The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-03
THE MYSTERIES or YUCATIN.
Was uxmai I'm Inhabited city when the
Spnninrds Invaded Mexic"f

Tho name of Yucatan calls up mental pic
lures Of ruined cities once the home of lost
race but now the hnbitation of beasts OF prey
birds OF gorgeous pumnse. and strange rep
tiles. Perhaps no part of the continent is more
interesting to the archnoiogist. for IL these
temples and palaces which are buried under
the jungle. can be forced to disclose the secrets
of their history they will undoubtedly tell us
much about the early civilizations OF America
and the nvasons which destroyed them.
1t is now forty years since attention was
called to these ruins by Mr.. Stevens; but al
though the Importance Of his discoveries was
recognized by the scientific world. tho pecu-
liar difficulties in the way have so hindcred
the work OF exploration that comparatively
little has been done. The country is remote
the climate very unhealthy. the natives lazy
and suspicious and the jungle filed with
dangers. Hence few have had the opportunity
courage, and patience to continue the work SO
we'll begun by Mr.. Stevens
Within the past three years however. much
has been done by Mr.. Louis III. Aymc. the
United states Consul at Merida, to increase our
knowledge OF this curious subject. Mr.. Ayme
Is Il trained observer and has thrown himself
into the work with great zeal. He has visited
which have been discovered, and has studied
the prnccipa, ruins with great care What is
covered by this simple statement few persons.
The ruins are reached only by II ride of eighty
miles through the jungle. and when the visitor
arrives at the end of his pilgrimage he must
know how and whore TO !ook or he will not lind
trace Of habiation. The site once deter
mined. the rank vegetation which hides it must
be cut away. stones scrap.d and overturned,
secret passages explored. images and inscrip.
tons scrutinized ph2'ographs and drawings
made. ana all under the rays OF tropical sun,
IN Iuhg!"S whlch eXllalo lovers and hide dan
gers OF many kinds
for the purrosc OF reporting his discoveries tn
tho scientific societies with which he is in cor
Their prosecution Of the work. lie ascribss to
the ruins of tXmn and elsewhere an antiquity
of not less than than loo ycnrs. though he does
contrary. he discredlts ths Theory. Willie lie
Great ear n%w a slpGrsI nnsno rS S
notion that these ruins date back R
to to some some rem remote epoch has touch
ana their appearance docs much to mako
such theory plausible; but in iucatnn carved
stone crumb!es rapidly, and within the mo m
have perccptby changed in appearance.
Moreoyer it is eyidont that those cities were
Uxmal" means "lhre" times built" MIR.
Aymn believes that the houses.wcre used when
NE Standards came and. in support of this
theory he has found curious drawing IN the
wall OF a building in UNmal which seems TO be
hoS,ebacS AS II some naiy. "a mrtst hnd se o
mo strange vista on the scahoard and hur-
fisd into the Interior. whore he dcpicicd the
mon. iho meaning OF tho picture. however.
li's not been fully settled, nor has thoir system
OF hieroglyphics been resolved and until this
Is done our knowledge Of tho people must rest
on clrcumstantia evidence.
~ Is curious fact that hitherto no utensils
OF the aborialnes Of luratan. with very few
exceptions. have como to light a little pottery
has been found and some obsidian arrow heads.
worked sholls clay images. and SO on. but
nothing OF inheritance. Mr.. Ayme thinks,
however, tina. he has discovered tho location OF
their cemeteries. or Of one at least and his ex-
rloiations in future will ho directed 70 uscer-
tanning II his theory in this respect is correct,