Rambles in Yucatan; Or, Notes of Travel Through the Peninsula, Including a Visit to the Remarkable Ruins of Chi-Chen, Kabak, Zayi, and Uxmal (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. Mechanical Pursuits?The Circulating Medium?A Ball?A Remnant of Franciscans ? Signs of Decay in the Suburbs?The Cemetery ?The Weather ? A Whole Congregation Flogged?The Wise Men ? The Gentlemen?Extra Civilities ? The Appearances of Trade ? Products of the Soil ? Education ? Language of the Indians?The Ancient People ? Waldeck's Opinion of them ? The Maya Language? The Lord's Prayer in Maya ? Grammars of that Dialect? Difficulties in Speaking it ? Traits of the Indian Character. Having resolved to visit the towns in the interior, I was under the necessity of making some preparations which brought me in contact with the mechanics of Merida. It being customary and even necessary to travel chiefly upon the backs of horses and mules, the saddler and the tailor were first called into requisition. These professions were principally filled by Indians and half-breeds, who, though clumsy in their business, were far more expert than might have been expected. The custom of the country invariably exacts the payment of one-half of the amount agreed upon in advance, in order that the contractor may be in funds to purchase stock, wherewith to fill his contract. Though their delays are very annoying, yet they are generally honest, and may be depended upon for ultimately fulfilling their engagements. 54 . MEN MANTUA-MAKERS ?CURRENCY. The wants of the people are so limited that few mechanics are necessary. Nature is kind and lavish. The articles necessary to cover and protect the body are not numerous, and every thing requisite for its nourishment abounds. It looks very odd, I had almost said humiliating, to see men sitting upon the public sidewalks, working upon a lady's dress, and similar articles hanging around the door-ways of their houses, as a sign of the services which...