Page:The Conquest of Mexico Volume 2.djvu/477

 Page 397 (1).—For a notice of this remarkable codex, see ante, vol. i. p. 62. There is indeed, a resemblance, in the use of straight lines and dots, between the Palenque writing and the Dresden MS. Possibly these dots denoted years, like the rounds in the Mexican system.

Page 397 (2).—The hieroglyphics are arranged in perpendicular lines. The heads are uniformly turned towards the right, as in the Dresden MS.

Page 397 (3).—"Those nameless ruins," says the enthusiastic chevalier Le Noir, "which are now called Palenque, may date back, like the most ancient known ruins of the world, three thousand years. This is not my opinion only; it is the opinion of all travellers who have seen these remains, of all the archaeologists who have examined these designs or have read descriptions of them, as well as that of historians who have made researches, finding nothing in the records of the world which sheds light upon the epoch of the foundation of these monuments, whose origin is lost in the mists of time." (Antiquités Mexicaines, tom, ii., Examen, p. 73.) Colonel Galindo, fired with the contemplation of the American ruins, pronounces this country the true cradle of civilisation, when it passed over to China, and latterly to Europe, which, whatever "its foolish vanity" may pretend, has but just started in the march of improvement I—See his Letter on Copan, ap. Trans, of Am. Ant. Soc, vol. ii.

Page 397 (4).—From these sources of information, and especially from the number of the concentric rings in some old trees, and the incrustation of stalactites found on the ruins of Palenque, Mr. Waldeck computes their age at between two and three thousand years. (Voyage en Yucatan, p. 78.) The criterion, as far as the trees are concerned, cannot be relied on in an advanced stage of their growth; and as to the stalactite formations, they are obviously affected by too many casual circumstances to afford the basis of an accurate calculation.

Page 397 (5).—Waldeck, Voyage en Yucatan, ubi supra.

Page 397 (6).—Antiquités Mexicaines, Examen, p. 76. Hardly deep enough, however, to justify Captain Dupaix's surmise of the antediluvian existence of these buildings; especially considering that the accumulation was in the sheltered position of an interior court.

Page 398 (1).—Waldeck, Voyage en Yucatan, p. 97.

Page 398 (2).—The chaplain of Grijalva speaks with admiration of the "lofty towers of stone and lime, some of them very ancient," found in Yucatan. (Itinerario, MS. [1518].) Bernal Diaz, with similar expressions of wonder, refers the curious antique relics found there to the Jews. (Hist. de la Conquista, cap. 2, 6.) Alvarado, in a letter to Cortés, expatiates on the "maravillosos et grandes edificios," to be seen in Guatemala. (Oviedo, Hist. de las Ind., MS., lib. 33, cap. 42.) According to Cogolludo, the Spaniards, who could get no tradition of their origin, referred them to the Phœnicians or Carthaginians. (Hist. de Yucatan, lib. 4, cap. 2.) He cites the following emphatic notice of these remains from Las Casas:—"Ciertamente la tierra de Yucathan da á entender cosas mui especiales, y de mayor antiguedad, por las grandes, admirables, y excesivas maneras de edificios, y letreros de ciertos caracteres, que en otra ninguna parte se hallan." (Loc. cit.) Even the inquisitive Martyr has collected no particulars respecting them, merely noticing the buildings of this region with general expressions of admiration. (De Insulis nuper Inventis, pp. 334-340.) What is quite as surprising is the silence of Cortés, who traversed the country forming the base of Yucatan, in his famous expedition to Honduras, of which he has given many details we would gladly have exchanged for a word respecting these interesting memorials.— Carta Quinta de Cortés, MS. I must add, that some remarks in the above paragraph in the text would have been omitted, had I enjoyed the benefit of Mr. Stephen's researches, when it was originally written. This is especially the case with the reflections on the probable condition of these structures at the time of the Conquest, when some of them would appear to have been still used for their original purposes.