ed one above the other to a height of 4
meters, are the _Katuns_ that served to record certain epochs in
the history of the nation, and indicate in this case an antiquity
of at least 5760 years. The monuments of Ake are peculiar, and the
only specimens of their kind to be found among these ruined cities.
They are evidently the handiwork of a herculean and uncouth
race--the enormous height of each step in the staircase proves
it--of that race of giants whose great bones and large skulls are
now and then disinterred, and whose towering forms, surmounted by
heads disproportionately small, we have seen pictured on the walls
of Chichen-Itza. They recalled forcibly to our minds the antique
_Guanches_, the ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands, whose
gigantic mummies are yet found in the sepulchral caverns of
Teneriffe, and whose peculiar sandals with red straps so closely
resemble those seen on the feet of Chaacmol. The edifices of Ake
are composed of large blocks of stone, generally square, often
oblong in shape, superposed, and held together merely by their
enormous weight, without the aid of mortar or cement of any sort.
We did not tarry in this strange city more than eight days. The
malaria of the place very seriously affected the health of my wife,
and obliged us to hasten back to Tixkokob. We brought with us the
photograph views, and plans of the principal buildings, regretting
not to perfect our work by a complete survey of the whole of them,
scattered as they are over a large extent of ground.

Our investigations in Uxmal revealed to our minds some interesting
facts in the lives of the three brothers of the tradition. In
Chichen we discovered the place of concealment of the two brothers
_Huuncay_ and _Chaacmol_. That of the third brother, _Aac_, was not
to be found. Yet I was certain it must exist somewhere. Many
persons who are not acquainted with the customs and religious
beliefs of those ancient people have questioned me on the strange
idea of burying such beautiful objects of art at so great a depth,
yet the reason is very simple. The nations that inhabited the whole
of Central America--the Mayas, the Nahuas, the Caras or
Carians--had, with the Siamese even of to-day, and the Egyptians of
old, many notions in common concerning the immortal