New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-19

g Sehi Cbep, Kabah, Iayi and Uxmai, with numerous
s. %.sa.ops. By 3. ". NORMAN. New-Yerk, J. & H..
Isszley 81 Chatham It.
The sdtho- OF this book justly observes, in his
.ace IL this beautiful volume, that the curiosity
-,aaes,ed in every quarter concerning the vast
i inc yplaincd ruins Of our hemisphere found in
8la!a America and iucatan, has not been in
4sssra times excelled by that upon any subject
A,.iayolving some immediate and practical inter-
The discovery in the heart of this new world,
sc are accustomed 10 call it, OF monuments,
,ssng 10 the existence Of vast nations, abound
mali the arts of civilized life, and whose ORR
u saliquty aud fate conjecture vainly attempts
E,a-aay well arouse the curiosity and wonder
tlbe world The wonderful revelations of Mr..
] .appEys the two splendid volumes which be
.eisasd upon this subject--concernipg this un-
.Rn land and its vanished inhabitants, excited
4,esling to it, highest point and it is not sur
g -iiBg that most profound anxiety should exist
\ ), sasn more Of the wondrous ruins which he
4 aoasbl 20 light.
Thsauthor of this volume commenced his Jour
pyiathis land of mystery, as he tells US, for the
4 agsft Of his heath-snd without the slightest in
a ,agn Of writing volume of travels So won
31fa however were the objects which he saw
& I'D so entirely new the scenes to which he was
srJdaced that he resolved to present the SUBJ
t.nse Of his observations and researches. His
aSis filed with information of great value and
,pgss The places which he visited are de.
glibed with minuteness, and in an easy pleasing
a,le,and the various recorded adventures which
g esi him add great interest to the work. A waltz
8alefketch of the geographical and political char
Arsr of {uce,an commences the work, and this is
JSioscd BY similar description of Merida, with
y.mmpry al The various opinions that have been
iataaiaed concerning the ancient inhabitants OF
8me places. lie gives the following sketch of a
asuar Church ceremony in the City of Merida:
@ 4Conuected with one of the inconsistencies of the
8Isaas, is the Church of Jesus. 1t has partially
3kls ancient spendor by the removal of valu-
I,asplae and embellishments, which formerly be-
q kased TO it; and should not detain my rcuders
81 win notice of it here but for most singular re-
81 Gsioas ceremony which was permitted to witness
q slhin its walls during vespers. The congregation
! was composed principally Of Indians. After the
Ntss ceremonies were concluded, large Indian
poiated himself upon the floor before the altar
4 asfnly adjusted his limbs and laid himself out as
flP were preparing for burial. Men, with coils OF
\ roea5out,her heads, representing crownsotthorns,
dressed in loose garments and bending upder the
4 weight OF d heavy cross, then entered and tottered
! 10 the aisles. A cross and scul were then passed
northumberland repeating in Latin, Us they were
[ baedsdtobe kissed "This is the death, and this
s!Acjaigcment" When this form had been con-
Guided, NC were all supplied with whips, e de-
6 ,b,;r
vereext;rguished, and all was darkness. Nothing
nas visible but the gigantic windows, and the out
Il Inns of the s,upendous arches and iretted walls
I I0e IA. The chamber of death was nevsr more
4 ica than was that church foi the moment. While
Z lEas specializing upon what would probably occur
a s in the order of exercises, my mcditations were
aideny interrupted by the sounds of stripes rising
lAech0iug through every part of the vast editlce
That there was whipping going on, had no doubt;
4 awhether each one did his own whipping, or had
a tdone bv his neghbors, was, Tor some time, uu-
seto satisfy myself but soon discovered that the
a orncr was the case, upon the presumption, doubt
lrssthat each one knew how much his case required
4 better than any one else. This penitcntial cere-
uooyeontinued for the space of fifteen minutes at
least, without intermission When it ceased (which
Was at the tinkIug OF bell, the candles were re-
lighted and the asscmblagc slowly left the church,
apparently perfectly satisfied that they bad received
loinorc than they deserved.
4 the following is his account of the women OF
lucaan from which some fair conclusion may be
drawn as to The prevailing state of society and the
dnt in civilization which they have reached
The social condition of the female sex in Yucca
aa, SO far ms my observation extends, compares
! very iavorably with that of females of the same
re5k in the other provinces of Mexico The 4u-
talecos ladies generally attend to their household
iasrs. and to the education of !heir children; but
tougii their habits are rather domestic, tho stan
trd Of virtue is no: TO be estimated as high as IN
he United States. Their personal attractions are
cutie ineoasiderable. In the absence ct ANNA
ten and intelligence, nothing is left TO iasclnatc or
iobe loved. The brunette complexion, regular
tatdges black hair, and eyes st the same color,
gndomnatc. They dtcss III the Spanish fashion
-btight colors are generally preferred, with
light veil thrown over their heads, and proiuslon
otlewelry and other ornaments carefully arranged
about ,heii persons. They seldom walk out, eS
capt to church, where they appear to more advan-
age than at any ether place. AT their houses,
telr carelessness of dress amounts TO slovenness.
hey may be sees at almost any hour oil the Gay
ssiagin= ~ ,he.r hammocks, with cigars IN thor
t'eNf " tliisNt. tiS ~ tS'tS' ~ ~
tReir d~elGags 1t is general custom here ior
ae ladies' to sleep in this suspended apparatus,
these who are accustomed 10 the luxury OF II bed
Stead sse NOT easily reconciled TO this arrangement;
and have in vain tried TO discover a sufficient
reason 10, the prevalence of these articles to the
exclusion OF the hedstead.
The gambling propens.ies of !he ladies are as
sstens es those of the gendeulen which, how
ever they do not indulge in TO SO great extent
They miHsle at the public tables, but good order
and deco,um always prevail.
stranger is particularly struck with the apathy
81 the wife in her household affairs She is sell