File:Travels amongst American Indians - their ancient earthworks and temples - including a journey in Guatemala, Mexico and Yucatan, and a visit to the ruins of Patinamit, Utatlan, Palenque and Uxmal (14783150052).jpg

Identifier: travelsamongstam00brin (find matches)
Title: Travels amongst American Indians : their ancient earthworks and temples : including a journey in Guatemala, Mexico and Yucatan, and a visit to the ruins of Patinamit, Utatlan, Palenque and Uxmal
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Brine, Lindesay, 1834-1906
Subjects: Indians -- Antiquities Guatemala -- Antiquities Mexico -- Antiquities North America -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : S. Low, Marston & Company
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

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of the Indians. It is probable that places like Uxmal and Palenquewith their temples and monasteries, were set apartfor religious purposes, and the Indians assembledthere from the adjacent country with the object ofbeing present at the ceremonies, in the same manneras they are now accustomed to perform their pilgrim-ages when the patron saints of the churches havetheir festivals. When taking into consideration thequestion of the period when it may be conjecturedthat the temples at Uxmal were abandoned, it isnecessary to direct attention to the design or emblemwhich is placed upon one of the walls of the interiorof the Casa de las Monjas. Upon an examination of the accompanying illustra-tion, it will be observed that the figure representedis that of a huge serpent or rattlesnake. A serpentwas also the emblem or Totem of one of the tribes ofthe Mound Builders in Ohio, and there appear to besingular resemblances between the reptile carvedUnstone at Uxmal and that which is rudely made of
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Serpent Emblem, Casa de las Monjas. THE SERPENT. 351 earth and stones, and ))laced on high ground over-looking a valley in North America. Both reptileshave peculiarly large mouths, opened wide, ready todevour and swallow tlieir prey or their enemies. Itis perhaps not unreasonable to infer that the tribewho migrated from the north, conquered theunwarlike natives of Yucatan, raised the greatpyramids, and l^uilt the temples in that region, weresubsequently conquered by a more powerful tribe ofthe same race, also migrating from higher latitudes.The former tribe were forced to desert their buildings,and avoided slavery or extermination by, escapinginto the interior. The serpent stands out in boldrelief. The whole of the fa9ades of the nunnery areelaborately sculptured, and the mechanical abilitiesof the builders are well brought into notice. As all investigations or theories respecting thesearchitects and their works, depend greatly upon theconclusions that may be drawn from the evidencere

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