Chapter XIV: The Maya Tribes (3)

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.

As to the antiquity of this city he readily figures up nineteen
thousand years; but this did not take him to the beginning. He
arrives at this estimate in this way: To the north-east of the
pyramid, we have described, are to be seen rows of small columns,
which have excited the curiosity of all who have seen them. Mr.
Stephens represents them in four rows, inclosing a rectangular
area. M. Le Plongon says they surrounded three sides of a
terraced pyramid, which once supported the main temple of the
city. Mr. Stephens has no suggestions to offer as to their use.

Le Plongon claims they were used to measure time, and quotes from
old authors to the effect, that each stone in them stands for
twenty years; and, as there is always just eight stones in a
column, each column means one hundred and sixty years. He counted
one hundred and twenty of these columns—and then, as he says:
“Got tired of pushing my way through the nearly impenetrable
thicket, where I could see many more among the shrubs.” From this
number he computes nineteen thousand two hundred years.

What shall we say to this story that M. Le Plongon brings us of
ancient Maya civilization? It is unquestioned that he has
expended a great amount of patient labor in his work, has braved
many dangers, and is thoroughly in earnest. He has also spent
years in the field, and ought to be well qualified to judge of
the ruins. We believe, however, he is altogether wrong in his
conclusions. The keystone of his discoveries—the one on which he
relies to prove the accuracy of his methods—fails him. This was
the discovery of the statue of Chaac-mol himself, which is here
represented. He claims to have found it as the result of
successfully rendering certain mural tablets in the funeral
chamber, but a careful reading of his own account of the affair
leaves us under the impression that the “instincts of the
archæologist” had as much to do with it as any thing else.62

Chaac-mol.

Be that as it may, he certainly did find this statue buried in
the ground. He is very positive it is Chaac-mol, claiming to have
read the name readily in hieroglyphics on the ear-tablets. He
says: “It is not an idol, but a true portrait of a man who has
lived an earthly life. I have seen him represented in battle, in
council, and in court receptions. I am well acquainted with his
life, and the manner of his death.” This statue was seized by the
Mexican Government, and taken to Mexico. Here a curious discovery
was made. Another statue similar to this was already in the
museum. This latter had been found not far from Mexico. Since
then, still a third, smaller than the others, but evidently
representing the same personage, has been discovered. In short,
it has been shown that this is an idol, worshiped as well by the
Aztecs as by the Mayas, and, instead of being buried, as Le
Plongon asserts, five thousand years ago, we have not much doubt
it was buried to prevent its falling in to the hands of the
Spaniards.63

Bearded Itza.

As to the antiquity with which Le Plongon would clothe Chichen,
if his method be right, he has not more than made a beginning.
Mr. Stephens counted three hundred and eighty of these same
columns, and tells us there were many more.64 We know no good
reason for supposing Chichen was not inhabited at the time of the
conquest. The wooden beams and lintels in the temples have not
yet decayed, and the masonry had not been cleaned out of some of
the rooms. On this point we wish to make a suggestion, a mere
hint. The pillars that supported the arches in the temple
mentioned some pages back were covered with sculpture. Amongst
some others, but very faintly represented, was the preceding
figure of a bearded man. May it not be that it represents a
Spaniard? We must recall the stucco figure of the horse and its
rider at Kabah. It seems to us a reasonable suggestion that they
should carve on the pillars of their temples representations of
the Spaniards, for the Spaniards were twenty-five years in
gaining a permanent foothold in Yucatan, and during that time the
Indians would continue to build and ornament as before.

Arizona Ruin. REFERENCES

Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. V, p. 78.

Stephens’s “Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas,
and Yucatan,” Vol. I, p. 113, _et seq._

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 95.

“Report of Bureau of Ethnology,” Vol. I. Mr. Holden’s article.

Fourteen years later, these ruins were visited and described by
an Austrian traveler, Dr. Scherzer. His account, though much
more complete than Mr. Stephens’s, has not yet appeared in
English. Mr. Bancroft, in “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 118, _et
seq.,_ gives a _résumé_ of all information known as to these
ruins.

“Central America,” Vol II, p. 122. We are not sure about this
inclosure. But Mr. Catherwood mentions a wall, and we are told
the ruins are, in all respects, similar to those of Copan.

For full information consult Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol.
IV, pp. 115 to 139.

“Central America,” Vol. II, pp. 152-3.

Brasseur De Bourbourg styles Fuentes’s description of Copan “La
description menteuse de Fuentes.” Bancroft: “Native Races,”
Vol. IV, p. 80, note.

Charney, in _North American Review,_ 1881.

“Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 300, _et seq._

Morgan’s “Contribution to N.A. Ethnology,” Vol. IV, p. 268.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 319.

Armin: “Das Heute Mexico.”

“Native Races,” Vol. IV.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” p. 326.

Short’s “North Americans of Antiquity,” p. 389.

Holden, in “First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology.”

Brasseur De Bourbourg.

“Myths of the New World.”

Holden, in “First Annual Report Bureau of Ethnology.”

This tablet is named after its discoverer. The building in
which it is situated was but a short distance from the others;
yet, owing to the density of the forest, neither Waldeck nor
Stephens discovered it. A cast of it is now in the National
Museum at Washington.

