28 chapters
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28 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
To those who intend to bestow upon the following pages the honor of a perusal, it may seem almost supererogatory for the author to mention, that it has formed no part of his purpose to prepare a book which should owe its leading interest to its literary merits. His life has been necessarily more devoted to the dissemination of books than to the study of their internal fabrication; he has had but slender opportunities for the cultivation of letters, and little of the preparation requisite for a t
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LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS.
LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS.
Map of Yucatan Mexico (click on map for larger version.)...
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Setting Out—Accommodations—Arrival at Sisal—Geographical and Political view of Yucatan—A Christening—Lady Smokers—Off for the Interior—Merida—A Feast-day—Christmas Eve—Christmas Day—Conclusion of a Feast—Holy Unction—Indian Character—Soldiers’ Return—Holy Days—Gaming. The prospect of leaving one’s country for a season, affects different people in very different ways. To some, it suggests only the loss of friends, and the want of the conveniences which habit may have made to them the necessaries
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
Description of Merida, Geographical and Historical—The City—Public Squares—The Market—Trade—Habits and Customs—Health—The Public Buildings—A way to get a Husband—New Year Eve—New Year Day—The City and Environs—A Touch of Music—A Country Seat—Congress of Yucatan—Franciscan Ruins—More Holy-days—Cock-fighting—A Drill—The Bishop at Home—The College—Miracles. Merida, the capital of Yucatan, is situated about the twenty-first degree of north latitude, and is elevated some twenty-five feet above the le
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
Mechanical Pursuits—The Circulating Medium—A Ball—A Remnant of Franciscans—Signs of Decay in the Suburbs—The Cemetery—The Weather—A Whole Congregation Flogged—The Wise Men—The Gentlemen—Extra Civilities—The Appearances of Trade—Products of the Soil—Education—Language of the Indians—The Ancient People—Waldeck’s Opinion of them—The Maya Language—The Lord’s Prayer in Maya—Grammars of that Dialect—Difficulties in Speaking it—Traits of the Indian Character. Having resolved to visit the towns in the i
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
Preparations for the Interior—Outfit, &c.—The Indian Boy—Departure from Merida—Arrival at Tixcoco—Calcachen—A Feast-day—Isamal at a distance—Arrival there—Our Palace—A Procession—Ancient Mounds—The Church—A striking Indian—Wrong Impressions—Tuncax—A Dilemma—Philosophy of the Road-side—A Dinner—Visit to a Curate—A Touch of Comfort—Mail Carrier—Sitax—An Indian Alcalde—Tinum—An Allusion—Valladolid—A Mistake rectified in time. The varying and unsatisfactory accounts which I had received of t
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Festival of the Purification—A Factory Discovered—New Quarters—Appearance of Public Buildings—Church—Singular Display of Taste—Population and Health—The Town—Its Suburbs—Monastic Ruins—Remarkable Sonato—Amusements—The Riband Dance—The Market Place—Cotton—Ancient Ruins—Difficulties of Strangers—A Norther—Kaua—The Churlish Curate—End of a Feast—The Route—Approach to Chi-Chen—A Glimpse of the Ruins. Travelling gear was now thrown aside, the toilet consulted, and in a few moments I was in a processi
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
A visit to the Ruins—Reflections—Indian Visiters—Detail of the Ruins of Chi-Chen—The Temple—The Pyramid—The Dome—The House of the Caciques—General Ruins—Mounds—Foundations—Characteristics of the Ruins—Materials and Manner of Building—The finish—Fresco paintings. Plan of the Ruins of CHI-CHEN It was on the morning of the 10th of February that I directed my steps, for the first time, toward the ruins of the ancient city of Chi-Chen . [4] On arriving in the immediate neighborhood, I was compelled t
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
An Arrival—Unexpected Honors—Usurpation of Office—Prices of Labor—Indian way of Living—A Sonato—An Incident—Departure—Yacaba—Sonato at Tabi—Arrival at Sotuta—“Las Ruinas”—A Benediction—Cantamayec—Turn Physician—Successful Practice—The Reward of Merit—Route to Teabo—Its Curate—Mani—Arrival at Ticul—Description of Ticul—The Church—Curate—Market-place—Pretty Women—Convent—Occupations—Health—Roads—Sugar Estates—Ruins of Ichmul—Departure—Cross the Cordilleras. During my stay in the vicinity of Chi-Ch
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Ruins of Kahbah—Those of Zayi—Scattered Ruins—Church at Nohcacab—The Padre—The Town—Departure for Uxmal—Arrival at the Hacienda—Quarters and Arrangements—The Scenery—General Character of the Ruins of Uxmal—The Governor’s House—The Nuns’ House—The Pyramid—Other Remains—Pyramids, Walls, and Mounds—Reservoir—Moonlight. I first entered upon the ruins of Kahbah from the main road leading from Nohcacab to Bolen-Chen-Ticul. On the west side I found fragments of buildings, walls, &c., scatte
