CURA OF TEKOH. 



125 



tan, and runs back to the great traversing range in 

 Guatimala, broken only by a higii mound, which 

 at three leagues' distance towered above the plain, 

 a mourning monument of the ruins of Mayapan, 

 the capital of the fallen kingdom of Maya. 



On our return we found the cura, Don Jose Ca- 

 nuta Vela, waiting to receive us ; he had been noti- 

 fied of our coming, and had expected us the day 

 before. His curacy consisted of nearly two thou- 

 sand souls, and, except his ministro, we did not see 

 a white man among this population. He was un- 

 der thirty, born and bred in Merida, and in manners 

 and attainments apparently out of place in such a 

 position ; but his feelings and sympathies were iden- 

 tified with the people under his charge. The con- 

 vent was a great stone building, with walls several 

 feet thick, and in size corresponded with the church. 

 Being so near Merida, it was more than ordinarily 

 well supplied with comforts ; and, among other 

 things, the cura had a small collection of books, 

 which, for that country, constituted quite a library. 



He relieved us of all difficulty arising from the 

 want of an interpreter, and, sending for the Indian 

 alcaldes, made immediate arrangements to forward 

 our luggage, and to accompany us himself the next 

 day to the ruins of Mayapan. We had again made 

 a beginning with the padres, and this beginning, in 

 heartiness of welcome and goodness of cheer, cor- 

 responded with all that we had before received at 



