Chapter VIII

Journey to Bolonchen.--Bad Road.--Large Hacienda.--Imposing Gateway.--An inhospitable Host.--Ruins of Ytsimpte.--Ruined Edifice.--Staircase with sculptured Stones.--Square Building.--Facade decorated with Pillars.--Ruined Walls.--Remains of a sculptured Figure.--Character and Aspect of the Ruins.--Departure.--Arrival at the Village of Bolonchen.--Scene of Contentment.--Wells.--Derivation of the Word Bolonchen.--Origin of the Wells unknown.--The Cura.--Visit to an extraordinary Cave.--Entrance to it.--Precipitous Descents.--A wild Scene.--Rude Ladders.--Dangers of the Descent.--Indian Name of this Cave.--A subterranean Ball-room.--Cavernous Chamber.--Numerous Passages.--Great Number of Ladders.--Rocky Basin of Water.--Great Depth of the Cave.--A Bath in the Basin.--Its Indian Name.--Return to the Rocky Chamber.--Exploration of another Passage.--Another Basin.--Indian Stories.--Two other Passages and Basins.--Seven Basins in all.--Indian Names of the remaining five.--Want of Philosophical Instruments.--Surface of the Country.--This Cave the sole Watering-place of a large Indian Village.--Return.--Visit to the Cura.--Report of more Ruins.

CHAPTER IX.

Departure from Bolonchen.--Lose the Road.--Sugar Rancho.--A new Section of Country.--Rancho of Santa Rosa.--Annoyance from Fleas.--Visit to the Ruins of Labphak.--A lofty Structure.--Apartments, &c.--Staircases.--Doorways.--Interesting Discovery.--Courtyard.--Square Building on the second Terrace.--Ornaments in Stucco.--Oblong Building on the third Terrace.--Colossal Figures and Ornaments.--Centre Apartment.--Tokens of recent Occupation.--Ground Plan of the lower Range of Apartments.--Sculptured Bas-reliefs.--Builders adapted their Style to the Materials at Hand.--Abode at the Ruins.--Wants.--Moonlight Scene.--Painting.--Circular Holes.--Range of Buildings.--Staircases.--Ornaments in Stucco.--Rain.--Love of the Marvellous.

CHAPTER X.

Departure from Labphak.--Sugar Ranchos.--Hacienda of Jalasac.--Cultivation of Sugar.--Another Rancho.--Its neat Appearance.--Senor Trego's Establishment.--A Well.--Seybo Trees.--Journey resumed.--Village of Iturbide.--Its Settlement and rapid Growth.--An Acquaintance.--Oppressive Attentions.--Lunar Rainbow.--Appearance of the Village.--Mound of Ruins.--Visit to the Ruins of Zibilnocac.--A Well.--A long Edifice.--Lazy Escort.--An anxious Host.--Return to the Village.--A prosperous Emigrant.--A Dinner.--Medical Practice.--Deplorable Condition of the Country in regard to Medical Aid.--Second Visit to the Ruins.--Front of an Edifice.--Square Structures.--Interesting Painting.--An ancient Well.--Mounds.--Vestiges of a great City.

CHAPTER XI.

End of Journey in this Direction.--Lake of Peten.--Probable Existence of Ruins in the Wilderness.--Islands in the Lake of Peten.--Peten Grande.--Mission of two Monks.--Great Idol of the Figure of a Horse.--Broken by the Monks, who in Consequence are obliged to leave the Island.--Second Mission of the Monks.--Sent away by the Indians.--Expedition of Don Martin Ursua.--Arrival at the Island.--Attacked by the Indians, who are defeated.--Don Martin takes Possession of Itza.--Temples and Idols of the Indians.--Destroyed by the Spaniards.--Flight of the Indians into the Wilderness.--Preparations.--Illness of Mr. Catherwood.--Effects of Gambling.--From the Church to the Gaming-table.--How People live at Iturbide.--Departure.--Rancho of Noyaxche.

CHAPTER XII.

Journey resumed.--An Aguada.--The Aguadas artificial, and built by the Aboriginal Inhabitants.--Examination of one by Senor Trego.--Its Construction.--Ancient Wells.--Pits.--A Sugar Rancho.--Rancho of 'Y-a-Walthel.--Rancho of Choop.--Arrival at Macoba.--The Ruins.--Lodgings in a miserable Hut.--Wells.--Ruined Buildings.--Another Aguada.--Pits.--Astonishment of the Indians.--Falling in Love at first Sight.--Interesting Characters.--Departure.--Thick Undergrowth.--Rancho of Puut.--An Incident.--Situation of the Rancho.--Water.--Ruins of Mankeesh.

CHAPTER XIII.

Rancho of Jalal.--Picturesque Aguada.--Excavations made in it by the Indians.--System of Aguadas.--Journey resumed.--Lose the Road.--An Effort in the Maya Language.--Grove of Orange Trees.--Ruins of Yakatzib.--Dilapidated Edifice.--Stony Sierra.--Village of Becanchen.--Hospitality.--Sculptured Stones.--Wells.--Running Stream of Water.--Derivation of the Word Becanchen.--Rapid Growth of the Village.--Source of the Water of the Wells.--Accident to an Indian.--The Party separate.--Aguadas.--A Trogon.--Hacienda of Zaccacal.--Visit to the Ruins.--Stone Terrace.--Circular Hole.--Two Buildings.--Garrapatas.--Black Ants.--Return.

CHAPTER XIV.

Village of San Jose.--Thatched Church.--The Cura--A refractory Indian.--Attachment of the Indians.--Journey to Mani.--The Sierra.--Hacienda of Santa Maria.--A ruined Mound.--Good Road.--Arrival at the City of Tekax.--A bloodless Revolution.--Situation and Appearance of the City.--An interesting Meeting.--Curiosity of the People.--Akil.--The Site of a ruined City:--Sculptured Stones.--Journey resumed.--Arrival at Mani.--Historical Notice.--Tutul Xiu.--Embassy to the Lords of Zotuta.--Ambassadors murdered.--Mani the first interior Town that submitted to the Spaniards.--Scanty Supply of Water throughout the Country.--Important Consideration.--A touching Discovery.

CHAPTER XV.

Buying a Wardrobe.--Crowd of Loungers.--Visit to the Ruins.--A long Edifice built by the Spaniards.--Interesting Well.--Indian Legend.--The Mother of the Dwarf.--Exploration of the Well.--Remains of large Mounds.--Cogolludo.--Ancient and curious Painting.--Books and ancient Characters of the Indians burned by the Spaniards.--Archives of Mani.--Important Documents.--Ancient Map.--Instrument endorsed on its Back.--Important Bearing of these Documents.--What was Uxmal?--Argument.--No Vestiges of a Spanish Town at Uxmal.--Churches erected by the Spaniards in all their Settlements.--No Indications of a Church at Uxmal.--Conclusions.--Suspicions of the People.--Church and Convent.--Extensive View from the Top of the Church.

CHAPTER XVI.

Departure from Mani.--Ornithology of Yucatan.--Discoveries of Doctor Cabot.--Village of Tixmeach.--Peto.--Church and Convent.--News from Home.--Don Pio Perez.--Indian Almanac.--A Fragment of Maya Manuscript.--Journey resumed.--Taihxiu.--Yaxcala.--Piste.--Arrival at Chichen.--First Sight of the Ruins.--The Hacienda.--A strange Reception.--Lodgings.--Situation of the Ruins.--Mr. Burke.--Magnificent Appearance of the Ruins.--Derivation of the Word Chichen.--Senotes.--Different from those before presented.--Mischievous Boys.--Failure of the Corn Crop.