692 MOUNDS IN NORTHERN HONDURAS [ETH. ANN. 19 
somewhat an ege-shape appearance. It has been covered through- 
out with a layer of hard plaster, but a good deal of this has peeled off 
and is lying about on the floor. Nothing whatever was found in any 
of these chambers except the earth and rubbish which had fallen in 
through the opening. I have found eight of these chambers within 
an area of about 1 square mile around the mounds, and doubtless many 
more exist, concealed by the bush. I first discovered chambers of 
this kind in the western district of British Honduras, but I did not 
then think that they had been used as reservoirs for water, as several 
existed close to the Mopan river, where excellent drinking water could 
be obtained even in the driest season, and in one case a chamber of 
this kind had been used as a sepulcher. 
Stephens, in his book on Yucatan,’ mentions these chambers, of 
which he came across several near Uxmal. He was of the opinion 
that they had been used as reservoirs for water in the dry season, and 
I am now also of this opinion, as it would have been impossible for 
the builders of the mounds and buildings at Santa Rita to have brought 
their fresh water from the nearest natural supply, which is the Rio 
Nuevo, situated at a distance of 5 miles from the estate, from which 
it is separated by an almost impassable swamp. Nor could wells have 
supplied the aboriginal inhabitants with water, for not only have no 
traces of any been discovered, but wells which have been sunk on the 
estate in recent years have reached water so brackish that it is quite 
unfit for human consumption. 

1John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, vol. I, p. 232. 
