RUINS OF CHICKEN. 283 



etor is entitled only to the majores, or improve- 

 ments» 



The ^-uins are nine leagues from Valladolid, the 

 camino real to which passes directly through the 

 field. The great buildings tower on both sides of 

 the road in full sight of all passers-by, and from 

 the fact that the road is much travelled, the ruins 

 of Chichen are perhaps more generally known to 

 the people of the country than any other in Yuca- 

 tan. It is an interesting fact, however, that the 

 fir^t stranger who ever visited them was a native 

 of New- York, whom we afterwar_^ met at Val- 

 ladolid, and who is now again feiding in this 

 city. 



Immediately on our arrival at Chichen we heard 

 of a paysanno, or countryman, Don Juan Burque, 

 enginero en la machina de Valladolid, the English 

 of which is, Mr. John Burke, engineer in the fac- 

 tory. In 1838 Mr. Burke came from Valladolid to 

 the village of Cawa, six leagues distant from Chi- 

 chen. While making excursions in the neighbour- 

 hood, one of the young men told him of old build- 

 ings on this hacienda, from one of which Vallado- 

 lid was visible, Mr. Burke rode over, and on the 

 fourth of July stood on the top of the Castillo, spy- 

 glass in hand, looking out for Valladolid. Two 

 years afterward, in 1840, they were visited by the 

 Baron Frederichstahl, and by him first brought to 

 the notice of the public, both in Europe and this 



