Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-21

vicinage is unsafe, on account of the war
like Chan Santa Cruzans, and it would be
to attempt explorations without
a strong military escort.
did not visit them, but for better
description than / could possibly have
given, permit me to refer you to Frederick |
0ber, John L. Stevens, Norman, and DR..
lie Plongecn. Various attempts have been |
made to reconstruct the history of the
ltzaes from the shattered fragments left by |
and from their hieroglyphics
and mural paintings, but without much
success
The most magnificent rain of the group
is called The House of the Nuns" and is
very rich in sculpture; while that called
" FL Carcel," or the tower, is the grandest
and most conspicuous Another structure
which modern travellers have dubbed THE
Gymnasium" contains a number of great
stone rings, set in the walls each ring be-
ing four feet in diameter and bordered
with sculptured serpents.
The hieroglyphic carvings of Chichen-
liza are among the most wonderful ever
discovered, and there are beautiful mural
paintings, representing warriors in battle,
and events in the lives of various rulers.
One of the buildings has its cornice
adorned with procession of lynXes or
tigers. Slabs and pillars, ela5orately
sculptured are scattered everywhere over
the ground, and all this carving is most
artistic in execution.
1t was here that Dr. c. Plongeon-that
energetic archaeologist who learned the
Maya language and studied the hero
Of
wife to help him-brought to light that
splendid statue of Chacmol, the "Tiger
King" of the Chichens, which he IN
earthed in dense forest eight meters be-
low the surface. The Indians believe that
he discovered it by his powers of divina-
ton, but the doctor says that he learned of
its existance by the hieroglyphics on the
walls of nearby buildings. The statue
was over nine feet long, representing the
monarch half reclining on a slab of beauti-
fully cut and polished stone. By almost
superhuman exertions he raised and trans
ported it to what he considered place of
safety; but in his absence the precious
find " was seized by the Mexican Govern
ment and put Into the National Museum.
Think of it Within less than fort
nights journey from New York lie miles
and miles of unoccupied country, thickly
strewn with these wonderful relics of I'M
known ages-treasures that would enrich
the museums of the world-unnoticed, IN
sought and uncared for. Year by year, as
the slow centuries go by, the solitude
| deepens and the forests grow denser above
and around them. Yet such is the dog
in-the-manger policy of the Mexican Gov
eminent that, though its own indolent
people never have explored these regions
themselves, and probably never will, it has
enacted stringent laws forbidding foreign
ers to take out of the country any relics
they may find. Few scientists are dis
interested enough to labor here for the
sake of enriching the museums of people
who are too lazy to look for themselves.
According to historical accounts, Valla-
dolid has been the theater of remarkable
events in days not very distant 1t is as
serted, on the authority of the church, that
the place was once haunted by demon of
| the worst character, called a delnOnio par
Zero, or talking devil, because he held
| nightly discourse with any who chose to
question him, answering Ike a parrot.
Though never visible, he seems to have
been merry sort of devil, dancing, laugh
ing, playing on guitars and castinets
After time he took to throwing stones
into houses, pelting people with eggs, SLAM
| dering honest folk IN short, getting the
whole town by the ears to such an extent
that the Bishop of Merida was obliged to
interfere and forbid any one to speak to
the demon, under pain of severe spiritual
punishment. 1t is related that when the
people abstained from any further COM
| munication with him, the demonio wept
and walled, and finally took revenge by
burning houses. At this alarming June
ture the Cure was compelled to seek
Divine assistance, and after a long tus lie
succeeded in BUSTING this devil, who fled to
the woods. In an official report, the pious
DR.. Sanchez de Aguilar says:
IAN aunt of mine one day, vexed with
| this devil, said to him: Go out of my
house, thou evil one,' and she gave him a
blow in the face that left his nose redder
than cochineal. Forty years afterwards,
| when | was Cure of the same city, the de-
| monio returned to infest some of my an
| nexed villages, especially that of Yulcoba
He always came at midnight, or at one
o'clock p. NJ, with great whirlwind-d
| and noise, as of a hurricane. Stones swept
over the entire pueblo, and, though the
Indians promptly put out all the fires in
| their Kitchens even this did not avail, for,
from the flames with which the devil him
self was tormented proceeded flashes, like
mighty comets or wandering stars, which
did fire two or three houses at once, and
spread so rapidly that there were not peo-
pie enough to put them out. | being sent
for to come and drive him away, coniured
the demon with the faith and zeal that
God gave me, and commanded him not to
enter that village again. Whereupon the
fires and the whirlwlnds ceased, to the
glory and honor of the Divine Majesty.
which has given such power to the priests"
Being thus banished from Yulcoba the
demon returned to Valladolid with new
burnings; but was finally barred out alto
gether, by setting up consecrated crosses
ON all the surrounding hills. These he
could not pass, and to this day hundreds of
them stand guard around Valladolid
FANNIE B. WARD.