation are still visible, and huts which
have been abandoned on
plainly show that
raise our
44
they
the approach
were
camp," en route
inhabited
of
not
timber
long
merchants,
ago.
We •
for the Yalchilan Pass, and arrive
in the evening on the right bank of the Usumacinta.
DON
PUPK
MOKA.
B i b l l o t e o a
in^F
GARCIA
PAYON
C H A P T E R
LORILLARD
Paso Yalchilan—Another
campment—Upper
:
Surprise— A
Mule
I,ost—An
Usumacinta—No
Mysterious
Votive Pillar—Ruins—I
X X I I .
TOWN.
Anxious Night—A
Canoes—A
Traveller—A
Wild
Boar—En
Difficulty—Deliverance—
Canoe—Fever—Down
M e e t with a S t r a n g e r — G e n e r a l
Stream—A
V i e w of
Lorillard—
A R e m i n i s c e n c e — S t e p h e n s ' " P h a n t o m C i t y " — E x t e n t of the R u i n s U n k n o w n
—Temple—Idol—Fortress—Our
Temple—Stone
Lintels
and
Dwelling
Two
Kinds
Palace—Great
of
Pyramid—Second
Inscriptions—Our
Return—
Lacandones.
PASO
YALCHILAN
is a geographical
place on the right
from Guatemala.
bank of the
We
reached
any
given
Usumacinta, dividing
Mexico
it so late that we had
barely
time to unload our animals and get
the night set in.
point, meaning
them
some fodder before
B u t now I discovered that the mule carrying
the material for our squeezes had lagged
behind;
but it was
LORILLARD
TOWN.
431
too dark, the men declared, to g o hunting for him in the insecure
forest, next morning would be time enough.
were rather startled by cries of
44
In the night we
A 1 tigre ! al tigre ! " (the tiger).
It turned out to be only a jaguar, but it served to remind us to
keep a fire burning.
T h e next day some of the men set to
work at our cabins, whilst others went in quest of the wretched
mule, which they found almost dead with fatigue and want of
food.
T h e y also brought to the general larder a nice young
boar, which
was received with joyful shouts, immediately
up, roasted, and eaten at our mid-day meal down
cut
to the last
morsel.
Our shots brought the canoeros
construct a canoe.
I had sent in advance
to
My inquiries as to the work done were met
with the unsatisfactory answer that nothing was finished ; they
had been unlucky in the choice of timber, etc.
I immediately
set out to see how it was, and to my great annoyance I found
that hardly any progress had
been made.
In fact, the men
had taken it mighty easy, had lived like lords on the supplies
I had given them, varying their fare with fish from the river
and game from the forest; causing me a delay which
might
ruin my expedition, for our supplies would not last out if this
was the way they went to work.
downcast,
looking
at
the
broad
I was returning with
river,
here
over
head
500
feet
across, pondering on the distance which divided me from the
goal of my expedition, when I spied ahead of us a boat manned
by a
Lacandon, who on perceiving
us veered
quickly
round.
Fortunately one of our men spoke Maya ; he hailed the
promising him a great reward if he would steer towards us.
man,
He
came to our encampment, and when I heard that he was a chief,
1 showed him the presents I had brought, telling him they would
be his and any of his people's he should bring to me.
W e learnt
that he had two more canoes he was willing to let us have
432
THE
ANCIENT
C I T I E S OF T H E
NEW W O K I . I X
for a consideration, and I congratulated myself on being able to
attain my end so easily.
W e were now waiting with some impatience for the cayucoes,
when a large canoe manned by three white men loomed in the
d i s t a n c e ; a horrible suspicion flashed across my mind, that they
were men belonging to another expedition, who had forestalled
me.
T h e canoe c a m e near, and I learnt that they had been on
a foray expedition a m o n g the L a c a n d o n e s , but had been unable
to obtain anything except a few tomatoes, and were now returning
to the ruins to join their master, D o n A l v a r e d o , and that their
provisions w e r e running v e r y short.
44
H a v e you another c a n o e ? " I inquired.
" Y e s , much larger than this."
