AN INTERESTING EDIFICE. 



89 



Esta obra mando hacerla el 

 Adelantado D. Francisco de Montejo 

 Ano de MDXLIX. 



The Adelantado Don Francisco Montejo caused this to be made 

 in the year 1549. 



The subject represents two knights in armour, with 

 visors, breastplates, and helmets, standing upon the 

 shoulders of crushed naked figures, probably intend- 

 ed to represent the conquering Spaniard trampling 

 upon the Indian. Mr. Catherwood attempted to 

 make a drawing of it, and, to avoid the heat of the 

 sun, went into the plaza at daylight for that purpose; 

 but he was so annoyed by the crowd that he was 

 obliged to give it up. There is reason to believe 

 that it is a combination of Spanish and Indian art. 

 The design is certainly Spanish, but as, at that ear- 

 ly period of the conquest, but five years after the 

 foundation of Merida, Spaniards were but few, and 

 each man considered himself a conqueror, prob- 

 ably there were none who practised the mechanic 

 arts. The execution was no doubt the work of In- 

 dians, and perhaps the carving was done with their 

 own instruments, and not those furnished them by 

 the Spaniards. 



The history of the erection of this building would 

 be interesting and instructive ; and, with the hope of 

 learning something about it, I proposed to examine 

 thoroughly the archives of the cabildo ; but I was ad- 

 vised that all the early archives were lost, or in such 

 confusion that it would be a Herculean labour to ex- 



VoL. L— M 



