[Gutenberg 45656] • The Ancient Cities of the New World / Being Travels and Explorations in Mexico and Central America From 1857-1882

The first notice upon this work appeared in the North American Review, the energetic Editor of which (Mr. A. Th. Rice) wished to be before all his contemporaries in giving his subscribers an aperçu of my labours. Unfortunately for them that publication contained my impressions of the moment, just as I dotted them down, which, as a natural consequence, had to be modified pari passu with my discoveries, whilst my quotations, owing to an uncertain memory, were not much to offer readers of such intrinsic merit. A second publication followed in the Tour du Monde, but although better thought out than the first, even that was too hastily written to do justice to the magnificent collection I now present to the public, in which the entire design I had at heart is revealed; and if the account of my discoveries, the issue which naturally follows, the theory I wish to establish, are still couched in language which may appear crude and incomplete, I ask the indulgence of my readers on the plea that this edition received the last touch between two expeditions. On the other hand the subject is so vast, that I only aimed at giving a broad outline, hoping for greater leisure at some future time.

CHAPTER I. VERA CRUZ AND PUEBLA.

My former Mission— The present one— Why called Franco-American— Vera Cruz— Railway from Vera Cruz to Mexico— Warm Region— Temperate Region— Cordova— Orizaba— Maltrata— Cold Region— Esperanza— Puebla and Tlascala— The Old Route.

When I started for Mexico in 1880, I already knew something of the country, having, in the year 1857, been sent out as delegate for my Government to explore parts of it. At that time I was rich in hopes and full of grand intentions, but poor in knowledge and light of purse, and I soon learnt that the work I had undertaken was of so difficult and complicated a character, that the whole thing was beyond my powers; and, finding that from want both of money and of technical knowledge I was unable to carry out the great schemes I had imagined, I contented myself with simply photographing some of the monuments as I visited them, without even venturing to add any comment thereto. Now all was different. Better prepared in every way: with additional knowledge, backed by influential supporters, and with the aid of numerous documents which I had collected, I felt I might reasonably hope to be able to throw some light on one of the most obscure corners of the history of man.

CONTENTS

VERA CRUZ AND PUEBLA

MEXICO

THE INDIANS

TULA

TULA. PYRAMID OF THE SUN. ANTIQUITIES OF TULA

PALPAN AND THE TOLTECS

TEOTIHUACAN

TEOTIHUACAN (continued)

MOUNTAIN EXPLORATION

TENENEPANCO AND NAHUALAC CEMETERIES

BELLOTE

COMALCALCO

LAS PLAYAS AND PALENQUE

PALENQUE TEMPLES

YUCATAN, MERIDA, AND THE MAYA RACE

AKÉ AND IZAMAL

IZAMAL EN ROUTE FOR CHICHEN

CHICHEN-ITZA

KABAH AND UXMAL

UXMAL

CAMPECHE AND TENOSIQUÉ

LORILLARD TOWN

PETEN, TAYASAL, TIKAL, AND COPAN

TUMBALA. S. CRISTOBAL. MITLA

ILLUSTRATIONS.

A VIEW OF VERA CRUZ AND THE FORT OF SAN JUAN OF ULLOA

VIEW OF PUEBLA, TAKEN FROM ALTO

TWO PANORAMAS OF PUEBLA

CHURCH OF SAN DOMINGO

EL SAGRARIO

CLOISTER OF THE CONVENT OF LA MERCED

MEXICAN MONKS

EL SALTO DEL AGUA (FOUNTAIN)

TREE OF THE NOCHE TRISTE, AT POPOTLAN

CHAPULTEPEC

CHARCOAL AND BATTEAS VENDORS

MEXICAN WATER-CARRIER

MEXICAN TORTILLERA AND STRAW MAT SELLERS

COURT IN THE MEXICO MUSEUM

TEOYAOMIQUI, GOD OF DEATH AND WAR

THE STONE OF THE SUN, OR OF TIZOC, MEXICO MUSEUM

THE TEMALACATL, OR GLADIATORIAL STONE (FROM RAMIREZ MS.