22 



INCIDENTS OF TKAVKL. 



ten feet, and the north side of the second range has 

 a curious and unaccountable feature. It is called the 

 Casa Cerrada, or closed house, having ten door- 

 ways, all of which are blocked up inside with stone 

 and mortar. Like the well at Xcoch, it had a mys- 

 terious reputation in the village of Nohcacab, and 

 all believed that it contained hidden treasure. In- 

 deed, so strong was this belief, that the alcalde Se- 

 gundo, who had never visited these ruins, resolved 

 to take advantage of our presence ; and, according 

 to agreement in the village, came down with crow- 

 bars to assist us in breaking into the closed apart- 

 ments and discovering the precious hoard. The 

 first sight of these closed-up doorways gave us 

 a strong desire to make the attempt ; but on mo- 

 ving along we found that the Indians had been 

 beforehand with us. In front of several were 

 piles of stones, which they had worked out from 

 the doorways, and under the lintels were holes, 

 through which we were able to craAvl inside ; and 



