CHAPTER XXIV.

Departure for Merida.--The Road.--Cacalchen.--Hacienda of Ake.--The Ruins.--Great Mound called the Palace.--Immense Staircase.--Grand Approach.--Columns.--No Remains of a Building on the Mound.--Other Mounds.--Interior Chamber.--A Senote.--Rude and Massive Character of these Ruins.--End of Journey among ruined Cities.--Number of Cities discovered.--Of the Builders of the American Cities.--Opinion.--Built by the Ancestors of the present Race of Indians.--Reply to Arguments urged against this Belief.--Absence of Tradition.--Unparalleled Circumstances which attended the Conquest.--Unscrupulous Policy of the Spaniards.--Want of Tradition not confined to Events before the Conquest.--Nor peculiar to American Ruins.--Degeneracy of the Indians.--Insufficiency of these Arguments.--Farewell to Ruins.