A Statistical and Commercial History of the Kingdom of Guatemala, in Spanish America: Containing Important Particulars Relative to Its Productions, Manufactures, Customs, &c. &c. &c. With an Account of Its Conquest by the Spaniards, and a Narrative of the Principal Events Down to the Present Time: from Original Records in the Archives; Actual Observation; and Other Authentic Sources

Front Cover
J. Hearne, 1823 - Central America - 520 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 87 - Resguardo, as to render it impregnable. The centre of the city was occupied by the royal palace, which was surrounded by the houses of the nobility ; the extremities were inhabited by the plebeians. The streets were very narrow, but the place...
Page 56 - Spanish habits, with hose, ruff round the neck, sword, cap, and short cloak. On entering the gateway there are two fine stone pyramids, moderately large and lofty, from which is suspended a hammock that contains two human figures, one of each sex, clothed in the Indian style. Astonishment is forcibly excited on viewing this structure, because, large as it is, there is no appearance of the component parts being joined together; and, although entirely of stone, and of an enormous weight, it may be...
Page 149 - The greatest damage of this series took place on the 23d of December, 1586, when the major part of the city again became a heap of ruins, burying under them many of the unfortunate inhabitants ; the earth shook with such violence that the tops of the high ridges were torn off, and deep chasms formed in various parts of the level ground.
Page 384 - ... three of the judges left their seats and proceeded to a deep ravine, where there was a place of worship containing a black transparent stone, on the surface of which the Deity was supposed to indicate the fate of the criminal. If the decision was approved, the sentence was executed immediately; if nothing appeared on the stone, the accused was set at liberty. This oracle was also consulted in the affairs of war. The Bishop Francisco Marroquin having obtained intelligence of this slab, ordered...
Page 56 - Francisco de Fuentes, who wrote the Chronicles of the Kingdom of Guatimala, assures us that in his time, that is, in the year 1700, the great circus of Copan still remained entire. This was a circular space surrounded by stone pyramids about six yards high, and very well constructed. At the bases of these pyramids were figures, both male and female, of very excellent sculpture, which then retained the colours they had been enamelled with, and, what was not less remarkable, the whole of them were...
Page 149 - In 1558 an epidemic disorder, attended with a. violent bleeding at the nose, swept away great numbers of people ; nor could the faculty devise any method to arrest the progress of the distemper. Many severe shocks of earthquake were felt at different periods ; the one in 1565 seriously damaged many of the principal buildings ; those of 1575, 76, and 77 were not less ruinous. On the 27th of December, 1581, the population was again alarmed by the volcano, which began to emit fire ; and so great was...
Page 154 - The year 1773 was the most melancholy epoch in the annals of this metropolis ; it was then destroyed, and, as the capital, rose no more from its ruins." ..." About four o'clock, on the afternoon of July 29, a tremendous vibration was felt, and shortly after began the dreadful convulsion that decided the fate of the unfortunate city.
Page 87 - ... inhabited by the plebeians. The streets were very narrow, but the place was so populous, as to enable the king to draw from it alone, no less than 72,000 combatants, to oppose the progress of the Spaniards. It contained many very sumptuous edifices, the most superb of them was a seminary, where between 5. and 6000 children were educated; they were all maintained and provided for at the charge of the royal treasury ; their instruction was superintended by 70 masters and professors.
Page 88 - The 4th and 5th divisions were occupied by the queens and royal concubines ; they were necessarily of great extent, from the immense number of apartments requisite for the accommodation of so many females, who were all maintained in a style of sumptuous magnificence ; gardens for their recreation, baths, and proper places for breeding geese, that were kept for the sole purpose of furnishing feathers, with which hangings, coverings, and other similar ornamental articles, were made. Contiguous to this...
Page 86 - Santa Cruz del Quiche is a village seated on an extensive open plain, fertile in the extreme, producing grain, vegetables, and delicate fruits, in proportionate abundance. It is but moderately populous, and contains a Dominican convent with the title of a priory. The history of this place is singular, as it was once the large and opulent city of...

Bibliographic information