A TALK WITH THE INDIANS. 61 



asked me whether I wished them to assemble for 

 the pm-pose of talking with them, and we had pro- 

 vided for their entertainment a sheep and a turkey, 

 to which Bernaldo had devoted the day. At sun- 

 down all was ready. We insisted upon seating the 

 old alcalde on a chair. Bernaldo served out meat 

 and tortillas, and the alcalde presided over the agua 

 ardiente, which, as it was purchased of himself, and 

 to prove that it was not bad, he tasted before serving 

 the rest, and took his share afterward. Supper over, 

 we began our conversation, which consisted entirely 

 of questions on our part and answers on theirs, a man- 

 ner of discourse even in civiUzed life difficult to be 

 kept up long. There was no unwillingness to give 

 information, but there was a want of communica- 

 tiveness which made all intercourse with them un- 

 profitable and unsatisfactory. In fact, however, 

 they had nothing to communicate ; they had no 

 stories, or traditions; they knew nothing of the ori- 

 gin of the ruined buildings; these were standing when 

 they were born ; had existed in the time of their fa- 

 thers ; and the old men said that they had fallen much 

 within their own memory. In one point, however, 

 they differed from the Indians of Uxmal and Zayi. 

 They had no superstitious feelings with regard to 

 the ruins, w^ere not afraid to go to them at night, or 

 to sleep in them ; and when we told them of the 

 music that was heard sounding among the old build- 

 ings of Zayi, they said that if it were heard among 

 these, they would all go and dance to it. 



6 



