RUMOURS OF AN INSURRECTION. 289 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Departure from Ticul. — The Sierra. — Nohcacab. — Ruins of Non- 

 pat.-— Return to Uxmal. — The Campo Santo. — Work of Mr. Wal- 

 deck. — General Description of the Ruins. — Two ruined Edifices. 

 — Great Stone Rings. — House of the Nuns. — Dimensions, &c. — 

 — Courtyard. — Facades.— A lofty Edifice.— Complicated Orna- 

 ment. — Painted Facades. — Sculptured Doorways. — House of 

 the Birds. — Remains of Painting. — An Arch. — House of the 

 Dwarf. — Building loaded with Ornaments. — Long and narrow 

 Structure. — Tasteful Arrangement of Ornaments. — Human Sac- 

 rifices. — House of the Pigeons. — Range of Terraces called the 

 Campo Santo. — House of the Old Woman. — Circular Mound 

 of Ruins. — Wall of the City. — Close of Description. — Title Pa- 

 pers of Uxmal. — Of the Antiquity of Uxmal. 



The next day was Sunday, which I passed in 

 making preparations for returning to Uxmal. I had, 

 however, some distraction. In the morning the 

 quiet of the village was a little disturbed by intelli- 

 gence of a revolution in Tekax, a town nine leagues 

 distant. Our sojourn in the country had been so 

 quiet that it seemed unnatural, and a small revolution 

 was necessary to make me feel at home. The insur- 

 gents had deposed the alcalde, appointed their own 

 authorities, and laid contributions upon the inhabi- 

 tants, and the news was that they intended marching 

 three hundred men against Merida, to extort an ac- 

 knowledgment of independence. Ticul lay in their 

 line of march, but as it was considered very uncertain 

 whether they would carry this doughty purpose into 

 execution, I determined not to change my plan. 



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