here is a curious affinity between the name Zilan
(pronounced Dzilan) and Chilan given as "the title of a priestly office
which consisted of a juridistic astrology and divination," by Landa. There
may even be a connection between zilan and zian=origin, commencement;
zihnal=original and primitive, which may be worthy of consideration in
association with the well-known statement, quoted by Dr. Brinton, that
"the most venerable traditions of the Maya race claimed for them a
migration from Tollan in Zu-iva--thence we all came forth together, there
was the common parent of our race; thence came we from amongst the Yagui
men, whose god is Yolcuatl Quetzalcoatl." Dr. Brinton adds that "this
Tollan is certainly none other than the abode of Quetzalcoatl named in an
Aztec manuscript as 'Zivena Uitzcatl.' " Vague as any conjecture must
necessarily be, I cannot but deem it of utmost importance that systematic
excavations be made, some day, at Zilan, for the purpose of bringing to
light the stelae referred to by the native informants of Bishop Landa.

According to Brasseur de Bourbourg "Zilan, situated at about 20-1/2 leagues
from Merida belonged to the Cheles people.(59) It is the seaport of Izamal
and contains the ruins of one of the greatest pyramids or artificial
mounds (omul) in Yucatan," a fact which corroborates the view that it was
an ancient important capital. The northern coast of Yucatan is extremely
remarkable for it is divided from the Gulf of Mexico by a continuous strip
of land between which and the mainland there is a narrow channel of water.
There are two openings only in this zone of land which afford a passage
into the navigable channel. One of these openings is situated almost
opposite to Zilan and is known as the Boca de Zilan. At a short distance
to the east there is a second such "boca" opposite to the mouth of the Rio
Lagartos, which is a large estuary and the only river on the northern
coast of Yucatan.(60)

Let us now transport ourselves, mentally, south of the peninsula to
Honduras and, leaving the coast, ascend the Motagua valley to the ruins of
Quirigua and Copan,(61) which have impressed Mr. Maudslay as being of
great antiquity. Before examining such of these monuments as seem to yield
the testimony we are seeking, let us again recall Landa's record that the
Mayas erected stelae as memorials of each 20-year period. To this statement
should be added, at full length, Cogolludo's record that "the Mayas
emp