OCCUPATION OF THE SPANIARDS. 321 



not disappointed, but more than realized. And 

 they had additional interest in our eyes from the 

 fact that the broad light of day beams upon their 

 history. The first settlement of the Spaniards in 

 the interior was made at this very spot. 



The reader may remember that in the early part 

 of these pages he accompanied Don Francisco 

 Montejo to Chichen, or Chichen Itza, as it was 

 called, from the name of the people who occupied 

 the country. The site of this place is identified 

 beyond all peradventure as that now occupied by 

 these ruins ; and the reader, perhaps, will expect 

 from Don Francisco Montejo, or the Spanish sold- 

 iers, some detailed account of these extraordinary 

 buildings, so different from any to which the Span- 

 iards were accustomed. But, strange as it may ap- 

 pear, no such account exists. The only existing 

 notice of their journey from the coast says, that 

 from a place called Ake they set out, directing their 

 course for Chichen Itza, where they determined to 

 stop and settle, as it appeared a proper place, on 

 account of the strength of the great buildings that 

 were there, for defence against attacks by the In- 

 dians. We do not even learn whether these build- 

 ings were inhabited or desolate ; but Herrera says 

 that the Indians in this region were so numerous, 

 that in making the distribution which the adelanta- 

 do was allowed by the terms of the royal grant, the 

 least number which fell to the lot of a Spaniard 

 was two thousand. 



Vol. IL— S s 



