VILLAGE OF B E C A N C H E N. 231 



it was like the fountain to the Arab in the desert, or 

 the rivers of svv^eet water promised to the faithful in 

 the paradise of Mohammed. 



The history of this village has all the wildness of 

 romance, and, indeed, throughout this land of se- 

 pulchred cities the genius of romance sits enthron- 

 ed. Its name is derived from this stream of water, 

 being compounded of the Maya words Becan, run- 

 ning, and chen, a well. Twenty years ago the coun- 

 try round about was a wilderness of forest. A sol- 

 itary Indian came into it, and made a clearing for 

 his milpa. In doing so he struck upon the running 

 stream, followed it until he found the water gushing 

 from the rock, and the whole surface now occupied 

 by the plaza pierced with ancient wells. The In- 

 dians gathered round the wells, and a village grew 

 up, which now contains six thousand inhabitants ; a 

 growth, having regard to the difference in the re- 

 sources of the country and the character of the peo- 

 ple, equal in rapidity to that of the most prosperous 

 towns in ours. 



These wells are all mere excavations through a 

 stratum of limestone rock, varying in depth accord- 

 ing to the irregularity of the bed, and in general not 

 exceeding four or five feet. The source of the wa- 

 ter is considered a mystery by the inhabitants, but it 

 seems manifest that it is derived from the floods of 

 the rainy season. The village is encompassed on 

 three sides by hills. On the upper side of the pla- 

 za, near the corner of a street running back to the 



