Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II Informative Summary

Overview:

“Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II” delves into the captivating world of Mayan ruins, taking the reader on a journey through the Yucatan peninsula. Stephens, accompanied by Frederick Catherwood, explores numerous ancient cities, uncovering intricate structures, hidden chambers, and mysterious symbols. The text paints a vivid picture of the challenges they face, navigating dense jungles, grappling with limited resources, and experiencing the hospitality (and sometimes, the eccentricity) of the Yucatan people. Stephens’ keen eye for detail and engaging prose bring the ruins to life, while his insightful observations provide valuable cultural and historical context.

The text goes beyond a mere description of the ruins, exploring the lives of the Yucatecan people, their customs, their relationship with the Spanish authorities, and their beliefs surrounding the ancient structures. Stephens examines the ongoing debate over the origins of these cities, considering the possibility that they were built by ancestors of the current Maya population. He challenges the prevailing narrative that the Maya had no knowledge of their past, pointing to the existence of oral traditions and remnants of ancient writing.

Key Findings:

• The Yucatan peninsula is home to numerous Mayan ruins, many of which remain undiscovered.
• These ruins display a unique architectural style, with elaborate carvings, intricate designs, and the use of stucco.
• The Maya had a complex system of water management, relying on wells, caves, and aguadas (artificial reservoirs).
• The Maya practiced a form of ceremonial ball game, evidenced by the remains of structures with stone rings.
• The Maya had a sophisticated calendar system, similar to the one used in Mexico.

Learning:

• Mayan Architecture: The text provides a detailed glimpse into the architectural style of the Maya, showcasing their mastery of stonework, their use of symbolism in carvings, and their ingenuity in creating structures that were both grand and functional.
  • Casa Cerrada: The “Casa Cerrada,” or “closed house,” is an intriguing feature found in some ruins. This structure features doorways filled with stone and mortar, suggesting a mystery about their intended use. Possible explanations include a symbolic function or a structural purpose.
  • Stucco and Paintings: The Maya frequently employed stucco to cover and decorate their buildings, incorporating vibrant paintings that often depict scenes of daily life, religious rituals, and historical events.
  • Circular Holes and Subterranean Chambers: The text reveals the existence of circular holes leading to subterranean chambers within the ruins, offering clues about the Maya’s use of these spaces. Some speculate they served as cisterns or reservoirs, while others believe they held a symbolic or spiritual significance.
• Water Management: The Maya demonstrated remarkable skill in managing water resources in a dry climate. Stephens’ exploration highlights the importance of wells, caves, and aguadas, demonstrating the ingenuity of the Maya in adapting to their environment.
  • Well of Chack: Stephens’ descent into the Well of Chack, a remarkable subterranean system, provides a firsthand account of the lengths the Maya went to secure water.
  • Aguadas: The text reveals the complex system of aguadas, artificial reservoirs created by the Maya to conserve and distribute water. These structures showcase their engineering prowess and illustrate their deep understanding of their environment.
• The Red Hand: Stephens notes the frequent appearance of the “mano colorado,” or red hand, on the walls of the ruins. This enigmatic symbol, also found in North American Indian culture, offers a fascinating link between the Maya and other indigenous peoples.

Historical Context:

• The text is set against a backdrop of Spanish colonialism and the ongoing struggle for independence from Mexico.
• The Spanish conquest of Yucatan was a brutal and destructive process, fueled by greed for gold and the desire to convert the Maya to Christianity.
• The destruction of Mayan artifacts and the suppression of Mayan culture by the Spanish had a significant impact on the indigenous people, contributing to their current marginalized state.