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
Introductory Facts—Ruins of Yucatan and other parts of Mexico—Ruins of North America—Mississippi and Missouri—Look-Out Mountain—Ohio River—Mount Joliet and others—Indian Races—Ledyard—Bradford—Dr. Morton—Diversity of Opinions—Pyramids of Egypt—Speculations—Vassalage—Comparison—Traditions—Embalming—Priesthood—Siamese—Japanese—Astronomy and Mythology. There are three questions which will very naturally occur to those of my readers who have done me the honor to follow me through the preceding detai
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
Waldeck’s Remarks on Uxmal—Ancient Tools—Soil and Health—Ancient Customs—End of Time—The Coronation of an Emperor—Religious Beliefs—Marriage Ceremony—Infant Baptism—Origin of those Rites—Horse Worship—Amusements—Markets—Idols—Candidates for Matrimony—Their Worship Varies—Refinements. In respect to the ruins of Uxmal, Waldeck remarks, that “nothing is in stucco—all is in well-worked stone. Cogolludo and Gutierre have confounded Palenque with Uxmal, and Uxmal with Copan. The edifices of Palenque,
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
Departure from Uxmal—Abala—The Road—The Curate’s Hacienda—Arrival at Merida—Hotel de Diligencias—Bishop Preaching—Strange Scenes—Parting with José—Departure from Merida—Coach and Passengers—Scenes of the Road—Zibackchen—Accommodations—Arrival at Campeachy. The reader will remember that the narrative of my journeyings terminated at Uxmal. I finished making my observations of those ruins, and on the 4th of March embarked in a Yucatan coach and four, (four stout Indians,) crossed the Cordilleras, a
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
Reception at Campeachy—The City—Public Buildings—The Convent—The Market—Charity—An Ancient Custom—Population—The College—Foundations of the City—Subterraneous Caverns—The Suburbs—The Harbor—Climate and Health—Various Ruins—The Author’s Collection of Idols—Dr. Morton on the Archæology of Yucatan—Other Ruins—Reptiles and Insects—A Concealed Nation—The Brothers Camachos. My reception at Campeachy was extremely gratifying. There is evidently a class of society here which contrasts favorably with any
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Political History of Yucatan—The Rochelanos—A Civil Revolution—A Tumultuary Movement in the Interior—Santiago Iman—Attack on Espita—Retreat to San Fernando—Quiet Restored for a Time—Colonel Roqueña—Attack on Tizimin—Return of the Troops—Attack on Valladolid—Capitulation—Succession of Events—A New Constitution—The New Congress—New Party—Opinions—Physical Incapacity for Independence—The Press of Yucatan. It might be well enough for me to adopt the example of Fielding, so far as to precede this cha
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Remarks on American Languages in general—Conflicting Opinions of Philologists—Religious Zeal a Stimulus that has produced the Grammars and Vocabularies of the American Languages—Sketch of the Grammar of the Maya Tongue—Concluding Observations respecting its Origin. The origin and the mutual relations of the American languages have long been favorite topics of discussion among philologists; but their researches and speculations have led to results so contradictory and utterly irreconcilable, that
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A BRIEF MAYA VOCABULARY.
A BRIEF MAYA VOCABULARY.
Acquaintance, kaholâl. Adder, can, or cam. ——, (harmless,) tzelcam. Afternoon, zezikin. Age (an,) khinkatun. Agony, takyekik, xulikal. Air, l’k-ikal. Alligator, ain, chinan. Alms, ↄayatzil, zitl, matan. Anger, campectzil. Animal, balachi. Ant, zinic, zacal. Apartment, uay, kakal. Appetite, ulolal. Arm and hand, kab. Ascend, nacal. Ashes, ↄitaan. Asthma, coc, coczen, cencoc. Avarice, coczioïl. Ax, baat. Badger, ah, chab. Ball, (dance,) okot. Banner, lacân. Basket, xac. Bat, zoↄ. Bath, katchu. Bea
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NUMBERS TO ONE HUNDRED.
NUMBERS TO ONE HUNDRED.
1, hun. 2, ca 3, ox 4, can. 5, ho. 6, uac. 7, uuc. 8, uaxac. 9, bolon. 10, lahun. 11, buluc. 12, lahca. 13, oxahun. 14, canlahun. 15, holhun. 16, uaclahun. 17, uuclahun. 18, uaxaclahun. 19, bolonlahun. 20, hunkal. 21, huntukal. 22, catukal. 23, oxtukal. 24, cantukal. 25, hotukal. 26, uactukal. 27, uuctukal. 28, uaxactukal. 29, bolontukal. 30, lahucakal. 31, buluctukal. 32, cahcatukal. 33, oxlahutukal. 34, canlahutukal. 35, holucukal. 36, uaclahutukal. 37, uuclahutukal. 38, uaxaclahutukal. 39, bo
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TRADITION OF THE MEXICAN NATIVES RESPECTING THEIR MIGRATION FROM THE NORTH.
TRADITION OF THE MEXICAN NATIVES RESPECTING THEIR MIGRATION FROM THE NORTH.
