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Memoir of an Eventful Expedition in Central America: Resulting in the Discovery of the Idolatrous City of Iximaya, in an Unexplored Region; and the Possession of two Remarkable Aztec Children, Descendants and Specimens of the Sacerdotal Caste, (now nearly extinct,) of the Ancient Aztec Founders of the Ruined Temples of that Country, Described by John L. Stevens, Esq., and Other Travellers.Velasquez, Pedro

History

Memoir of an Eventful Expedition in Central America: Resulting in the Discovery of the Idolatrous City of Iximaya, in an Unexplored Region; and the Possession of two Remarkable Aztec Children, Descendants and Specimens of the Sacerdotal Caste, (now nearly extinct,) of the Ancient Aztec Founders of the Ruined Temples of that Country, Described by John L. Stevens, Esq., and Other Travellers.

Name: Memoir of an Eventful Expedition in Central America: Resulting in the Discovery of the Idolatrous City of Iximaya, in an Unexplored Region; and the Possession of two Remarkable Aztec Children, Descendants and Specimens of the Sacerdotal Caste, (now nearly extinct,) of the Ancient Aztec Founders of the Ruined Temples of that Country, Described by John L. Stevens, Esq., and Other Travellers.
Author: Velasquez, Pedro

Velasquez, Pedro

Aztecs; Central America -- Antiquities; Central America -- Description and travel; Indians of Central America

"Can it be true? Being now in my sober senses, I do verily believe
     there is much ground to suppose that what the Padre told us is
     authentic. That the region referred to does not acknowledge the
     government of Guatimala, and has never been explored, and that no
     white man has ever pretended to have entered it; I am satisfied.
     From other sources we heard that a large _ruined_ city was visible;
     and we were told of another person who had climbed to the top of
     the sierra, but on account of the dense clouds raising upon it,
     he had not been able to see anything. At all events, the belief at
     the village of Chajul is general, and a curiosity is aroused that
     burns to be satisfied. We had a craving desire to reach the
     mysterious city. No man if ever so willing to peril his life, could
     undertake the enterprise, with any hope of success, without
     hovering for one or two years on the borders of the country
     studying the language and character of the adjoining Indians, and
     making acquaintance with some of the natives. Five hundred men
     could probably march directly to the city, and the invasion would
     be more justifiable than any made by Spaniards; but the government
     is too much occupied with its own wars, and the knowledge could not
     be procured except at the price of blood. Two young men of good
     constitution, and who could afford to spend five years, might
     succeed. If the object of search prove a phantom, in the wild
     scenes of a new and unexplored country, there are other objects of
     interest; but, if real, besides the glorious excitement of such a
     novelty, they will have something to look back upon through life.
     As to the dangers, they are always magnified, and, in general,
     peril is discovered soon enough for escape. But, in all
     probability, if any discovery is made, it will be made by the
     Padres. As for ourselves, to attempt it alone, ignorant of the
     language and with the mozos who were a constant annoyance to us,
     was out of the question. The most we thought of, was to climb to
     the top of the sierra, thence to look down upon the mysterious
     city; but we had difficulties enough in the road before us; it
     would add ten days to a journey already almost appalling in the
     perspective; for days the sierra might be covered with clouds; in
     attempting too much, we might lose all; Palenque was our great
     point, and we determined not to be diverted from the course we had
     marked out." Vol. II, p. 193-196.

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