be established in the State, and the Sr. General
Guerra should be nominated Provisional Governor.

At the suggestion of the subscriber the Governor allowed the
transportation of this statue to the Museo Yucateco, and the
Director of the Museo, in compliance with his duty, counting upon
the assistance of an armed force necessary for an expedition of
such a dangerous character, left this capital February 1, 1877, to
the end of securing the preservation of an object so important to
the ancient history of the country. Overcoming the thousand
difficulties that presented themselves in opening a road of 6
leagues that was known to the birds alone, over a surface covered
with mounds and inequalities, he constructed a new wagon on which
the colossal statue was dragged along by more than 150 Indians, in
turn, who, in their fanatical superstition, asserted that, during
the late hours of the night there came from the mouth of the figure
the words "_Conex! Conex!_" which signifies in their language, "Let
us go! Let us go!"

Upon the 26th of the same month and year, the historical and
monumental city of Izamal received with enthusiastic demonstrations
the statue of the king Chac-Mool. Brilliant compositions referring
to it were read, which, in a printed form, will accompany it for
the archives of the Museo National. When it arrived at Merida it
had a no less lively reception on the morning of the 1st of March,
1877.

A little later it was received into the Museo Yucateco upon the
same rustic wagon on which it had traversed the 6 leagues of almost
inaccessible country from Piste to [C]itas, from where begins the
broad road. It was intended to surround it with a wooden fence
upon which should be engraved this inscription in golden letters:--

"CHAC-MOOL

The discovery of the wise archaeologist, Mr. Le Plongeon, in the
ruins of Chichen-Itza.

General Protasio Guerra being Governor of the State of Yucatan. It
was brought to the Museo Yucateco on the 1st of March, 1877, by
Juan Peon Contreras, Director of the Museum."

Still later, at the decision of the Governor of the State, Sr. D.
Augustin del Rio, its transfer to the National Museum of Mexico was
permitted, where so notable an archaeological monument will show to
better advantage, leaving