FAREWELL TO RUINS. 



455 



ty than that claimed by the Maya manuscript, and, 

 in fact, much less than I should ascribe to them my- 

 self. In identifying them as the works of the an- 

 cestors of the present Indians, the cloud which hung 

 over their origin is not removed ; the time when and 

 the circumstances under which they were built, the 

 rise, progress, and full development of the power, 

 art, and skill required for their construction, are 

 all mysteries which will not easily be unravelled. 

 They rise like skeletons from the grave, wrapped in 

 their burial shrouds ; claiming no affinity with the 

 works of any known people, but a distinct, independ- 

 ent, and separate existence. They stand alone, ab- 

 solutely and entirely anomalous, perhaps the most 

 interesting subject which at this day presents itself 

 to the inquiring mind. I leave them with all their 

 mystery around them ; and in the feeble hope that 

 these imperfect pages may in some way throw a 

 glimmer of light upon the great and long vainly 

 mooted question, who were the peoplers of Ameri- 

 ca 1 I will now bid farewell to ruins. 



