The state herald., 1915-10-29

or some 30 years before the Spanish first landed
in Yucatan but even after the conquest the Xius
In their new home continued to exercise consid.
erable authority over the natives, and their
friendly attitude toward the Spanish greatly IA.
cilitated the final pacincation OF the country.
The ruins OF uxmal best reached today by
stage from the little town OF Muna. the nearest
railroad station. tenmile drive from the latter
place brings one to the hacienda OF uxmal. from
which the ruins are about a mile and half
distant. The first view of the ancient city is to
he had from the top of a hill Just behind the
plantation house. Across the plain a dozen or
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
deeper blue. But one does not dwell long on the
beauties OF nature ut Uxmal: the habitations of
a bygone race claim the attention. Descending
the hill again, one 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 as we'll be on the
other side OF the world After half hours walk,
during which the ruins never once reappcar. tho
road suddenly makes a 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 surmounting this. gro
tesquely called the House OF the Dwarf or Ma
mai The pyramid on which II stands is over so
feet high and covers nearly acre OF ground
The summit is reached by n steep stairway on it's
east and apparently back side. The temple
however, faces In the opposite direction. or to
ward the Monjas quadrangle an adjacent group
OF structures with which. as we presently shall
see, II was closely connected Clear down into
Spanish times. long after uxmal had been aban
doned by her native rulers this temple was held
In particular y.ncration by the Indians, About
century after the conqucnt. Father Cogoliudo.
provincial Of Yucatnn, visited usmal and climbed
to the summit OF this pyramid, lie found there.
he says, In one OF the apartments offerings OF
cacno and the remains OF copal. burned but u
short time before. This he thought Indicated
that some superstition or idoatry had been com.
mittod here recently by the Indians OF the local.
n.y. And again. slightly later In 1914. a petition
addressed TO the king OF Spain says
That the Indians In those places CusmalI are
worahipinE the devil In the ancient buildings
which are there. having In them their idols. to
which they burn copa and perform other do.
toHthblo sacrifices"
Long after the conquest, no doubt. tho natives
continued to practice IN secret their ancient rites
and ceremonies. particularly at those placos
which formerly had been Hncrcd OF holy to them
Il was to some such Hurylyaa OF the ancient
ceremonial and rltunl that the above citations
probably refer,
Tho MonlaH quadrangle. mentioned above ~
being adjacent TO tho House OF the Dwarf, H. In
fact separated from II only by u small court The
four low. massive buildings OF which II IN com.
posed are built around tho sides ~ a square.
and. with the exception OF the house on tho south