44
L o o k here, my good fellows, take my card to y o u r master
with my compliments, together with half a wild pig, salt meat,
rice, biscuits,
and
in
return
ask
him
to
lend me his
large
canoe, which these men I send with you will b r i n g . "
T h e strangers r o w e d a w a y , and 1 began to prepare for the
next
d a y ' s expedition, in which
accompany
me,
leaving
the rest
Lucian
and
six
men
behind to take care
h e a v y l u g g a g e under the superintendence of Julian.
would
of
our
But in the
morning early I had a s e v e r e attack of malaria, which threatened
at one time to d e l a y our j o u r n e y .
A f e w hours' rest, however,
and a good dose of quinine, restored me sufficiently to allow of
my setting out for the long-sought, long wished-for ruins, which
we
reached
in
three hours, landing near an enormous pile of
s t o n e s — a kind of votive pillar—rising on the left bank of the
river, which has withstood the buffeting of the waters for several
centuries.
T h i s stone mound w a s described to me at T e n o s i q u e ,
as having formed part of an old bridge which spanned the river
at this point.
building
But what w e
know
of the natives' method
makes this supposition impossible,
of
for the river is too
434
AMERICA
PINTORESCA
H a s t a me a t r e v e r i a d a c o n s e j a r que nadie se h a g a e x p l o r a d o r : tantas son las dificultades
que ante mi s u r g e n , v i n i e n d o d entorpecer mi marcha.
R e c i b o d la v e z tan
contradictorias
noticias s o b r e las ruinas c u y o descubrimiento p e r s i g o , que e m p i e z o d sospechar que h a y
en
esto un terrible e n g a f t o 6 u n a sensible mala inteligencia. Y sin e m b a r g o , las ruinas e x i s t e n :
asf me lo a s e g u r a t e r m i n a n t e m e n t e el individuo que las v i 6 por v e z primera. E s t a n
16jos, d
cincuenta l e g u a s d e a q u i , al otro lado d e la S i e r r a y a la orilla izquierda del U s u m a c i n t a ; no
h a y ningun camino, pero el itinerario e s conocido. M i h o m b r e , que hoy e s j e f e politico d c
T e n o s i q u e , afiade: i Descubrf e s a s ruinas h a c e d o c e a f l o s , en cuya £ p o c a los lacandones
las
tenian en g r a n v e n e r a c i o n ; ponian g u a r d i a s p a r a custodiarlas y en ciertos d i a s del afto celebraban en ellas c e r e m o n i a s religiosas. N o permitian que s e tocaran los palacios ni los temp l o s ; pero d e s d e la caida d e un g r a n fdolo q u e a d o r a b a n m u y p a r t i c u l a r m e n t e , y cuya c a b e z a
y a c e hoy entre los e s c o m b r o s , han a b a n d o n a d o los palacios.»
E s t a minuciosa a s e v e r a c i o n me r e a n i m a , y v o y a o c u p a r m e t o d a v f a con mds ardor en hacer mis p r e p a r a t i v o s . M a s j a y ! me siento impotente.
A mi l l e g a d a iba p r o v i s t o d e cartas d c recomendacion p a r a las d o s c a s a s cmncrciales del
p u e b l o , en las q u e m e hicieron toda clase d c p r o m e s a s , pero no cumplicron n i n g u n a .
Xece-
sitaba p o r lo m e n o s q u i n c e h o m b r e s , catorce m u l a s y tres c a b a l l o s ; envi<£ d b u s c a r los primeros en un radio d e v e i n t e l e g u a s , ofrectendolcs doble s a l a r i o ; en cuanto d l a s mulas, me decian
que e s p e r a s e un c o n v o y q u e , d e v u e l t a d c P e t e n , podria ponerse en m a r c h a d e s p u e s dc desc a n s a r a l g u n o s dias. T e n i a v f v e r e s : sacos d c a r r o z , habichuclas n e g r a s y g a l l c t a , p e r o faltaba
carne. C o m p r e d o s t o r o s , q u e me vendieron d c mala g a n a , y d e s p u e s d e muertos se parti6
su c a r n e en t i r a s , q u e se salaron y secaron tres dias al sol. E s t o s e llama tasajo,
y la c a r n e
p r e p a r a d a d e este m o d o se c o n s e r v a i n d e f i n i d a m e n t c .
