New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-04-12
VOL. IrE. NO. 3.

on the Association plan Of Owen or Fourier; oul
Mr.. STEPHENS remarks that they differ nom ah
other Refor1ners in this-that they seek no con
yerts. They allow no stranger to enter tneh
| Community every member must marry WITHIN
/ their own limits; and marriage out OF the Colii-
mnn;tv is punished with instant expulsion. Inc
MINIS Of Zayi. which were in this vicinity, were
like all the rest, imposing anti majestic anu uiiiei
cd from them in no marked respect. oeVefa
bn;ldincs were found constructed of lime and
stone. and containing figures Of serpents and
;do,s on the walls The ruins of Labnah were
also found to abound i'll stupcndous structures,
adorned with human figures, deaths heads and
ornaments of the same general character as those
elsewhere observed. A large and wonderful cave
was also explored.
But it must prove as undressing as 1t IS use
less to attempt to follow the travellers closely on
their route. The ruins observed throughout the
country are of the same general character, and
those particulars in which they differ from each
other can only be properly understood by the clear
and detailed description which MIR. STEPHENS has
given of them, and the fine engravlngs by which
thew are illustrated by Mr.. CArHERwooD. The
travellers in their progress were continually greeted
by balls. bull-fghts and other diversions, which
were celebrated upon the return of the several 1est
val DAYS observed by the natives Mr.. STEPHENS
at Ticul found curious manuscript, containing
an exposition of the manner in which the Indians
computed time; and he found 1t TO be substan-
tially the same with that of the MeMcans. The
Essay is presented at length in the Appendix The
following extract which gives graphic descrp'
ton Of the manner of life which prevails IN one OF
the villages of Yucatan is certainly not calculated
to leave very favorable impression OF the morals
and industry Of the inhabitants. Nh STEPHENS
saws he had been curious to know how the people
lived, as he had never seen any of them at work;
and he finally asccrtained that each man had made
a loan Of four or five dollars to Indians IN want
and thus made their debtors their absolute slaves
so that they forced them to do all Their work; OIL
their morals he thus writes
owe had not formed yery exalted opinion of these peo
pie and they did themselves very IGN Don Juan
had told us that the Indians all dnkars and half the
white people and other half had occasionally TO take to
the hammock he said too that they all gamblers ana
the alcade as he shued cards conmed and asked me
to Join them He inquired if there no gambling IN my
country what people did with their money II they did not
dinners furniture dress and other particulars suggested by
some Of them sensible enough for as he SAID very tru'
w. when they died they could not away with them
mentioned that in my country gambling was oTqidden by
law and that for gambling the and Sunday
they would all be taken punished This touched the
acade his office and he started with the cards IN ms
hand and looking indignantly at the people under his charge
said that there forbidden by law that any
who gambed who conived at it, who permitted IN
his house. liable be declared not citizen that they
had laws aid very goodi ones all knew them but NOBODY
mded them Everybody gambed particularly in that VII
ae they had money but they gambled corn and tobsc
CO. and he pointed to man then crossing the plaza VINO the
night before had gambed away hog. He admitted that
sometimes good way to make money but he pointed
miserable looking young not more than two or three
and twenty whose aherhe said had ranches and Indians
and houses and ready money and cosested anu haa
left all that who looking Tor seven ana SIX
pence make up dollar and the young man himself with
CHASTITY smile confirmed the tale. The acalde then con-
tnued with running commentary upon the ideness ana ex
avagance Of the people in the village they We're all lazy
and having illustrations at hand he pointed to an indian
Just passing with three strings Of beef which, he sad had
COS, him medic and half aud would be consumed at
meal and the Indian he knew, had amedo the woao
pay the captation One of the gentlemen then
suggested that the had lately passed
law that no Indian should be compelled work unless he
chose if refused he could be whipped imprisoned
and wat could bc expected in such of tngs An
other gentleman nerposed with great Junction. declaring that
the acalde of neigboriug village did mind the law
but whipping the same as before. AT this time
dozen Indians by the Constitution free and independent as
themselves the ground without saying word staring
from to the other of the speakers"
Many of the villages in that country seem to
have been built upon sites of which supply Of
water was the only recommendation; and of this
sort especially was Becanchen, to which Mr..
STEPHENS gives the following romantic origin -
The history Of this village has all the wildness of
nance aid indeed throughout this land Of sepulcercd cit
les, the genius Of sits enthoned Its name Is de-
rived from stream of water being compounded of the
Maya words BEGAN, running, and chen. we'll Twenty
the country round about Wilderness OF forest
solitary Indian came into it and made clearing for his
mpa In doing so he struck upon the running stream fol-
lowed until he found the wafer gushing from the rock aud
whole surface occupied BY the plaza pierced with
ancient wells. The Indians gathered around the wells
and village grew up which contains six thousand In
habtants; growth having regard 10 the difference IN the
OF the country and the character OF the people,
equal to that Of the most prosperous towns IN ours
The following picture of household relation
gives clear insight into portion of the domestic
life of the Indians of this country =
"The attachment of the Indian his home is striking
feature Of his character The affection which grows up be-
tween the supposed by the early writers upon the
Of the Indians not 10 exist among them ana popa
bly the and refinement OF II do not bur cicun'-
and habit bind together the Indian man ahd woman
as strongly as ay known When the Indian grows up
TO manhood he requires woman 10 make HIM ortila ana
10 provide him water for his bath at night he pro
cures one by the providence oil the master Win
ou much regard similarity Of tastes parity OF age aud
though Young mated 10 old woman they live
comfortably together If he finds her guilty OF any great
offence he brings her up before the master the acalde
gets whipping and then takes her under his arm and
harsh 10 his wife and the devotion Of the wife TO her hns-
band always subee. OF remark They share their plea
sures as ws their abors up together with all their
children to some village fiesta, and OF the most ailci,
ing incidents in their LOT necessity that takes the husband
from his home
At Chichcn-Itza were found sculptured upon
the ruins great number of hieroglyphlcs and OF
various figures, among which that of the serpent
was found continually to recur. In one place a
srneat number of human figures are represented,