The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1915-10-29

or some 80 years before the Spanish first landed
in Yucatan; but even after the conquest, the Xius
In their new home continued to exercise consd
cradle authority the natives, and their
friendly attitude toward the Spanish greatly ia
cilitated the final pacifcaton of the country.
The ruins of Uxmal are best reached today by
stage from the little town of Muna the nearest
railroad station. ten mile drive from the latter
place brings one to the hacienda of Uxma from
which the ruins about a mile and half
distant The first view OF the ancient city is to
be had from the top OF hill Just behind the
plantation house. Across the plain dozen
more imposing structures of white limestone may
be seen rising above the dense vegetation which
here enshrouds the countryside Beyond, in the
distance, ragged chain of low mountains cuts
across the horizon each succeeding ridge a
deeper blue But does not dwell long the
beauties OF nature Uxmal; the habitations of
a bygone race claim the attention. Descending
the hin again, takes the road which leads
through the bush. The distant temples and pal
aces sink below the tree tops and for aught that
one sees of them they might we'll be the
other side OF the world After half hours walk.
during which the ruins reappear, the
road suddenly makes sharp turn to the right.
and just in front of one. apparently blocking the
way. there rises a lofty pyramid. the highest
structure in the city
The splendid temple surrounding this. gro
tesquely called the House OF the Dwarf Ma
gician, probably the chief sanctuary of Tx
NAL The pyramid which it stands is over 80
feet high and covers nearly of ground
The summit is reached by steep stairway on its
east and apparently back side. The temple
however, faces in the opposite direction, or to
ward the Monja's quadrangle, adjacent group
of structures, with which, presently shall
see. it closely connected. Clear down into
Spanish times, long after Uxmal had been aban-
doned by her native rulers. this temple was held
in particular veneration by the Indians About
a century after the conquent Father Cogolludo
provincial of Yucatan visited Uxmal and climbed
to the summit of this pyramid. He found there,
he says. in OF the apartments offerings OF
and the remains OF copal, burned but a
short time before. This he thought indicated
that superstition or idolatry had been COM
mitted here recently by the Indians of the local
ity. And again, slightly later in 1873. a petition
addressed to the king Of Spain says
That the Indians in those places tUxmaD
worshiping the devil in the ancient buildings
which are there. having in them their idols. to
which they burn copal and perform other de-
testabe sacrifices.
Long after the conquest, no doubt. the natives
continued to practice in secret their ancient rites
and ceremonies particularly at those places
which formerly had been sacred or holy to them
1t was to such survivas of the ancient
ceremonial and ritual that the above citations
probably refer
The Monjas quadrangle mentioned above
being adjacent to the House of the Dwarf is in
fact, separated from 1t only by a small court. The
four low, massive buildings OF which it is com
posed. built around the sides of a square,
and with the exception Of the house on the south