452 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



safely occupied by us, and we therefore pitched our 

 camp in the open field. In their temples we found idols 

 of a horrid figure.' ' 



Now it will be recollected that Bernal Diaz wrote to 

 do justice to himself and others of the " true conquerors," 

 his companions in arms, whose fame had been obscured 

 by other historians not actors and eyewitnesses ; all his 

 references to buildings are incidental ; he never expect- 

 ed to be cited as authority upon the antiquities of the 

 country. The pettiest skirmish with the natives was 

 nearer his heart than all the edifices of lime and stone 

 which he saw, and it is precisely on that account that 

 his testimony is the more valuable. It was written at a 

 time when there were many living who could contradict 

 him if incorrect or false. His " true history'' never was 

 impeached ; on the contrary, while its style was consid- 

 ered rude and inelegant, its fidelity and truth have been 

 acknowledged by all contemporaneous and subsequent 

 historians. In my opinion, it is as true and reliable as 

 any work of travels on the countries through which he 

 fought his way. It gives the hurried and imperfect ob- 

 servations of an unlettered soldier, whose sword was 

 seldom in its scabbard, surrounded by dangers, attack- 

 ing, retreating, wounded, and flying, with his mind con- 

 stantly occupied by matters of more pressing moment. 



The reader cannot fail to be struck with the general 

 resemblance between the objects described by him and 

 the scenes referred to in these pages. His account 

 presents to my mind a vivid picture of the ruined cities 

 which we visited, as they once stood, with buildings of 

 lime and stone, painted and sculptured ornaments, and 

 plastered; idols, courts, strong walls, and lofty temples 

 with high ranges of steps. 



But if this is not sufficient, I have farther and strong- 



