90 RESEARCH AT THE RITINS OF CHICHEN ITZA, YUCATAN. 



9. The South Group (a mile south of the Monjas. Old Chichen Itza). 



The Temple of the Hieroglyphic Lintel. 

 Nameless temple. 

 Nameless temple. 



10. The West Group (about a mile west of the Monjas. Old Chichen Itza). 



This group contains a number of structures in an advanced state of ruin, which probably 



date from the earhest occupancy of the city. 

 In addition to the foregoing, there are a number of other groups of related structures 



at Chichen Itza, too ill defined to describe here, some of which are as much as six 



miles distant from the center of the city. 



APPENDIX IV. 



DESCRIPTION OF HUMAN SACRIFICES AT "THE CENOTE OF SACRIFICE." 



CHICHEN ITZA. YUCATAN. 



The following description of human sacrifices at "The Cenote of Sacri- 

 fice" is taken from a letter written l^y three of the original conquistadurcs of 

 Yucatan, and is part of a general description of Chichen Itza. This letter 

 was written in response to a general circular sent out by the Council of the 

 Indies in 1579, asking for information about the discovery and conquest of 

 the colonial possessions, and about the native inhabitants thereof. 



"At this Cenote, the lords and chiefs of all the provinces of Valladolid observed 

 this custom. After having fasted for sixty days without raising their eyes during 

 that time even to look at their wives, nor at those who brought them food, they 

 came to the moutli of this Cenote and, at the break of day, they threw into it some 

 Indian women, some belonging to each of the lords, and they told the women that 

 they should beg for a good year in all those things which they thought fit, and thus 

 they cast them in unbound, but as they were thrown headlong, they fell into the 

 water, giving a great blow on it ; and exactly at midday she who was able to come 

 out cried out loud that they should throw her a rope to drag her out with, and she 

 arrived at the top half dead, and they made great fires round her and incensed her 

 with Copal, and when she came to herself she said that below there were many of 

 her nation, both men and women, who received her, and that raising her head to 

 look at some of them, they gave her heavy blows on the neck, making her put her 

 head down, which was all under water, in which she fancied were many hollows and 

 deeps; and in answer to the questions which the Indian girl put to them, they replied 

 to her whether it should be a good or bad year, and whether the devil was angry 

 with any of the lords who had cast in the Indian girls, but these lords already knew 

 that if a girl did not beg to be taken out at midday, it was because the devil was 

 angry with them, and she never came out again. Then, seeing that she did not 

 come out, all the followers of that lord and the lord himself threw great stones into 

 the water, and with loud cries fled from the place." 