Rau, in “Smithsonian Contribution to Knowledge,” Vol. XXII, p.
40.

“Myths of the New World,” p. 95.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. V, p. 506.

See, also, “American Encyclopedia,” Art. “Cross.”

“Conquest of Mexico,” p. 160.

“Smithsonian Contribution to Knowledge,” Vol. XXII.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. III, p. 470.

“Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology,” Vol. I.

Mr. Holden uses, as an important link in his arguments, a
figure engraved on a chalchiute (a sacred stone). He concludes
it to be a representative of Huitzilopochtli, the god of war,
or rather the Maya representative of the Mexican god of that
name. It is unfortunate that Prof. Valentine gives to this same
figure a different significance. In the “Proceedings of the
American Antiquarian Society,” for April, 1884, in a paper on
that subject, he concludes it to be a representation of a
victorious warrior giving sacrifice to his god. The only
persons entitled to speak on such subjects are those thoroughly
acquainted with Maya Archæology.

Huitzilopochtli.

Tlaloc.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. III, p. 324.

While such seem to us to be the results of Mr. Holden’s labors,
it must not be understood that he vouches for them. They must
be regarded as personal views which we express with some mental
forebodings. In this matter we must abide by further
investigations.

Bandelier: “An Archæological Tour in Mexico,” p. 184.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 345.

See Charney, in _North American Review,_ 1881. They wore
formerly in a house.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 332.

Brinton’s “Contribution to North American Ethnology,” Vol. V,
p. 36. “Introduction to Study of Manuscript Troano,” by Prof.
Thomas.

_North American Review,_ February, 1881, p. 187.

Bancroft’s “Native Races,” p. 287.

“Central America,” Vol. II, p. 261. At this time Mr. Stephens
had not seen the ruins at Palenque, and those in Yucatan.

Pronounced “oosh-mal.”

Our principal authority on the ruin’s of Yucatan is Mr.
Stephens, whose work, “Incidents of Travel in Yucatan,” in two
volumes, is all that can be desired. Mr. Bancroft, in “Native
Races,” Vol. IV, has gathered together whatever of worth there
is in the writings of various explorers.

Mr. Stephens thinks they were for the support of the arches,
while building. As, however, it is almost certain they
constructed this arch over a solid cove of masonry, which they
afterwards removed (see “Contributions to N.A. Ethnology,” Vol.
IV, p. 262), they could not have been intended for such use.

The pyramid is three hundred and fifty feet square at the base
and nineteen feet high. The terraces are along the south side.
The lowest terrace is three feet high and twenty feet wide. The
second is twelve feet high and forty-five feet wide. The third
is four feet high and five feet wide. The building on the south
side is two hundred and seventy-nine feet long, twenty-eight
feet wide, and eighteen feet high. The north one is two hundred
and sixty-four feet long, twenty-eight feet wide, and
twenty-five feet high. The eastern one, one hundred and
fifty-eight feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and twenty-two
feet high. The western one, one hundred and seventy-three feet
long, thirty-five feet wide, and twenty feet high. (Bancroft’s
“Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 174.) The area of the court is two
hundred and fourteen feet by two hundred and fifty-eight feet.
It is about two and a half feet lower than the buildings on the
eastern, western, and southern sides. There are seventy-six
rooms in the four ranges of buildings, and twelve more in the
facings of the terrace of the north building, to be described.
In size the rooms vary from twenty to thirty feet long by from
ten to twelve feet wide.

Bancroft: “Native Races,” Vol. IV, p. 179.

The dimensions of this mound are as follows: Length of base,
two hundred and thirty-five feet; width of base, one hundred
and five feet; height, eighty-eight feet. Though diminishing as
it rises, it is not exactly pyramidal, but its corners are
rounded. It is incased with stone, and is apparently solid from
the plain.—Stephens’s “Yucatan,” Vol. I, p. 316.

See “Proceedings Am. Antiq. Society,” April, 1880, p. 57.

_North American Review,_ 1882.

“Contributions to North American Ethnology,” Vol. IV, p. 267.

Stephens’s “Yucatan,” Vol. II, p. 164.

Short’s “North Americans of Antiquity,” p. 396; Charney: _North
American Review,_ October, 1880.

“Proceedings Am. Antiq. Society,” Oct., 1878, p. 73.

Learned men of the Mayas.

American Antiquarian Society, October 1878.

The tigers can be seen on the engraving of the gymnasium.

Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, April, 1877, p. 97.

Proceedings American Antiquarian Society, April, 1877, p. 101.

M. Le Plongon interprets the curved figures issuing from the
throat of the wise-man. In the original, different parts of
this figure were of different colors. The doctor frankly tells
us, that “imagination does the greater part of the work” in his
interpretation.

“Guided, as I have said, by my interpretations of the mural
paintings, bas-reliefs, and other signs, . . . I directed my
steps, perhaps inspired by the instincts of the archæologist,
to a dense part of the thicket.” Proceedings Am. Antiq.
Society, April, 1877, p. 85.

_North American Review,_ October, 1880. And yet there are
indications that this is a statue. See Bandelier’s
“Archæological Tour in Mexico,” p. 74.

Stephens’s “Yucatan,” Vol. II, p. 318.