File:Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan (1858) (14577194559).jpg

Identifier: incidentsoftrave11step (find matches)
Title: Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan
Year: 1858 (1850s)
Authors: Stephens, John L, 1805-1852
Subjects: Indians of Central America Indians of Mexico Mayas
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Contributing Library: Brigham Young University-Idaho, David O. McKay Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University-Idaho

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them in twenty-three years, was more familiar withthem than any other person we could find. Hetold us that within a circumference of three miles,ruins were found, and that a strong wall once en-compassed the city, the remains of which might stillbe traced through the woods. At a short distance from the hacienda, but invisi-ble on account of the trees, rises the high moundwhich we had seen at three leagues distance, fromthe top of the church at Tekoh, and which is rep-resented in the following engraving. It is sixty feethigh, and one hundred feet square at the base ; and,like the mounds at Palenque and Uxmal, it is anartificial structure, built up solid from the plain.Though seen from a great distance above the topsof the trees, the whole field was so overgrown thatit was scarcely visible until we reached its foot;and the mound itself, though retaining the symme-try of its original proportions, was also so over-grown that it appeared a mere wooded hill, but pe- 132 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
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culiar in its regularity of shape. Four grand stair-cases, each twenty-five feet wide, ascended to anesplanade within six feet of the top. This espla-nade was six feet in width, and on each side was asmaller staircase leading to the top. These stair-cases are in a ruinous condition; the steps are al-most entirely gone, and we climhed up by means offallen stones and trees growing out of its sides. Aswe ascended, we scared away a cow, for the wildcattle roaming on these wooded wastes pasture onits sides, and ascend to the top. CURIOUS SCULPTURED REMAINS. 133 The summit was a plain stone platform, fifteenfeet square. It had no structure upon it, nor werethere vestiges of any. Probably it was the greatmound of sacrifice, on which the priests, in the sightof the assembled people, cut out the hearts of hu-man victims. The view commanded from the topwas a great desolate plain, with here and thereanother ruined mound rising above the trees, andfar in the distance could be discerned the towers

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