deeds of daring, several officers who had served under Pedrarias, in Darien, entered into an association to undertake a voyage of discovery. Velasquez not only approved their design, but assisted in carrying it on he and an opulent planter named Cordova, advancing the money to purchase three small vessels, with materials for traffic or war. On board of these a hundred and ten men embarked and sailed from St. Jago, February 8, 1517. On the twenty-first day after their departure, they reached Cape Catoche, the most eastern point of Yucatan. As they approached the shore, five canoes met them, bearing people clad in cotton garments a circumstance that excited the wonder of the Spaniards. Cordova offered them small presents, and endeavoured to gain their good will. Though evidently amazed at their strange visitors, the Indians invited them, with an appearance of cordiality, to visit their habitations. Accordingly, the adventurers landed, and as they advanced into the country were struck by the sight of white stone houses. But they soon found that if the people had made progress in improvement beyond their countrymen, they were likewise more artful and warlike. For though the cacique had received Cordova with many tokens of friendship, he had posted a considerable body of his subjects in ambush, behind a thicket, who, upon a signal given by him, rushed out and attacked the Spaniards with great boldness and some degree of martial order. Fifteen of the latter were wounded; but their firearms soon compelled the assailants to fly. Cordova regained his shipping and quitted the spot, carrying with him two natives, and the wealth of a small temple which he had plundered.

Continuing their course toward the west, without losing sight of the coast, they arrived, on the sixteenth day, at Campeachy. There they were. received with more hospitality; but water beginning to fail, they proceeded along what was still thought to be an island, until they arrived at the mouth of a river at Potonchan. Here all the troops were landed in order to protect the sailors while filling the casks, but, notwithstanding this precaution, the natives rushed down upon them with such fury, and in such overwhelming numbers, that forty-seven Spaniards were killed upon the spot, and the remainder, with but a single exception, in some manner injured. The commander received twelve wounds; but he conducted the retreat with admirable skill and courage. On regaining their vessels, they immediately set sail for Cuba. During the passage thither, their wounds, exposed to a burning sun, brought on a sickness, which was increased to the most dreadful height by the want of water. Some died by the way, and the commander expired soon after arriving at Cuba.

HESE disasters did not discourage the Spaniards. The sight of gold wrought into curious shapes, the reports of nations advanced into civilization, and the hope of suddenly grasping a fortune, induced many to offer themselves for a new expedition. Velasquez fitted out four ships at his own expense. Two hun

dred and forty volunteers, among whom were men of rank and fortune, embarked in this enterprise. It was commanded by Juan de Grijalva, a young officer of tried courage, who was instructed to barter for gold, and, if possible, attempt a settlement. Sailing from St. Jago, (April 8, 1518,) he steered in a direction with the former expedition, but was driven by contrary currents to the island of Cozumel, the inhabitants of which fled at his approach. He again

EXPLORATION OF YUCATAN.

109

put to sea, rounded Cape Catouche and reached Potonchan. Here he determined to land and avenge his fallen countrymen in such a manner as would strike terror among all the surrounding tribes. But, though he employed all his troops in this attempt, aiding them with some field-pieces, the Indians fought with such courage that a victory over them was gained with difficulty. The Spaniards then re-embarked, and continued their voyage. The beauty of the country and the novelty of Indian towns and cities excited their wonder and admiration. In the numerous villages scattered along the coast, many stone houses were observed, which at a distance appeared white and lofty. In the warmth of their feelings, they denominated the country New Spain, a name by which it was known in Europe for more than three centuries.

Proceeding to the southward, they found the natives more friendly, and at Guazaca they were perfumed with incense of gum-copal, and treated with the most flattering attentions. In six days, they exchanged European trinkets for curiously wrought ornaments of gold, worth fifteen thousand pesos. The Spaniards now learned, for the first time, the existence of Montezuma, the great monarch to whom this province and the neighbouring ones was subject. Reembarking, Grijalva continued his course toward the west, and, on the 19th of June, landed on a small island, where he beheld, for the first time, the horrid spectacle of human victims offered to a deity. He named this spot the Isle of Sacrificios, and a neighbouring one San Juan de Ulua. From this place he despatched Pedro de Alvarado, one of his officers, to Velasquez, with a full account of his important discoveries, and all the treasure acquired by traffic with the natives. With the remaining vessels he proceeded along the coast to the river Panuco; but finding it impossible to plant a colony, he returned to Cuba, October 26, 1518.

Yucatan was conquered by the Spaniards soon after the overthrow of Montezuma's power by Cortes; its history, therefore, forms a part of that of Mexico till the year 1839, when symptoms of dissatisfaction with the policy of the Mexican republic began to be displayed by a party calling themselves Rochelanos. These demanded either a more liberal central government, or entire independence. In order to effect the latter, they secretly favoured the movements of a faction calling themselves Federalists. On the 29th of May, a militia captain, named Santiago Iman, raised the revolutionary standard in the village of Tizimin, and declared for the Constitution

K

of 1824. He then marched to Espita, the commandant of which had agreed to join him, but, on making a feint attack, the better to conceal his design, Iman found himself drawn into a snare, and immediately retreated to San Fernando. Here, at the end of two months, he was attacked by the commandant. The defenders ran away, the assailant entered in triumph, and immediately announced to his government, that by a great victory he had ended the revolt.

Iman now gathered around him a number of Indians, and endeavoured to insure their co-operation by a promise of exemption from religious contribution. The government then sent against him Colonel Roguena with six hundred men, who, after another "decisive victory," gained because the enemy ran away, entered the place in triumph. Partial quiet was preserved until February 11, 1840, when the insurgents attacked the city of Valladolid. Here were three hundred men under Lieutenant-colonel Arans. This officer appears to have possessed both talent and energy; but unfortunately, while marching against the enemy, he was killed. His troops immediately capitulated. A band of outlaws then took possession of the city and proclaimed the Constitution of 1824 to be in force. The influence of this proclamation soon became contagious. Towns, one after another, hailed the new order of things, and were strengthened by the capital itself. In June, Rivas, the commanding general, surrendered the province of Campeachy, and for a time the

INDIAN WAR IN YUCATAN.

111

country was thus actually separated from Mexico. A new state constitution was proclaimed on the 31st of March, 1841.

During the war between the United States and Mexico, Yucatan declared her independence of the latter power, and even discussed propositions of annexation to her more powerful sister republic. But the disorders consequent upon these acts had not yet subsided, when a far more formidable danger than Mexican oppression menaced the country. This was a general rising of the Indian population-an event almost unheard of in the annals of Europa-American nations. Early in 1848, all the interior settlements had been abandoned by the whites, and an army of sixty thousand Indians was desolating the country. Valladolid and Izamel, after being defended for a long while, were abandoned in March, and the citizens fled to Merida. The Yucatoes published a statement of their fearful condition, and earnestly invited other nations to help them. The whites have mainly recovered their position, and the country is now comparatively quiet. Notwithstanding her declaration of independence, Yucatan still continues a part of Mexico.