CHURCH AND CONVENT. 



273 



map and act of partition are good evidence in all 

 legal proceedings affecting the title to lands in that 

 neighbourhood, and I afterward saw^ them enrolled 

 as proofs and forming part of the record in a con- 

 tested and protracted lawsuit. 



I make no apology for dwelling so long upon this 

 ancient map. Perhaps, however, it will not interest 

 the reader so much as it did ourselves and the half- 

 breeds of Mani. These ascribed our curiosity to a 

 much less innocent motive than that of investiga- 

 ting the history of ancient cities. In consequence 

 of some recent difficulties, los Ingleses were some- 

 what objects of suspicion ; the idlers of Mani made 

 close inquiries of Albino touching our reasons for 

 wanting the map, and, not being able to compre- 

 hend his explanations, which were, perhaps, not very 

 clear, they said that we intended to seek out and seize 

 the strong points for fortifications ; and, with a spirit 

 unlike that of their warlike sires, Spanish or Indian, 

 quietly made up their minds that we intended to re- 

 duce the country and make slaves of them. 



Toward evening we strolled over to the church 

 and convent, which are among the grandest of these 

 early structures erected in Yucatan, proud monu- 

 ments of the zeal and labour of the Franciscan fri- 

 ars. They were built under the direction of Friar 

 Juan of Merida, distinguished as a warrior and con- 

 queror, but who threw aside the sword and put on 

 the habit of a monk. According to Cogolludo, they 

 were both finished in the short space of seven 



Vol. IL— M m 



