152 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



the very doorway. We could not move a step, and 

 all view was completely cut off. After the extreme 

 heat of the sun out of doors, we were in a profuse 

 perspiration from climbing up the terrace, and the 

 dank atmosphere induced a feeling of chilliness 

 which made us reflect seriously upon what we had 

 not sufficiently regarded before. 



Throughout Yucatan "el campo/' or the country, 

 is considered unhealthy in the rainy season. We 

 had arrived in Yucatan counting upon the benefit of 

 the whole dry season, which generally begins in No- 

 vember and lasts till May; but this year the rains had 

 continued longer than usual, and they were not yet 

 over. The proprietors of haciendas were still cau- 

 tious about visiting them, and confined themselves 

 to the villages and towns. Among all the hacien- 

 das, Uxmal had a reputation pre-eminent for its un- 

 healthiness. Every person who had ever been at 

 work among the ruins had been obliged by sickness 

 to leave them. Mr. Catherwood had had sad expe- 

 rience, and this unhealthiness was not confined to 

 strangers. The Indians suffered every season from 

 fevers ; many of them were at that time ill, and the 

 major domo had been obliged to go away. All this 

 we had been advised of in Merida, and had been 

 urged to postpone our visit ; but as this would have 

 interfered materially with our plan, and as we had 

 with us a " medico" who could cure " biscos," we 

 determined to risk it. On the spot, however, per- 

 ceiving the dampness of the apartments and the 



