1912.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 493 



villages of native Indians belonging to the Maya race, who have 

 inhabited this section as far back as the memory of man. As far 

 as I have been able to find out, they have absolutely no folk-lore or 

 traditions relative to the vast population which preceded them. 

 They are a dying race, with little moral or physical stamina left, 

 and, beyond a very ordinary basket-weaving, no native industry. 



"Now as to the prehistoric race — or races — which at one time 

 covered this vast country, you would hardly believe the amount of 

 ruins that remain; it would be entirely within the truth to say that 

 all the high land has been occupied by dwelling houses, and beyond 

 a doubt the population at one time fully equalled the most congested 

 parts of India. As far as I have seen, there were no important 

 cities; rather the entire country was one swarming mass of people. 

 Often, about the larger aguadas, may be found such heaps of ruins 

 as would lead one to believe that temples or principal buildings were 

 situated there. I have personally seen but one -building standing; 

 but that is enough to give an idea of the very substantial nature of 

 the buildings — or at least of some of them. 



"Without exception, they were of stone faced with squared 

 limestone placed in mortar — the walls being of extreme thickness 

 and formed of rubble — the dressed stones facing on the outside, 

 the rooms on the inside being plastered, and, evidently, in many 

 cases, this plastering was decorative and painted. 



"In the case of the house still standing, the flat Maya arch is 

 used, and there are both doors and windows. The building was of 

 at least two .stories, and perhaps three. Besides these stone struc- 

 tures — the remains of which, as I say, are without number — there 

 are many evidences of even more numerous houses of a more perish- 

 able nature where permanent structure was only used in the founda- 

 tions and flooring. 



"Almost without exception, in the six or eight structures which 

 I have had dug up, remains of human bones were found; but all these 

 are very much decomposed and extremely brittle. 



" Other objects which have been found in these old ruins or ' cuyos, ' 

 as they are called, and of which I have collected specimens, are 

 earthen pots, both for cooking and ornament. These are of numer- 

 ous grades — some as fine as modern Guadalajara pottery, others of 

 much coarser grade. As to decorations, there are examples of 

 glaze in red, yellow, or a very dark brown, both painted decorations 

 and embossed on the clay. There are also remains of very large 

 jars which were of a coarse grade. Among other clay objects 



