286 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



Seybo Tree. 



17J feet in circumference, and its great branches af- 

 forded on all sides a magnificent shade. We had 

 found trees hke it growing on the tops of the ruined 

 structures at Copan and Palenque, and many had 

 for that reason ascribed to the buildings a very great 

 antiquity. This tree completely removed all doubts 

 w^hich I might have entertained, and confirmed me 

 in the opinion I had before expressed, that no cor- 

 rect judgment could be formed of the antiquity of 

 these buildings from the size of the trees growing 



