ANOTHER RUINED CITY. 



193 



Indians were in an inflammable state ; they were al- 

 ready inquiring what we came there for, and he could 

 not answer for our safety. In a few months, perhaps, 

 the excitement might pass away, and then we could re- 

 turn. He loved the subjects we took interest in, and 

 would join us in all our expeditions, and aid us with all 

 his influence. 



And the padre's knowledge was not confined to his 

 own immediate neighbourhood. His first curacy was 

 at Coban, in the province of Vera Paz ; and he told us 

 that four leagues from that place was another ancient 

 city, as large as Santa Cruz del Quiche, deserted and 

 desolate, and almost as perfect as when evacuated by 

 its inhabitants. He had wandered through its silent 

 streets and over its gigantic buildings, and its palace 

 was as entire as that- of Quiche when he first saw it. 

 This is within two hundred miles of Guatimala, and in 

 a district of country not disturbed by war ; yet, with all 

 our inquiries, we had heard nothing of it. And now, 

 the information really grieved us. Going to the place 

 would add eight hundred miles to our journey. Our 

 plans were fixed, our time already limited ; and in that 

 wild country and its unsettled state, we had supersti- 

 tious apprehensions that it was ominous to return. My 

 impression, however, of the existence of such a city is 

 most strong. I do most earnestly hope that some fu- 

 ture traveller will visit it. He will not hear of it even 

 at Guatimala, and perhaps will be told that it does not 

 exist. Nevertheless, let him seek for it ; and if he do 

 find it, experience sensations which seldom fall to the 

 lot of man. 



But the padre told us more ; something that increas- 

 ed our excitement to the highest pitch. On the other 

 side of the great traversing range of Cordilleras lies the 



Vol. II.— B b 17 



