ANNOTATIONS AND ADDITIONS. 145 



the Spaniards, was I think shown by me in a work on the monu- 

 ments of the native inhabitants of America (Vues des Cordilleres et 

 Monumens des peuples indigenes de FAme'rique). I inferred this 

 probability from a comparison of the Mexican and Thibeto-Japanese 

 calendars from the correct orientation of the steps of the pyramidal 

 elevations towards the different quarters of the heavens and from 

 the ancient myths and traditions of the four ages or four epochs of 

 destruction of the world, and the dispersion of mankind after a great 

 flood of waters. The accounts published since my work, in England, 

 France and the United States, describing the wonderful bas reliefs, 

 almost in the Indian style, in the ruins of Gruatimala and Yucatan, 

 have given to these analogies a still higher value. (Compare Anto- 

 nio del Rio, Description of the Ruins of an Ancient City discovered 

 Rear Palenque, 1822, translated from the original manuscript report 

 by Cabrera (del Rio's exploration took place in 1787), p. 9, tab. 

 12-14 ; with Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, 1843, vol. i. 

 pp. 391 and 429-434; vol. ii. pp. 21, 54, 56, 317, 323; with the 

 magnificent volume of Catherwood, " Views of Ancient Monuments 

 hi Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan," 1844; and lastly, with 

 Prescott's " Conquest of Mexico// vol. iii. App. p. 360.) 



The architectural remains in the peninsula of Yucatan show, still 

 more than those of Palenque, a degree of civilization and art which 

 excites our astonishment. They are situated between Valladolid, 

 Merida, and Campeachy, chiefly in the western part of the country. 

 But the monuments in the island of Cozurnel (more properly Cuza- 

 mil), east of Yucatan, were the first which were seen by the Span- 

 iards in the expedition of Juan de Grrijalva, 1518, and that of Cortes 

 in 1519, and the report of them did much to spread over Europe a 

 high idea of ancient Mexican civilization. The most important 

 ruins 'of the peninsula of Yucatan, which unfortunately have not 

 yet been thoroughly measured and drawn by architects, are the Casa 

 del Grobernador of Uxmal, the Teocallis and vaulted constructions at 

 Kabah, the ruins of Labnah with domed columns, those of Zayi 

 with columns very nearly of the Doric order, and those of Chiche 

 with large ornamented pilasters. An old manuscript written in the 

 Maya language by a Christian Indian, and which is still in the hands 

 of the G-efe politico of Peto, Don Juan Pio Perez; gives the different 

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