Facts:

1. The Yucatán Peninsula is rich in Mayan ruins: Numerous ancient cities lie scattered across the peninsula, many of them undiscovered and buried beneath the jungle.
2. Mayan architecture is characterized by intricate carvings and designs: The Maya used a variety of stonework techniques and decorative elements, including the use of stucco to create elaborate façades.
3. The Maya practiced a form of ceremonial ball game: This is evidenced by the structures with stone rings found in many ruins, suggesting these structures were used for games and rituals.
4. Mayan cities were built on terraces and platforms: This technique allowed the Maya to adapt to the uneven terrain and create raised structures for ceremonial purposes.
5. The Maya had an advanced system of water management: Their use of wells, caves, and aguadas (artificial reservoirs) demonstrated their ingenuity in securing water in a dry climate.
6. The Maya believed in supernatural beings: Stephens’ encounters with the Yucatecan people reveal their beliefs in spirits, deities, and mythical creatures, including the “owner” of a building residing in a subterranean chamber.
7. The Maya employed a sophisticated calendar system: This system, similar to the one used in Mexico, further reinforces the cultural connection between the two regions.
8. The “Casa Cerrada” is a mysterious feature of some Mayan ruins: The doorways blocked with stone and mortar raise questions about their intended use.
9. The Maya used stucco and vibrant paintings to decorate their buildings: This reveals their artistic skill and their practice of incorporating color and symbolism into their architecture.
10. The “mano colorado,” or red hand, is an enigmatic symbol found in Mayan ruins: This symbol, also present in North American Indian cultures, suggests a broader connection between indigenous peoples.
11. The Well of Chack is a remarkable example of Mayan water management: This deep, subterranean well demonstrates the lengths to which the Maya went to secure water resources.
12. Aguadas, or artificial reservoirs, were a key element of Mayan water management: This technology showcases their engineering prowess and their adaptation to their environment.
13. The Maya held reverence for certain trees, especially the Seybo tree: This tree frequently appears in the text as a symbol of both beauty and shade.
14. The Yucatan peninsula is characterized by a lack of flowing water sources: This factor highlights the ingenuity of the Maya in developing alternative water sources.
15. The Spanish conquest of Yucatan was brutal and destructive: The Spanish sought to eradicate Mayan culture and replace it with Christianity, resulting in the suppression of Mayan traditions and beliefs.
16. The Spanish were often indifferent to the architectural marvels of the Mayan cities: This indifference, coupled with the destruction of Mayan artifacts and writings, contributed to the loss of historical knowledge.
17. The current Mayan population is marginalized and impoverished: This is a consequence of the Spanish conquest and the ongoing struggle for independence from Mexico.
18. The Maya believed in the importance of symbolism and ritual: The decorations on the ruins, including carvings and paintings, often depict scenes of ceremony and ritual practice.
19. The Spanish conquest of Yucatan involved numerous battles and massacres: This conflict was marked by bloodshed and brutality, leaving a lasting impact on the Maya people.
20. The “Cozumel Cross” is a controversial artifact believed to represent pre-Columbian Christian influence: While some speculate it was a symbol of worship before the Spanish arrival, evidence suggests it was likely created or modified by the Spanish after the conquest.

Statistics:

1. 120 engravings accompany “Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II”.
2. 1500 feet is the total length of the city wall at Tuloom.
3. 1052 AD is the year the Toltec monarchy ended.
4. 1536 AD is the year Ajpula, a Maya leader, died.
5. 1527 AD marks the arrival of the Spaniards in Yucatan.
6. 1553 AD is the year Padre Diego de Landa began construction of the Izamal church and convent.
7. 1557 AD is the date of the ancient map and document mentioning Uxmal.
8. 144 AD is the year the Toltecs began their journey from Tulapan to Chacnouitan.
9. 217 AD is the year the Toltecs arrived at Chacnouitan.
10. 1608 AD is the year two Franciscan monks first attempted to convert the Itza people on the island of Peten Grande.
11. 1619 AD is the year the same two monks returned to Peten Grande and were driven away.
12. 1697 AD is the year Don Martin Ursua conquered the Itza people.
13. 7,000 is the estimated population of Bolonchen.
14. 10,000 is the estimated population of Chemax.
15. 6,000 is the estimated population of Becanchen.
16. 1,600 is the estimated population of Iturbide.
17. 15,000 is the estimated population of Valladolid.
18. 354 feet is the depth of the well at Nohcacab.
19. 600 feet is the depth of the well at Señor Trego’s establishment.
20. 300 men comprised the force of Indians that rebelled in Tekax.

