THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION L37 



town of Tayasal in Lake Peten. Here Mayan culture 

 was preserved until 1097. At the present time certain 

 ancient ideas still persist as has already been stated in 

 connection with the ethnology of the Lacandone Indi- 

 ans. Upon the western highlands there are preserved 

 traditions which concern the Quiches, Cakchiquels, and 

 other Mayan tribes, hut the history does not go back for 

 more than two hundred years before the Spanish con- 

 quest . All in all, there is little to be said in favor of the 

 frequent plaint that the coming of the white man 

 snuffed out a culture that promised great things. The 

 golden days of the Mayan civilization had already 

 passed, and, if we may judge by the history of other 

 nations, would never have returned. 