M i c n t r a s tanto habia l o g r a d o reunir a l g u n o s h o m b r e s y m e respondian d e tener los que
f a l t a b a n , p e r o las m u l a s con tanto a f a n e s p e r a d a s , no llegaban. P o r fin, una tarde, al o c t a v o
dia d c mi dctencion f o r z a d a , 01' g r i t o s , p i s a d a s d e c a b a l l e r f a s en el suelo lleno d e y e r b a d e las
calles, y sail presuroso d e mi domicilio: jeran las mulas! L a s c o n t e , vf que h a b i a d o c e , y me
di' p o r s a l v a d o . P e r o n o , no lo e s t a b a , p o r q u e d la m a f i a n a s i g u i e n t e , c u a n d o pude
examinar
despacio aquellos animates en el patio d e la c a s a , s e m e presentaron en t o d o el horror d c su
inutilidad. E s t a b a n en los h u e s o s , llenas d c a s q u e r o s a s m a t a d u r a s , medio podridas y casi
m u e r t a s en su mayori'a, en una p a l a b r a , d c t o d o punto inservibles p a r a soportar un v i a j e tan
l a r g o y penoso.
P e r o su a m o m e a s c g u r a b a q u e , cuando hubiesen d c s c a n s a d o ocho d i a s , podrian e m p r e n d e r la m a r c h a , con la condicion d e no l l e v a r mds que m e d i a c a r g a . E l m u y tunante s e crcia
tanto mas autorizado d decirlo asf cuanto que s a b i a q u e la m a y o r p a r t e d e sus mulas s e quedarian por el camino y q u e las haria p a g a r c o m o b u e n a s , lo q u e s u c e d i o en e f e c t o mds a d c lante. P e r o y o no s o s p c c h a b a n a d a d e tan i n f a m e c o m b i n a c i o n , y seguf o c u p d n d o m e en mis
p r e p a r a t i v o s d e marcha.
L o s h o m b r e s iban l l e g a n d o ; m a n d £ h a c e r bastes y a p a r e j o s p a r a las a c e m i l a s , pues los
q u e tenian se caian d p e d a z o s ; s e prepararon las c a r g a s bajo la v i g i l a n c i a del arriero en j e f e
L O R I L L A K D TOWN.
435
broad, and on the other hand, had a bridge formerly stood here,
remains would l>e found either on the opposite side or in the
bed of the river.
There is very little doubt that tor all the
purposes of daily life, the inhabitants of this city used
"canoas"
just as they do now.
VOTIVE PI LP. OP LOR II.LARD.
W e had made but a short way among the ruins lying in every
direction, when we were met by Don Alvarcdo. whose fair looks
and elastic step showed him to l>e an Englishman.
hands;
he knew my name, he told me h i s :
Esq., from
London;
annoyance I felt:
and as my looks
W e shook
Alfred Maudslay.
betrayed
the
inward
436
THE
"It's
all
ANCIENT
right,"
C I T I E S OF T H E
he
said;
should look so distressed.
"there
NEW W O K I . I X
is no
reason
why
you
M y having had the start of you was
a mere chance, as it would have been mere chance had it been
the other way.
Y o u need have no fear on my account, for I
am only an amateur, travelling for pleasure.
of course is different.
C o m e , I have had
Hut I do not intend to publish anything.
a place got ready Y and as for the ruins I
make them over to you.
Y o u can
name the town, claim to
have discovered it, in fact do what you
interfere with you
W i t h you the case
in any
please.
way, and you
I
shall
may e v e n
not
dispense
with mentioning my name if you so please."
I was deeply touched with his kind manner, and I am only
too charmed to share with him
this city.
the glory
of having
explored
W e lived and worked together like two brothers, and
w e parted the best friends in the world.
T h i s town, which I shall call " Lorillard," in honour of the
munificent man who partly d e f r a y s the cost of the
expedition,
rises on the left bank of the Usumacinta in the 17th d e g r e e lat.
