414 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL, 



ancient document or record in existence in which the 

 place is mentioned at all, and there are no traditions 

 except the wild superstitions of Indians in regard to 

 particular buildings. The ruins were all exhumed ; 

 within the last year the trees had been cut down and 

 burned, and the whole field of ruins was in view, enclo- 

 sed by the woods and planted with corn. 



We passed a most interesting and laborious day, and 

 at evening returned to the hacienda to mature our plans 

 for a thorough exploration ; but, unfortunately, during 

 the night Mr. Catherwood, I believe affected by the 

 immensity of the work, had a violent attack of fever, 

 which continued upon him in the morning, with a pros- 

 pect of serious illness. 



It was Monday, and very early all the Indians of the 

 hacienda, according to their obligation to the master, 

 presented themselves to receive directions from the ma- 

 jor-domo for the day's work. In remaining about the 

 house I had an opportunity of learning somewhat of 

 hacienda discipline and the character of the Indians. 



The hacienda of Uxmal is ten leagues or thirty miles 

 square, but only a small portion is cultivated, and the 

 rest is a mere roaming-ground for cattle. The Indians 

 are of two classes : vaceros, or tenders of cattle and 

 horses, who receive twelve dollars per year, with five 

 almudas of maize per week ; and labradores or labour- 

 ers, who are also called Luneros, from their obligation, ' 

 in consideration of their drinking the water of the ha- 

 cienda, to work for the master without pay on Limes 

 or Monday. These last constitute the great body of the 

 Indians ; and, besides their obligation to work on Mon- 

 day, when they marry and have families, and, of course, 

 need more water, they are obliged to clear, sow, and 

 gather twenty micates of maize for the master, each 



