oms, is built on a graduated pyramid composed of seven
_andenes_. This building is without a doubt an ancient temple. We
next visited Nisucte. There we found the same sort of monuments but
built on a large scale. These places have merely been shrines
visited by the pilgrims on their way to and from the altar of
Venus. The main point of importance gained in visiting these ruins
was that this whole coast had been inhabited by a race of dwarfs
and that these edifices were their work. We had seen their
portraits carved on the pillars of the fortress at Chichen-Itza. We
had seen also their pictures among the several paintings. We had
heard of the Indian tradition, very current among the natives, that
many of the monuments of Yucatan had been constructed by the
_Alux-ob_. But not until we visited these places and entered their
houses, did we become satisfied of the fact of their existence that
till then we had considered a myth. Kankun, where the ruins of
numerous houses cover a great extent of ground, must have been the
real site of _Ekab_. The dwarfish inhabitants of these cities must
have been a very tolerant sort of people in religious matters,
since in the same temple, nay on the very same altar, we have found
side by side the phallic emblems with the image of _Kukulcan_.

Our explorations in that part of the country were at an end. We
were beginning to grow tired of our fish diet, and looked with
anxiety for an opportunity to continue our voyage to the island of
Cozumel. This island, called by the ancient Mayas _Cozmil_ (place
for swallows), was the rendezvous of Indian pilgrims who flocked
thither every year to pay homage at the numerous temples, the ruins
of which are to be found in the thick forests that now cover it.
The expected opportunity offering we reached the village of San
Miguel February 3, 1877. Cozumel is a beautiful island of about 45
miles in length and 12 in breadth. The fertility of its soil is
evinced by the luxuriant growth of the thick and impenetrable
forests of valuable timber that have sprung up since its
abandonment by its former inhabitants and which serve either for
purposes of building or ornamentation. Cocoa-nuts, plantains,
bananas, pineapples, ananas and other tropical fruits grow
abundantly. Vanilla, yams, sweet potat