n.-------

This wonderful story of the lives and adventures of the three brothers
was revealed to the doctor by a careful study of the detached painting
mentioned by Mr. Stephens. One of the paintings which served him so
good a turn is shown in the cut above, which he considers represents
the queen, when a child, consulting one of the wise men as to her future
destiny.<61>

Perhaps as interesting a portion of his discoveries as any, is finding
sculptured figures of bearded white men on the pillars of the temple,
and painted on the walls of Chaac-mol's chambers. He thinks they have
Assyrian features. He also claims to have discovered figures having true
Negro features.

As to the antiquity of this city he readily figures up nineteen thousand
years; but this did not take him to the beginning. He arrives at
this estimate in this way: To the north-east of the pyramid, we have
described, are to be seen rows of small columns, which have excited the
curiosity of all who have seen them. Mr. Stephens represents them
in four rows, inclosing a rectangular area. M. Le Plongon says they
surrounded three sides of a terraced pyramid, which once supported the
main temple of the city. Mr. Stephens has no suggestions to offer as to
their use.

Le Plongon claims they were used to measure time, and quotes from old
authors to the effect, that each stone in them stands for twenty years;
and, as there is always just eight stones in a column, each column means
one hundred and sixty years. He counted one hundred and twenty of these
columns--and then, as he says: "Got tired of pushing my way through
the nearly impenetrable thicket, where I could see many more among the
shrubs." From this number he computes nineteen thousand two hundred
years.

What shall we say to this story that M. Le Plongon brings us of ancient
Maya civilization? It is unquestioned that he has expended a great
amount of patient labor in his work, has braved many dangers, and is
thoroughly in earnest. He has also spent years in the field, and ought
to be well qualified to judge of the ruins. We believe, however, he
is altogether wrong in his conclusions. The keystone of his
discoveries--the one on which he relies to prove the accuracy of his
methods--fails him. This was the discovery of the statue of Chaac-mol
himself, which is here represented. He claims to have found it as the
result of successfully rendering certain mural tablets in the funeral
chamber, but a caref