1836,] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIEXCES. 173 



to back. They occupy tlie place of a mastodon trunk which was 

 removed from the enormous face over the doorway to make room 

 for them and an inscription that tells of the downfall of the 

 dynasty of the Cans, the change liaving been made by the 

 Naliualt invadei-s. Dr. Le Plongeon has already })ublished his 

 interpretation of the inscription, whicli roads as follows : Tlie 

 {Jans now fallen are crouching like dogs, witJionl strength; the 

 land of Aak, Oxnial (U.vmal) is securelg fettered. 



On the right-liand side of the sanctuary some stairs led to 

 another structure that was on the summit of the pyramid. It 

 does not appear very large and yet iu reality it is as long as the 

 pyramid is liigli, tliat is to say 22 metres. There are three 

 rooms, but they do not communicate witli each other, those at 

 the end opening to the east, and the middle one to the west. 

 This building in ages gone by was a temple where scientific men 

 met together, and initiated privileged scliolars into certain rites 

 -jind mysteries, as in the temples of Egypt. Signs used in 

 masonic lodges to-day even yet exist in tiiat building. 



Yucatan lias an area of about 13,000 square miles, and in dif- 

 ferent parts of the territory there are at least forty ancient cities. 

 One of tiie most remarkable is that called Chichen-Itza, a place 

 so exposed to the hostile Indians that, when we first declared our 

 intention of making a stay there, our acquaintances in that 

 country declared that we would never return alive, and when 

 they were convinced that we could not be dissuaded, Gen. 

 Palomino, then commander-in-chief of the military forces, 

 ordered Col. Diaz, who was at the head of the troops in that 

 district, to provide us with an escort of 100 men. Wishing to 

 see the ruins, the Colonel himself accompanied us, and the 

 morning when we started, as we passed through the streets, the 

 people came out of their houses to wish us a safe return, because 

 they regarded our expedition as most perilous. 



The first building that comes into view on approaching the old 

 city of Chichen is a grand castle on the summit of a lofty pyra- 

 mid. In that castle there are many sculptured pillars, and 

 among the figures represented there are several men with long 

 beards, tlie faces all in profile. One was sufficiently like Dr. Le 

 Plongeon for the Indians to affirm that it was himself when he 

 had lived in that spot in ages gone by. As those natives believe 

 in re-incarnation, we were not surprised to hear them speak thus, 

 and did not think it wortli while to contradict them, for such a 

 belief would cause them to obey us more readily, as indeed it 

 effectively did. 



The largest structure at Chichen is a great palace that is about 

 three-quarters of a mile distant from the castle. It is three 

 stories hi2;h, the stairs beina: outside, and the rooms are not one 



