Mr. Ranking on the Ruins of Palenque* 135 



what, were it really organic, it ought rather to belong — some 

 vegetable form. The adaptation of the opposed parts would, 

 itself, exclude those ; and thus, therefore, must the question at 

 present remain, until we become more extensively acquainted 

 with the concretionary structure, and the laws, by which that is 

 regulated ; a subject on which I formerly attempted to throw 

 some light in your Journal. 



I am, &c. 



Remarks on the Ruins at Palenque, in Guatemala, and on the 

 Origin of the American Indians, By John Ranking, Esq. 



These ruins are situated on a plain, named Palenque, in the 

 province of Ciudad Real de Chiapa, near the borders of Gua- 

 temala and Yucatan, in north latitude, by Robertson's map, 

 17° 30'. 



A description of this ancient city has been pubUshed in 

 English*, translated from the manuscript of Captain Don An- 

 tonio del Rio, dated Palenque, 1787, accompanied with a cri- 

 tical investigation into the history of the ancient Americans, 

 by Doctor Paul Felix Cabrera, of the city of New Guatemala, 

 dated 1794. The following is a summary : 



The king of Spain having ordered another examination of 

 these ruins, Captain Del Rio proceeded to the site of the 

 ancient city, which is called Casas de Piedras (stone houses) for 

 the purpose of effectually clearing away the trees and copsewood 

 which hid the principal building. With seventy-nine Indians 

 and forty axes the wood was cut down in fifteen days, and 

 was consumed in a general conflagration, which enabled the 

 party to continue their operations with more facility. The pick- 

 axes were reduced to three, and the iron crow-bars to seven ; 

 but, by dint of perseverance, all that was necessary to be done 

 was effected, and, ultimately, there remained neither a window 

 nor a doorway blocked up, nor a room, corridor, court, tower, 



♦ By H. Berthoud, Regents-Quadrant, and Suttaby & Co., Stationers-court, 4to, 

 1822, with seventeen plates. "The original manuscript of Captain del Rio, with 

 the criticism of Dr. Cabrera, was found in the archives of New Guatemala, and is 

 open for inspection at Mr. Berthoud' s." — Prefatory Address, ' 



