262 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



such an idea of the vastness of the works erected by the 

 aboriginal inhabitants. Pressed as we were, we deter- 

 mined to remain and make a thorough exploration. 



It was nearly dark when we returned t<* the village. 

 Immediately we called upon the alcalde, but found on 

 the very threshold detention and delay. He repeated 

 the schoolmaster's warning that nothing could be done 

 violenter. It would take two days to get together men 

 and implements, and these last of the kind necessary 

 could not be had at all. There was not a crowbar in 

 the place ; but the alcalde said one could be made, and 

 in the same breath that there was no iron ; there was 

 half a blacksmith, but no iron nearer than Tobasco, 

 about eight or ten days' journey. While we were with 

 him another terrible storm came on. We hurried back 

 in the midst of it, and determined forthwith to push on 

 to Palenque. I am strongly of opinion that there is at 

 this place much to reward the future traveller. We 

 were told that there were other ruins about ten leagues 

 distant, along the same range of mountains ; and it has 

 additional interest in our eyes, from the circumstance 

 that this would be the best point from which to attempt 

 the discovery of the mysterious city seen from the top of 

 the Cordilleras. 



At Ocosingo we were on the line of travel of Captain 

 Dupaix, whose great work on Mexican Antiquities, pub- 

 lished in Paris in 1834—5, awakened the attention of the 

 learned in Europe. His expedition to Palenque was 

 made in 1807. He reached this place from the city of 

 Mexico, under a commission from the government, at- 

 tended by a draughtsman and secretary, and part of a 

 regiment of dragoons. "Palenque," he says, "is eight 

 days' march from Ocosingo. The journey is very fa- 

 tiguing. The roads, if they can be so called, are only 



