EIELD AND FOREST. 1 3 



named Cogolludo, bearing date about A. D. 1658, which throws ad- 

 ditional light upon the subject. The book is almost unknown, 

 is out of print in Yucatan, was never translated, has been seen by very- 

 few, and being chiefly a history of the dealings of the church with the 

 aborigines, has fallen into obscurity. It is voluminous, indigested 

 and confused, repelling any attempt to study it. But as every ad- 

 ditional item of information is desirable, his statement is here brought 

 forward as worthy of consideration in settling the question. He does 

 not seem to have been an eye witness, but obtained from cotemporary 

 Indians a narrative of what they had themselves observed and from 

 one who had been a priest but was subsequently converted. The ac- 

 count he gives is somewhat as follows. 



The scene is at Uxmal in Yucatan. The pyramidal mound cased 

 with stone is known to be eighty-eight feet high to the top of its plat- 

 form, on which is erected the temple itself, attaining an additional 

 height of thirty-five feet. The building is exceedingly elaborate and 

 loaded with ornamental sculpture in bas-relief. The stair by which 

 the platform is reached is on the Eastern side, is one hundred and two 

 feet high, seventy feet wide and containing ninety steps ; these are very 

 narrow and consequently the asent is steep and difficult. The ven- 

 erable padre says he once asended these steps, and when he attempted 

 to descend repented the undertaking for his sight failed him, he became 

 confused and was in danger of being precipitated to the bottom. In 

 the apartments of the building hideously repulsive idols were still 

 standing and it was in this presence that sacrifices were made of men, 

 women and children. Beyond doubt this temple was a great Teocalis, 

 the temple of idols worshipped by the people of Uxmal. The cere- 

 mony consisted in conducting the victims, entirely naked, one by one, 

 up the great great stairway, guarded by priests and attended by the 

 High priest. He carried in his hands a large broad sharp knife, 

 made of flint, whilst another priest carried a wooden collar wrought 

 like a snake. 



The victim being laid face upwards on the stone altars had the col- 

 lar put upon his neck, and four priests took hold of the hands and 

 feet. Then the High priest with wonderful dexterity ripped up the 

 breast, tore out the heart, reeking with blood, with his hands, and held 

 it upwards towards the Sun making an offering of the heart and the 

 steam that issued from it. Then he turned to the idol and threw 