(see Map), in a region hitherto unclassified, between Guatemala,
Chiapas,
mately
and
its
Tabasco.
position
(We
from
are able
the
bearings
to
determine
we
took
approxi-
along
our
route.)
It was discovered twelve years a g o by Suarez of T e n o s i q u e ,
and
has been
Ealay
de
visited
Palisada.
at different times by
monteros and
by
It has been called " Phantom city," from
a passage in Stephens' Journal,* in which he reproduces a conversation with the merry
told of
" a great
41
Cura
Indian city
M
of S a n t a Cruz del Quiche, who
four days' journey
from
Santa
Cruz, on the road to Mexico, as being densely populated, and
in the same condition as other places of Central America.
#
S t e p h e n s , s e c o n d vol. o f " C e n t r a l A m e r i c a a n d Y u c a t a n . "
Me
LOKILLARD
ROUTE
K.V0SIQUB
TOWN,
437
THROUGH
MEXICO
FROM
AW<R
0
GUJ*
\ kntampmrni SJ>ry
Chciak
Koc/u-,
Co/frjcmrt
AtiL's*
* <^y>
L.PHrn
£1 Mur*.Ayr
North
f.oSu bidatUlAgu.>rv4U
\ Choi a I
South
V I L L A I -OR 1 1 - 1 . A K
V*(Kuin a.
yh'aNfhr 1'rfTt-mora
rP*%odeYalch;Un
MAP T A K F X
FROM
had heard of it at C h a y u l
T1IR
GEOGRAPHICAL
many
years
KJCIFTTV.
Ixrfore.
where
h e had
asccnded the S i e r r a , whence the vast panorama of Y u c a t a n
Tabasco
28*
to the sea could easily be distinguished, and that
and
he
438
THE
ANCIENT
Of
CITIES
THE
NEW
WOki.ix
had seen in the far distance a city o c c u p y i n g an immense space,
its white t o w e r s shining in the sun."
I d o not think that this mysterious city, if e v e r it w a s
in
existence, is Lorillard, for its b e a r i n g s do not a g r e e with those
of the A m e r i c a n
traveller ;
but there are
m a n y others
in
the
forests, and monteros m a y c o m e upon palaces which will a n s w e r
the description of
palaces of S a n t a
the " cura,"
who
assured
S t e p h e n s that the
C r u z del Quiche, which in
1841
w e r e found
in an a d v a n c e d state of dilapidation, w e r e in a perfect state of
preservation
thirty
y e a r s b e f o r e , and
that
him of the buildings of his own c o u n t r y ;
they
had
reminded
that at C o b a n , in the
p r o v i n c e of V e r a Paz, stood an ancient city ( U t a t l a n ) a s
large
as V e r a
when
Cruz,
now
deserted,
its inhabitants had abandoned
streets, a m o n g its colossal
entire a s those at
but almost
it.
He
buildings,
as
perfect a s
had walked in the silent
and found its palaces
as
VeraCruz."*
T h e number of buildings in gooil preservation
at
Lorillard
w a s supposed to b e t w e l v e , of which s i x were " c a s a s c e r r a d a s , "
and
six
without
monuments
on
doors.
Balay
the right
bank
in
of
his
the
ground
river,
plan
these
places
we
were
unable to d i s c o v e r ; but w e found more than t w e l v e monuments
on the left b a n k , three or four of which a r e still standing, h a v i n g
no trace of doors, j u s t like those at P a l e n q u e w h e r e they
also supposed to exist.
were
O w i n g to the distance from all inhabited
centres and the luxurious v e g e t a t i o n which o v e r r u n s these ruins.
• a complete
exploration
of
them
is
e x t e n t is not known ; but to j u d g e
the number of the monuments
twenty, consisting
of
the lower
a s usual
orders.
almost
impossible.