Terms:

1. Labrador: A farmer or agricultural worker, often referring to an indigenous Maya farmer.
2. Cacique: A tribal chief or leader, often referring to a Maya ruler.
3. Alcalde: The mayor or head of a village or municipality.
4. Alguazil: A law enforcement officer, often serving as an assistant to the alcalde.
5. Seybo tree: A large, shade-giving tree common in Yucatan.
6. Casa Real: A communal hut in a rancho, used for the reception of visitors, including the cura.
7. Ramón: A type of tree, commonly used as food for horses and cattle.
8. Milpa: A cornfield or agricultural plot.
9. Taje: A type of tall, thin stem that grows in Yucatan and is used for torches.
10. Xlap-pahk: The Maya word for “old walls” or ruins.

Examples:

1. The Frightened Women of Chack: The women of the Rancho of Chack reacted with fear and alarm upon seeing the travelers, demonstrating the limited contact between the Maya and the Spanish.
2. The Exclusive Community of Schawill: The inhabitants of the Rancho of Schawill formed a closed community, forbidding outsiders from entering and requiring members to marry within the rancho.
3. The Mysterious Well of Chack: Stephens’ descent into the Well of Chack reveals a unique and challenging system of water procurement, highlighting the Maya’s ingenuity and adaptation to their environment.
4. The Red Hand at Kewick: The discovery of the red hand symbol on the walls of a building at Kewick strengthens Stephens’ belief that this symbol holds a significant meaning and potentially links Mayan and North American Indian cultures.
5. The “Owner” of the Labnà Building: The Maya’s belief that the circular holes leading to subterranean chambers housed the “owner” of the building showcases their superstitious beliefs and their reverence for ancient structures.
6. The Iguana at Sabachshé: The capture and gruesome treatment of an iguana by the Maya Indians at Sabachshé illustrates their hunting techniques and their reliance on local resources for food.
7. The Hospitable Alcalde of Sabachshé: The elderly alcalde of Sabachshé demonstrates respect and humility towards the travelers, highlighting the variation in Maya behavior toward the Spanish.
8. The “New” Building at Kewick: The discovery that the “new” building at Kewick was only 12 years old highlights the potential for undiscovered ruins in the region, as the Maya had no knowledge of its existence before it was uncovered.
9. The Cueva of Bolonchen: Stephens’ exploration of this cave, the source of water for the village of Bolonchen, showcases the Maya’s remarkable adaptation to their environment and their use of subterranean resources.
10. The “Casa Cerrada” at Labphak: Stephens’ discovery of a “Casa Cerrada” at Labphak, hidden within the upper range of buildings, reveals a previously unknown feature of Mayan architecture.

Conclusion:

John L. Stephens’ “Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II” is a fascinating account of his journey through the Yucatan peninsula in 1843. The text provides valuable insights into the architecture, culture, and history of the Mayan people. Stephens’ exploration of numerous ancient cities uncovers their remarkable architectural ingenuity, their unique customs and beliefs, and their ability to adapt to a challenging environment.

The text raises crucial questions about the origins of the Mayan cities, challenging the prevailing narrative that their builders were a lost civilization. Stephens argues that the Maya were the architects of these grand structures and that their knowledge of their past, although suppressed by the Spanish conquest, continues to linger in their culture and traditions.

Stephens’ journey through the Yucatan offers a glimpse into a lost world, showcasing the power and ingenuity of the Maya people. His work remains a valuable resource for understanding the rich cultural heritage of this region.

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