In corroboration of Mr. Atwater’s opinion with respect to the gradual remove of the ancient people of the West toward Mexico, we subjoin what we have gathered from the Researches of Baron Humboldt on that point. See Helen Maria Williams’ translation of Humboldt’s Researches in America, vol. ii. p. 67; from which it appears the people inhabiting the vale of Mexico, at the time the Spaniards overran that country, were called Aztecs, or Aztecas; and were, as the Spanish history informs us, usurpers
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TRAITS OF THE MOSAIC HISTORY FOUND AMONG THE AZTECA NATIONS.
TRAITS OF THE MOSAIC HISTORY FOUND AMONG THE AZTECA NATIONS.
The tradition commences with an account of the deluge, as they had preserved it in books made of the buffalo and deer skin, on which account there is more certainty than if it had been preserved by mere oral tradition, handed down from father to son. They begin by painting, or, as we would say, by telling us that Noah, whom they call Tezpi, saved himself, with his wife, whom they call Xochiquetzal, on a raft or canoe. Is not this the ark? The raft or canoe rested on or at the foot of a mountain,
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ORIGIN OF FIRE-WORSHIP.
ORIGIN OF FIRE-WORSHIP.
For many ages the false religions of the East had remained stationary; but in this period, magianism received considerable strength from the writings of Zoroaster. He was a native of Media. He pretended to a visit in heaven, where God spoke to him out of a fire. This fire he pretended to bring with him on his return. It was considered holy—the dwelling of God. The priests were for ever to keep it, and the people were to worship before it. He caused fire-temples everywhere to be erected, that sto
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GREAT STONE CALENDAR OF THE MEXICANS.
GREAT STONE CALENDAR OF THE MEXICANS.
This stone was found near the site of the present city of Mexico, buried some feet beneath the soil, on which is engraven a great number of hieroglyphics, signifying the divisions of time, the motions of the heavenly bodies, the twelve signs of the Zodiac, with reference to the feasts and sacrifices of the Mexicans, and is called by Humboldt the Mexican Calendar , in relief, on basalt, a kind of stone. This deservedly celebrated historiographer and antiquarian has devoted a hundred pages and mor
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SCIENTIFIC ACQUIREMENTS OF ANCIENT BUILDERS IN THE WEST.
SCIENTIFIC ACQUIREMENTS OF ANCIENT BUILDERS IN THE WEST.
As it respects the scientific acquirements of the builders of the works in the West, now in ruins, Mr. Atwater says: “When thoroughly examined, they have furnished matter of admiration to all intelligent persons who have attended to the subject. Nearly all the lines of ancient works found in the whole country, where the form of the ground admits of it, are right ones, pointing to the four cardinal points. Where there are mounds enclosed, the gateways are most frequently on the east side of the w
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PREDILECTION OF THE ANCIENTS TO PYRAMIDS.
PREDILECTION OF THE ANCIENTS TO PYRAMIDS.
In those early ages of mankind, it is evident there existed an unaccountable ambition among the nations, seemingly to outdo each other in the height of their pyramids; for Humboldt mentions the pyramids of Porsenna, as related by Varro, styled the most learned of the Romans, who flourished about the time of Christ; and says there were at this place four pyramids, eighty meters in height, which is a fraction more than fifteen rods perpendicular altitude: the meter is a French measure, consisting
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THE REMAINS OF CITIES.
THE REMAINS OF CITIES.
The remains of cities and towns of an ancient population exist everywhere on the coast of the Pacific, which agree in fashion with the works and ruins found along the Chinese coasts, exactly west from the western limits of North America; showing beyond all dispute that in ancient times the countries were known to each other, and voyages were reciprocally made. The style of their shipping was such as to be equal to voyages of that distance, and also sufficient to withstand stress of weather, even
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RUINS OF THE CITY OF OTOLUM, DISCOVERED IN NORTH AMERICA.
RUINS OF THE CITY OF OTOLUM, DISCOVERED IN NORTH AMERICA.
“Some years ago, the Society of Geography, in Paris, offered a large premium for a voyage to Guatemala, and for a new survey of the antiquities of Yucatan and Chiapa, chiefly those fifteen miles from Palenque.” “They were surveyed by Captain Del Rio, in 1787, an account of which was published in English in 1822. This account describes partly the ruins of a stone city, of no less dimensions than seventy-five miles in circuit, length thirty-two, and breadth twelve miles, full of palaces, monuments
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ANCIENT LANGUAGES OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF AMERICA.
ANCIENT LANGUAGES OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF AMERICA.
Letter to M. Champollion, on the Graphic Systems of America, and the Glyphs of Otolum or Palenque, in Central America. — By C. S. Rafinesque . You have become celebrated by deciphering, at last, the glyphs and characters of the ancient Egyptians, which all your learned predecessors had deemed a riddle, and pronounced impossible to read. You first announced your discovery in a letter. I am going to follow your footsteps on another continent, and a theme equally obscure; to none but yourself can I
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MEXICO.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MEXICO.
From Clavigero, Storia del Messico—from Solis, Boturini, Herrera, Bernal Dias, and other authors, we learn the state of the arts in Mexico prior to the invasion of the Spaniards; the progress made by that people in science; the form of their government, and of their hierarchy: and from the simple and unaffected narrative of Cortez, contained in his letters to Charles the Fifth, we may gather pretty accurate knowledge of their resources, and of the number and character of the population. Some ide
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