Then
from other Indian
centres
may be estimated
of temples,
These
buildings,
palaces,
some
* S t e p h e n s , * T r a v e l s in C e n t r a l A m e r i c a . "
at
and
65
fifteen
the
feet
or
huts
distant
LOKILLARD
TOWN,
439
from the river, arc like those at Palenque, supported on terraces
rising in amphitheatre and resting on natural hills, which
builders made use of to s a v e labour.
the
T h e y arc, a s usual, faced
with stones, h a v e a central flight of steps, but they arc fewer,
of smaller dimensions, and
edifices at
Palenque;
not so richly decorated a s similar
but the materials
decorations, the figures on "the
employed,
the
inner
bas reliefs with retreating fore-
heads, are the same, although more rudely built.
T h e outline,
however, resembles some of the Yucatec structures.
It should
be remarked that it is difficult to g i v e a correct description of
these monuments,
for all
trace
of
outer
decoration
has dis-
appeared.
TLA*
O F KIR S T TRMTL.FI A T
LORIM-ARTL.
N o . I , Enirwicc* with Sculptured Lintels of Stone. N o v 2 atxl 4, Nicbc* with Platformi aod I d o l
No. 3, N k b c * . No. $, Apoitoacrx
T h e first monument we s t u d y — o f
ground plan are g i v e n — i s a temple.
which a drawing and
a
It stands at a distance of
487 feet from the river, on a mound about 1 2 0 feet high.
I call
it temple because it contains a great stone idol and niches which
must have supjx>rted other idols, and
from the smoke of offerings.
that the walls are black
T h e idol's head is lopped off, and
lies amidst the rubbish ; the face is completely mutilated, which
seems to show th.it in the frequent inter-tribal wars, the town was
taken and plundered, the temple demolished, and the vanquished
gods destroyed.
T h i s w e see in the Mexican manuscripts, where
the defeat of a nation is always represented by a small edifice
with
a
prominent
cornice,
which
is entered by
the
invader
a lighted torch in his hand.
B l b l i o t e o a
J D S T
G '
RCA \
PAYPM
THE
440
ANCIENT
CITIES
OF T H E
B u t when w a s Lorillard destroyed ?
Soto
Mayor*
says:
gives
"That
the
Lacandones;
that
us
an
Iztaes of
in
WOki.ix
NEW
I think Villa
approximate
Peten
1694—two
were
date
at
when
he
enmity with
y e a r s before the
^
Gutierre
the
fall of
the
city by the S p a n i a r d s
^ggwHHfr^^
—the
former
m a
J H R ^ i ^ ^ -
i
f
^
'
^
were
...
expeditions
with fleets of canoes
j
on
'^ffT
anc
v
the
l
Rio
and
i^^Mfcyy^7
Usumacinta
Tabasco,
that
dered
they
plun-
and destroyed
the towns situated on
i
^
-
W
t h e
j p g y
• ^
^
^
^
^
B u t
i f
destruction
of
lard would
be much
later,
-: ^ ^ ^ a K ' i k
'
"
w e follow B o y l e , t the
C
w'~
r i v e r
^
^
^
^
for
° The
^
"'
^
read :
Lacandones
^^r
^
years ago"
II>OI. I N LA CAN HON TP. MP I.E.
we
Loril-
(1730).
» •* i •
T h i s idol is v e r y
beautiful and
unique of its kind, for nothing like it has
found either in T a b a s c o
or Y u c a t a n .
It
sitting
hands
on
cross-legged,
the
resting
represents
the
been
a
figure
knees.
The
attitude is placid and dignified, like a B u d d h a s t a t u e ; the face,
•
V i l l a G u t i e r r e S o t o M a y o r , " H i s t o r y o f t h e C o n q u e s t o f I t z a , " p. 2 8 5 .
t
" B o y l e ' s R i d e / ' v o l . 1. p p . 1 4 - 1 7 , q u o t e d b y B a n c r o f t .
) "J'
J'.*:
442
AMERICA PINTORESCA
oscuridad de la noche su encuentro no tiene nada dc agradable. Cogf pues mi revolver, un
bull dc gran calibre, y lo dispart en dircccion del intruso que huy6 sin aguardar d mds.
Esta aventura anodina nos hizo viviralcrta, y resolvimos tcnertodas las noches cnccndida
una hoguera que uno de los indios se encargaria dc alimentar por turno.
