RUINED CITIES OF AMERICA. 95 



creation of the same races who inhabited the coun- 

 try at the time of the Spanish conquest, or of some 

 not very distant progenitors." 



This opinion was not given lightly, nor without 

 due consideration. It was adverse to my feelings, 

 which would fain have thrown around the ruins the 

 interest of mystery and hoary age ; and even now, 

 though gratified at knowing that my opinion has 

 been fully sustained, I would be willing to abandon 

 it, and involve the reader and myself in doubt, did cir- 

 cumstances warrant me in so doing; but I am 

 obliged to say that subsequent investigations have 

 fortified and confirmed my previous conclusions, 

 and, in fact, have made conviction what before was 

 mere matter of opinion. 



When I wrote the account of my former journey, 

 the greatest difficulty attending the consideration of 

 this subject was the absence of all historical record 

 concerning the places visited. Copan had some 

 history, but it was obscure, uncertain, and unsatis- 

 factory. Giuirigua, Palenque, and Uxmal had none 

 whatever; but a ray of historic light beams upon 

 the solitary arch in the ruined convent of Merida. 



In the account of the conquest of Yucatan by 

 Cogolludo it is stated, that on the arrival of the 

 Spaniards at the Indian town of Tihoo, on the site 

 of which, it will be remembered, Merida now stands, 

 they found many cerros hechos a mano, i. e., hills 

 made by hand, or artificial mounds, and that on one 

 of these mounds the Spaniards encamped. 



