vi PREFACE. 



liut there are reasons for believing that it pertained to a comparatively well- 

 wooded section. 



4th. That the people of the section where it was prepared were peace- 

 able, not addicted to war; and were sedentary, supporting- themselves chiefly 

 by agricultural products, though relying upon their "gins and traps" and 

 the chase to supply them with animal food. Twelve of the plates (VIII 

 to XIX) are devoted to this latter subject; ten (I* to X*) to the business, 

 festivals, &c., of the apiarists and honey-gatherers; and ten (XXIV to 

 XXXIII) to rains, storms, and agricultural pursuits. 



The execution and character of the Avork itself, as well as its contents, 

 bear testimony to the fact that the people were comparatively well 

 advanced in the arts of civilized life. But there is nothing here to warrant 

 the glowing descriptions of their art and refinement given by some of the 

 earlier as well as more modern writers, nor even to correspond with what 

 might be inferred from the architectural remains in some parts of Yucatan. 

 We find in the work indications of stone and wooden houses, but generally 

 with thatched roofs; at least they always have wooden supports, and are of 

 a temporary character. 



The dress of the males appears to have consisted of a strip of cloth 

 (probably cotton), passed once or twice around the loins, with one end 

 hanging down behind and the other in front, or a small flap in front and 

 the ends behind. That of the females consisted of a skirt fastened at the 

 waist and hanging down to the ankles. A kind of broad anklets and wrist- 

 lets appear also to have been quite common with the better class, but the 

 feet were always bai-e. The women parted their hair in the middle, that of 

 the matrons or married women not being allowed to hang down, while that 

 of the younger or unmarried ones was allowed to hang in long locks behind. 



Mats alone seem to have been used as seats. 



The pottery, so far as I can judge by what is shown in the Manu- 

 script (and in this prefatory statement I confine my remarks strictly to 

 what seems to be shown here, unless otherwise expressly stated), was of an 

 inferior grade as to form and decoration, but it is worthy of notice that pots 

 with legs were common. Some censers in the form of a snake's neck and 

 head are the best specimens represented. 



