378 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



It is of Stone, has a venerable appearance of anti- 

 quity, and has extended on it in half relief an image 

 of the Saviour, made of plaster, with the hands and 

 feet nailed. At the first glance w^e w^ere satisfied 

 that, whatever might be the truth in regard to its 

 early history, it was, at least, wrought into its pres- 

 ent shape under the direction of the monks. And 

 though, at that time, we did not expect ever to know 

 anything more about it, the ruins of this church 

 cleared up in our minds all possible mystery con- 

 nected with its existence. 



In front of the building is a cemented platform, 

 broken and uprooted by trees, but still preserving 

 its form ; and on this stand two square pillars, 

 which, as we supposed on the spot, had once sup- 

 ported crosses, and w^e were immediately impressed 

 with the belief that one of these missing symbols was 

 that now known as the " Cozumel Cross," and that 

 it had probably been carried away by some pious 

 monk at or about the time when the church became 

 a ruin and the island depopulated. For myself, I 

 have no doubt of the fact ; and I regard it as impor- 

 tant, for, even though crosses may have been found 

 in Yucatan, the connecting of the " Cozumel Cross" 

 with the ruined church on the island completely in- 

 validates the strongest proof offered at this day that 

 the cross was ever recognised by the Indians as a 

 symbol of worship. 



At noon we had finished all our work, but there 

 was a charm about our absolute proprietorship of 



