72 APPENDIX. 



Indians in order to make them work, because one can clearly perceive by certain 

 characteristics that it was the same race of naked Indians that constructed these 

 edifices. Of this any one can convince himself Avho examines one of the largest 

 in this place (Izamal), among the ornaments of which are seen the debris of 

 men (human figures), which, though otherwise naked, have their loins covered 

 with the cincture called ex by them, not to count other decorations still made by 

 the Indians from a very strong cement. It happened, while I lived here, that 

 there was found in a building which we tore down a large urn with three handles, 

 covered externally with silvered ornaments, and containing the ashes of a burned 

 body, among which we found objects of art of well-worked stone, such as the 

 Indians still take in exchange as money ; all of which proves that these buildings 

 were constructed by Indians. 



" I know well that, if they were Indians, they must have been superior in 

 (physical) condition to those of to-day : taller as well as more robust. This is 

 shown here in Izamal still more than elsewhere by the statues in demi-relief, 

 moulded in cement (stucco) which, as I said, are seen on the piers, and represent 

 men of high stature. Another proof was afforded by the extremities of the 

 arms and legs of the man whose ashes were enclosed in the urn found in the 

 before-mentioned building." 



He then describes and illustrates by a ground plan one of the buildings of 

 Izamal. Mentioning a staircase of this building, he says : " These steps are 

 made of large and well-worked stones, though they are already very unsightly 

 and ruined by time and rain." Further on, he observes : " There is no recollec- 

 tion of the founders (of the buildings), and they appear to have been the first." 



Next follows an account of the buildings of Tihoo, which occupied the site 

 of the present city of Merida. A plan of the principal building is added. 

 "This building," Landa states, "was given us (the Franciscans) by the Ade- 

 lantado Montejo. Being covered with wood and brushes, we cleaned it, and 

 built here with the stones furnished by it, a monastery of tolerable size and a 

 good church, which we called the Church of the Mother of God." The trees 

 and shrubs alluded to are no indication of gi'eat age, considering the rapid 

 growth of vegetation in that tropical climate ; but the author observes in another 

 place : " These buildings were likewise of such high antiquity that the memory 

 of their founders had been entirely lost." He further gives an account of 

 Chichen-Itza, accompanied by a plan of the large pyramidal structure. The 

 colossal serpents' heads seen at the foot of one of its staircases, and figured in 

 Stephens's "Yucatan"* are particularly mentioned by the bishop. He is silent 

 concerning the antiquity of the buildings, but mentions an Indian tradition 



* Vol. II, p. 313. 





