The harbor at Campeachy is shallow, and a vessel which draws more than six feet is obliged to anchor a league from the shore. In spite of this disadvantage, from the superior excellence of the timber, and other causes, a number of vessels are built here, measuring a hundred feet in the keel, which are launched by the aid of ingenious contrivances invented for the purpose.
A theatre has been erected here under the architectural direction of M. Journot, before named. This is one of the most beautiful edifices of the place. The internal decorations, however, will not compare with the handsome exterior.
The climate of this part of the province appears to be healthy. The heat is extreme at noon; but the land breeze in the morning, and the sea breeze in the evening, render the atmosphere, at those periods, most delightful. During the rainy season, which commences about the last of May, and ends in September, intermittent fevers are quite prevalent. These, however, by temperate and regular habits on the part of the inhabitants, and attention to the wearing of flannel, and such garments as are suited to the changes of the weather, and keeping from unnecessary exposure, may, in a great measure, be avoided.
In the neighborhood of Campeachy are many ruins which richly deserve the attention of travellers, but which the time to which my short excursion was limited, would not permit me the gratification of visiting to any extent. Upon a small river near Champoton, some leagues inland, where it enlarges to a very considerable lake, are situated many ruins of a kind of sculpture displaying the finest taste; but the edifices are so buried beneath the water and earth that surround them, that it would require great labor and perseverance to investigate them. Four leagues to the north of Campeachy there exist many tumuli, which cannot be visited during the rainy season without much risk and inconvenience. Three leagues farther north is a little peninsula, called Jaina. Here is situated a very large tumulus, around which have been found a number of small earthen figures, and some flint heads of lances, very finely formed. To the antiquarian and the curious this ruin presents many attractions.
From this tumulus, and other places contiguous to ruins of immense cities, in the vicinity of Campeachy, were procured among the crumbling walls, some skeletons and bones that have evidently been interred for ages, also a collection of idols, fragments, flint spearheads, and axes; besides sundry articles of pottery-ware, well wrought, glazed, and burnt.
These interesting relics are now in the possession of the author. The reader will observe the Engravings of the most important, and those that are in the most perfect state of preservation.
Plates No. I., II., and III., are correct designs of the Idols, which are supposed to have been the household gods of the people who inhabited these regions. They are hollow, and contain balls about the size of a pea, that are supposed to be formed of the ashes of the victims that have been sacrificed to the particular god in which they are deposited.
Plate No. IV. represents fragments composed of the same material as the Idols. Whether these were intended for the same, or ornaments to their vessels, I am unable to decide.
Plate No. V. represents the designs of the pots and vessels of the collection, which were probably used as burners in the performance of religious rites and ceremonies.
Plate No. VI. represents a Turtle, beautifully wrought in a fine hard earthy substance. This figure, by its frequent appearance throughout the ruins of Yucatan, was undoubtedly one of great importance, either from its religious or civil associations. This plate also represents an earthen pan, well wrought, (apparently turned in a lathe,) and glazed, which was probably one of their household utensils; also a stone pounder, which was probably used in the same department.