Al otro dia los indios se pusicron a trabajar para establecer definitivamente nuestra
vivienda; otros marcharon cn busca de la acemila perdida, d la que encontraron d dos leguas
de distancia, tumbada en el suclo, con su carga encima y medio muerta dc cansancio, de
hambre y de sed. Los indios le quitaron la carga, reparttendosela entre ellos, mas aquello
s6Io proporcion6 un aliyio momentdnco al pobre animal, porque el cazador que acompaftaba
a los peones, mat6 un hcrmoso jabalf que el asendereado mulo hubo dc llcvar al campamento.
La llcgada de aquella pieza dc caza fuc acogida con exclamaciones de contento; con clla
tenfamos came fresca, y yo creia que duraria muchos dias; pero no contaba con el apetito dc
mi gentc, pues no bien se hubo descargado cl jabali, lo desollaron, descuartizaron y asaron,
de suerte que por la noche ni mcmoria qucdaba de
el enorme animal habia pasado d sus
estomagos como si fuesc un conejo. Por fortuna el bosquc era abundantc cn caza, y fdcil nos
fuc repetir mds de una vez el mismo festin.
A eso de medio dia, y cuando los indios acababan de almorzar, llcgaron los canoeros,
atraidos por los tiros y los gritos de sus compafieros. Les pregunt^ al punto por cl estado en
que se encontraba su trabajo y por la canoa que se habian comprometido d construir.
E l carpintero me contesto con cierto embarazo que aiin no estaba concluido nada; que
habian cortado muchos drboles cuyos troncos, despues de desbastados, rcsultaron impropios
para la construccion de la canoa; que era un contratiempo del que ellos no tenian la culpa,
pero que en pocos dias terminarian su tarea. En seguida, los acompafi<£ d un astillero que
habian instalado un kilomctro mas alld, y en cfccto, vl dos drboles en ticrra, uno de los cualcs, labrado d hachazos, prcsentaba la forma vaga dc una canoa, pero aun no estaba vaciado
el interior, y si aquellos tunantcs habian neccsitado seis dias para hacer tan poco trabajo,
calculc que neccsitarian mds de ocho para terminarlo. L o que comprcndf en ultimo resultado
fu£ que se habian burlado dc mf y que habian pasado el tiempo en cazar, cn pescar y cn darsc
buena vida sin preocuparse poco ni mucho dc mi expedicion, poco m£nos que compromctida
por su culpa.
Ocho dias de retraso, era la ruina para mf; porque, a pesar de tener d mi gente d racion,
las provisiones se agotaban d ojos vistas, y aun cuando las calculi para cuarenta dias, era
indudable que no durarian veinte. Volvf pues al campamcnto muy inquieto y sin saber que
hacer; yendo por la orilla del rio, podia llcgar enfrente de las ruinas que cstaban al otro lado
de la orilla izquierda, pero tenfamos que abrir una senda de diez y ocho d veinte kil6metros
cn lo mds intrincado del bosque, y cuando llcgara d las ruinas tendria que construir una balsa
para cruzar cl rio. En este caso no podria llcvar conmigo mas que una parte del material, y
tampoco tenia la seguridad de que todos mis hombres quisieran seguirme. Habia contratado
los hombres y las caballerias para el paso dc Yalchilan y no irian mds alld, porque cuando les
LOKILLARD
TOWN,
443
now mutilated, is crowned by an enormous head-dress, of peculiar
style, presenting
lions, topped
a
by
fantastic head
huge
with a
diadem
feathers like those on
T u l a and Chichen-Itza.
The
and
medal-
the columns at
bust is admirably proportioned ;
while the dress consists of a rich cape embroidered with pearls,
a medallion on each
decorations.
The
shoulder
and
in
front, recalling
same ornamentation
is seen
Roman
on the
lower
part of the body, having a much larger medallion and a fringed
maxtli.
The
a r m s are covered with
I.ACANDON
VASF.S
FOUND
AT
heavy
I/>RILL*RD
bracelets.
