264 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



referred to in the document, the names of which 

 were famiUar to me, and I observed that the words 

 immediately preceding Vxmal were different from 

 those preceding the other names. The presmnp- 

 tion was that Uxmal was referred to in some differ- 

 ent sense. 



In turning to the end of the document I found a 

 sheet of foolscap paper, which had been secured in 

 the book, but was then loose ; and upon it was a 

 curious map, also dated in 1557, of which Mani 

 was the centre. Vxmal was laid down upon it, 

 and indicated by a peculiar sign, different from that 

 of all the other places named. On the back of the 

 map was endorsed a long instrument of the same 

 date, in which the word Vxmal again occurred, and 

 which, beyond doubt, contained matter relating to 

 other places named in the map, and to their con- 

 dition or state of being at that time. With the as- 

 sistance of the schoolmaster I compared this with 

 the one written in the book, and ascertained that 

 the latter was a recorded copy of the other. 



A few pages beyond was another document, bear- 

 ing date in 1556, one year earlier, and in this, 

 again, the word Vxmal appeared. The schoolmas- 

 ter was able to give me some general idea of the 

 contents, but he could not translate with facility 

 nor, as he said, very accurately. The alcalde sent 

 for an Indian escribano, or clerk, of the municipal- 

 ity ; but he was not in the village, and an old In- 

 dian was brought who had formerly served in that 



