vi 



CONTENTS. 



courteous Reception. — Scarcity of Provisions.— Sunday.— Cholera.— Another 

 Countryman. — The Conversion, Apostacy, and Recovery of the Indians. — River 

 Chacamal. — The Caribs. — Ruins of Palenque 273 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Preparations for visiting the Ruins. — A Turn-out. — Departure. — The Road. — 

 Rivers Micol and Otula. — Arrival at the Ruins. — The Palace. — A Feu-de-joie. 

 — Quarters in the Palace. — Inscriptions by former Visiters. — The Fate of 

 Beanham.— Discovery of the Ruins of Palenque.— Visit of Del Rio.— Expe- 

 dition of Dupaix.— Drawings of the present Work. — First Dinner at the Ru- 

 ins. — Mammoth Fireflies. — Sleeping Apartments.— Extent of the Ruins.— Ob- 

 stacles to Exploration. — Suffering from Moschetoes 289 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Precautions against the Attacks of Moschetoes. — Mode of Life at Palenque. — 

 Description of the Palace. — Piers. — Hieroglyphics. — Figures. — Doorways. — 

 Corridors.— Courtyards. — A wooden Relic. — Stone Steps. — Towers. — Tablets. 

 — Stucco Ornaments, &c, &c. — The Royal Chapel. — Explorations. — An Aque- 

 duct. — An Alarm. — Insects.— Effect of Insect Stings.— Return to the Village 

 of Palenque 308 



CHAPTER XIX. 



A Voice from the Ruins.— Buying Bread.— Arrival of Padres.— Cura of Palenque. 

 — Card Playing.— Sunday.— Mass. — A Dinner Party. — Mementoes of Home. — 

 Dinner Customs. — Return to the Ruins.— A marked Change. — Terrific Thun- 

 der. — A Whirlwind.— A Scene of the Sublime and Terrible . . . 325 



CHAPTER XX. 



Plan of the Ruins.— Pyramidal Structure. — A Building. — Stucco Ornaments. — 

 Human Figures. — Tablets.— Remarkable Hieroglyphics. — Range of Pillars.— 

 Stone Terrace. — Another Building. — A large Tablet. — A Cross. — Conjectures 

 in regard to this Cross. — Beautiful Sculpture. — A Platform.— Curious De- 

 vices. — A Statue. — Another Pyramidal Structure, surmounted by a Building. — 

 Corridors. — A curious Bas-relief.— Stone Tablets, with Figures in Bas-relief. — 

 Tablets and Figures. — The Oratorio. — More Pyramidal Structures and Build- 

 ings. — Extent of the Ruins. — These Ruins the Remains of a polished and pe- 

 culiar People. — Antiquity of Palenque 337 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Departure from the Ruins.— Bad Road. — An Accident. — Arrival at the Village. 

 — A Funeral Procession.— Negotiations for Purchasing Palenque.— Making 

 Casts. — Final Departure from Palenque.— Beautiful Plain.— Hanging Birds'- 

 nests.— A Sitio. — Adventure with a monstrous Ape. — Hospitality of Padres. — 

 Las Playas.— A Tempest.— Moschetoes.— A Youthful Merchant.— Alligators. 

 — Another Funeral.— Disgusting Ceremonials 358 