Round
CITY,
the idol, and in e v e r y apartment of the building, are a number
of bowls of coarse clay of some 4 or 6 inches in diameter by
2 inches in height.
representing
faces with
of artistic feeling.
xuorthy,
The
and may
borders arc ornamented with
flat
or aquiline
noses,
utterly
masks
devoid
the difference of type is noteituo different races.
These bowls
Nevertheless
|>oint to
were used a s censers, for some are still filled with copal.
• cut shows two specimens.
Similar bowls are found in all
Our
the
buildings which were used as temples.
T h i s temple is pierced by three openings, with stone lintels
fairly carved ; its facade is about 68 feet by
1 9 feet 6' inches
444
THE
ANCIENT
CITIES
OF T H E
long, its height to the decorative wall is
the latter, of lattice-work,
structures at
at
Uxmal.
is
K a b a h , and
The
the central upper wall is a
17
feet to
19
feet;
feet high, and
recalls
similar
more particularly the
Pigeon
House
decoration
14
WOki.ix
NEW
must h a v e
been v e r y rich, for in
large panel which was occupied by
a figure sitting on a bench which is still standing.
T h e masonry
which formed the body of the statue is yet visible, while a narrow
long stone to the right
formed the shin-bone
of the
left leg ; a method of working which w e pointed out at
Izamal, and A k e , and called the " c e m e n t e p o c h . "
figure's
Palenque,
Below in the
great frieze forming the body of the edifice, three large
were also occupied b y statues,
panels
which w e r e still standing.
In
the central panel to the right, the masonry which formed the
bodies before the fall of the plaster is still v i s i b l e ;
while eight
niches, in g r o u p s of two each, contained idols of smaller dimensions.
On the
first
which
to j u d g e
house.
This
esplanade of the pyramid is another building,
from its inner
arrangement
was
the
priest's
temple is neither stately nor ancient, for hardly
any rubbish has accumulated at the foot of the building.
\\ e g i v e here the drawing of a diminutive ancient temple in
terra cotta, to be seen in the T r o c a d e r o , and which w e found on
the Uplands
of Mexico.
It consists of a pyramid with three or
four stories, and a temple crowning its summit, with
cornices
surmounted
by
a decorative
exactly like the temple at
H o u s e at
Uxmal.
knowledge
religious
projecting
wall, pierced
Lorillard, at T i k a l , and
by
the
holes
Pigeon
T h e most prejudiced mind cannot but ac-
the resemblance and
architecture
of
similarity
the plateaux,
and
of
design
that
of
in
the
Chiapas,
T a b a s c o , Y u c a t a n , and Guatemala.
T o the rear c f the temple, on a much higher pyramid, stands
the loftiest and
largest monument
at
Lorillard.
esplanade w e r e six palaces, forming a rectangle.
On
its
vast
O n e of these
445
palaces, having
stone
lintels
finely
sculptured,
is still
partly
standing, but so decayed that we could do nothing with it.
for the other buildings, they are a ruinous heap.
The
openings had stone lintels, while those of the large
As
narrow
entrances
were of wood ; this was probably owing to the difficulty of procuring blocks of stone of sufficient size for the main
doorways.
Remains of wooden lintels and zapot£ wood are still found in
the walls.
T h i s building, whether it was the cacique's residence
or a fortress, is admirably situated, and from the upper terrace
a
magnificent
over
view
boundless
obtained.
extending
woodlands
is
It should be borne in
mind that in an unhealthy, burning climate, dwellings
on
summits
of
were
necessity
for
pyramids
the
a
health, pure
air,
absence of mosquitoes and other
disagreeable insects ; that is the
reason why we
invariably
find
buildings of any dimensions supported on mounds and
The
palace
we
terraces.
inhabit
is
below the temple and on the first grade of the hill or amphitheatre.
temple,
W h a t remains of its decorations
but
ruder
and
more
dilapidated.
is like that of
The
doors
the
are
irregular, of different size, with slanting or perpendicular jambs
and niches distributed without any order.
which crowned
the building
The decorative wall
has fallen in ; the
frieze is
a confusion of holes, niches, and projecting stones.
but
T h e inner
arrangement is rather peculiar, being a maze of narrow passages,
small
apartments
having
platforms of masonry covered
over
THE
446
ANCIENT
WOki.ix
C I T I E S OF T H E N E W
with plaster, which may h a v e been used as beds.
narrow
platform, occupying
the
centre of
the
A n o t h e r long
main
passage,
we thought w a s the dining-room, and w a s used as such.
