10 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL 



cial committee as trustees, my request was denied, although tlie Ctira was in favor 

 of it. The reason given for this refusal was the fear that some harm might befall the 

 community, indeed, that the town might sink into the ground if they were shown. 



The municipality of Cohan likewise possesses some Avritings in the native lan- 

 o-ua<''e ; but I was also refused an inspection of tliem for hke frivolous reasons. It is 

 supposed that these books as well as those at San Pedro contain nothing more than 

 topographical indications, especially boundaries of the respective territories ; and 

 the reason for refusing any inspection of them is the fear that the right to some 

 lands might be lost, which until now have been claimed by the municipality. 



About three leagues from Coban, near the village of San Juan, is a cave, which 

 is said to contain fine stalactites and some idols of the ancient inhabitants. It 

 was impossible for me to find any person who would visit the cave with me, except- 

 in-' the Cura of San Pedro ; but he made the condition of his going, that the Corre- 

 gidor of Coban should likewise go, protected by an escort of soldiers, as he feared 

 tlie people might otherwise prevent us from entering the cave, which they venerate 

 as the abode of their ancestors. The Corregidor excused himself from going on 

 account of urgent business, and I lost a chance of examining the cave. 



After leaving Coban, I visited some ruins of ancient edifices, which are on a 

 hill near San Jerouimo, but little more than the foundation walls is visible. 



SECOND EXCURSION FROM THE CITY OF GUATEMALA. 



On my second excursion, I intended to penetrate into Mexico and visit the 

 archaeological remains at Otosingo, in the State of Chiapas. I had to travel 

 through that mountainous part of Guatemala known as Los Altos, the highlands, 

 where the most industrious inhabitants of that State are living. They raise grain — 

 especially wheat, potatoes, and vegetables, and supply the various cities with flour 

 and produce. Tlicy raise cattle, principally for tlie milk. The cows are milked 

 but once a day, — in the morning ; and only during tlic wet season, that is, the season in 

 which there is any pasture. In the dry season, from lack of food, the cattle with 

 difficulty sustain themselves. After each milking, the cows with their calves are 

 allowed to go to the woods. In the evening the calves are collected and brought home 

 to be put in an inclosure for the night. Early the next morning the cows are driven 

 into the yard for milking ; to every cow that is going to be milked, her calf is 

 brought and allowed to suck once or twice ; it is then tied to one of her forelegs 

 to assure her of its presence and to make her believe it is sucking, while in reality 

 she is being milked. It requires two persons to perform this operation, one to milk 

 and the other to steady the head of the cow, which is tied. From the milk, which 

 is mostly left unskimmed, cheese is prepared, which is used all over the country. 



The principal produce of the Altos is wool. Sheep are extensively raised, for the 

 most part on the elevated plains, some of which are 9000 feet above the sea. Some 

 families own as many as four and five hundred. There are several varieties, some 

 white and some black, many of the latter having four horns. The owner of the 

 sheep manufactures those articles of wool which are needed in the familv. The 



