On its summit once stood a

the city of Izamal in Yucatan. temple dedicated to the "miraculous hand." It was famous throughout the land, even to the time of the Spanish Conquest. Father Cogolludo, in his "Historia de Yucatħan,” 1 that temple they brought their dead and the sick. They called it kabul, the working hand,' and made great offerings. The dead were recalled to life, and the sick

were healed."

says: "To

The Nahuatls, who settled in the northwestern parts of the peninsula of Yucatan about the sixth century of the Christian era, used to offer at that temple human sacrifices to obtain from the god the benisons they sought. This fact we learn from a mezzo-relievo, in stucco, that adorned the frieze that ran round the temple. (Plate LXVIII.) It represents a man with Nahuatl features. His body is held in a posture that must have caused great suffering. His hands are secured in stocks; his elbows rest on the edge of a hollow support; his emptied abdomen is propped by a small stool; his knees touch the ground, but his feet are raised and wedged by an implement; his intestines hang from his neck and shoulders; his heart is strapped to his thigh.

It is much to be regretted that since the author took the photograph here reproduced, this figure, with its accompanying inscription, has been purposely destroyed by the owner of the premises, because he considered it an annoyance to have interested parties coming to see it. This is but one instance of that lack of appreciation manifested by the people of Yucatan regarding the interesting and historically important remains that make the Peninsula famous and attractive. It is lamentable that the Mexican Government authorities take no Cogolludo, Hist. de Yucathan, lib. iv., chap. viii.

1

the city of Izamal in Yucatan. On its summit once stood a temple dedicated to the "miraculous hand." It was famous throughout the land, even to the time of the Spanish Conquest. Father Cogolludo, in his "Historia de Yucatħan," 1 says: "To that temple they brought their dead and the sick. They called it kabul, 'the working hand,' and made great offerThe dead were recalled to life, and the sick

ings.
were healed."

The Nahuatls, who settled in the northwestern parts of the peninsula of Yucatan about the sixth century of the Christian era, used to offer at that temple human sacrifices to obtain from the god the benisons they sought. This fact we learn from a mezzo-relievo, in stucco, that adorned the frieze that ran round the temple. (Plate LXVIII.) It represents a man with Nahuatl features. His body is held in a posture that must have caused great suffering. His hands are secured in stocks; his elbows rest on the edge of a hollow support; his emptied abdomen is propped by a small stool; his knees touch the ground, but his feet are raised and wedged by an implement; his intestines hang from his neck and shoulders; his heart is strapped to his thigh.

It is much to be regretted that since the author took the photograph here reproduced, this figure, with its accompanying inscription, has been purposely destroyed by the owner of the premises, because he considered it an annoyance to have interested parties coming to see it. This is but one instance of that lack of appreciation manifested by the people of Yucatan regarding the interesting and historically important remains that make the Peninsula famous and attractive. It is lamentable that the Mexican Government authorities take no 1 Cogolludo, Hist. de Yucathan, lib. iv., chap. viii.