T o the
rear, in a subterraneous portion which is reached by a very steep
passage, are two narrow apartments filled up to the ceiling, which
were probably tombs.
T h e y reminded me of similar chambers at
Palenque, in which I found skeletons and vases.
PLAN
OF
PALACP. W E
INHABITED
AT
LORTLT.ARO.
No. I, Shafts of SculpturcI Columns No. 2, Niches. No. 3, Entrances. No. 4, L a r g t Passages.
Nos. 5 and 6, Niches with PJatforms.
No. 7, Inner Chamber. No. 8, Cement Table.
No. 9, Sloping P a r a g e s leading to Subterraneous Apartments.
No. 10, Low Walls.
No. 1 1 , Killed Tombs. No. 1 2 , Altar. No. 1 3 , Back Issue*.
T h e facade of this building is 65 feet by 5 2 feet long.
Two
fragments of sculptured columns, about 2 feet in height, the use
of which is not known, but which m a y h a v e been altars supporting
household g o d s , or pediments for censers, are found in the front
yard.
On clearing the edifice of its vegetation, I found that the
a v e r a g e of concentric circles, showing the a g e of the trees, were
ten or twelve a year, just as at
Palenque.
LORILLARD
I may
being
remark
destroyed
TOWN.
447
that virgin forests h a v e
by
insects, moisture,
no v e r y old
lianas,
etc. ;
trees,
and
old
monteros tell me that mahogany and cedar-trees, which are most
durable, d o not live a b o v e 200 years.
I n our p a s s a g e through
the forest, e v e n on d a y s when there w a s not a breath of wind,
trees were falling in e v e r y direction.
In a storm they fall about
in hundreds, and the j o u r n e y is then most dangerous.
Monu-
ments cannot be g a u g e d , therefore, from the size of the
g r o w i n g in and over
them.
trees
A n o t h e r feature of virgin forests
is that they do not strike the mind as anything particular, and
I know none which can at all compare with Fontainebleau.
T o the south-west of our residence is another g r e a t pyramid,
having circular buildings, which must h a v e been a temple, for
w e found a great number of v a s e s for perfumes, both on the
ground lloor and in the upper portion of the edifice.
The
body
•
of the monument is of the usual type, but the first story (a side
of which is shown
Indian
in our cut) affords a
mode of building.
the decorative w a l l ;
new specimen of
the
W e think this but an extension
it consists of a
narrow apartment and
of
a
receding passage e x t e n d i n g from end to end, terminating at each
extremity with the peculiar opening seen in our drawing.
W e h a v e also noticed a g r e a t e r variety in the triangular vaults
(arches) of these buildings, which are either straight, concave, or
c o n v e x ; sometimes the latter vault has no key, and the two walls
meet with an acute angle, whereas in T a b a s c o and Y u c a t a n , they
are straight or concave only.
richly sculptured than
Lintels are more
numerous and
in Y u c a t a n , but they are only found in
edifices which w e suppose were temples or palaces.
T h e best
carved are small, and seem to replace both the slabs covered with
inscriptions, the rear of altars, and the sculptured pillars of the
buildings at Palenque.
T h e first we g i v e occupies the central door of the temple, and
1*
THE
448
ANCIENT
C I T I E S OF T H E
NEW
WOki.ix
is 3 feet 9 inches long, by 2 feet 1 0 inches wide.
Two
figures
with retreating foreheads form the main subject, h a v i n g the usual
SECOND T E M P L E
high
OF
LORILLARD.
head-dress of feathers, cape, collar, medallion, and maxtli
like the i d o l ;
leather
while their boots are fastened on the instep with
strings,
as
similar
figures
at
Palenque.
They
arc
different size, and represent probably a man and a woman
of
per