A little later it was received into the Museo Yucateco upon the same rustic wagon on which it had traversed the 6 leagues of almost inaccessible country from Pisté to Ɔitas, from where begins the broad road. It was intended to surround it with a wooden fence upon which should be engraved this inscription in golden letters:—
“CHAC-MOOL
The discovery of the wise archæologist, Mr. Le Plongeon, in the ruins
of Chichen-Itza.
General Protasio Guerra being Governor of the State of Yucatan. It
was brought to the Museo Yucateco on the 1st of March, 1877,
by Juan Peon Contreras, Director of the Museum.”
Still later, at the decision of the Governor of the State, Sr. D. Augustin del Rio, its transfer to the National Museum of Mexico was permitted, where so notable an archæological monument will show to better advantage, leaving in its place a copy in plaster, made by a skilful Yucatan artist.
The Director of the Museo Yucateco,
JUAN PEON CONTRERAS.
Mérida, 1877.
Note. The unexpected arrival and early return to Vera Cruz of the national war steamer Libertad, which conducted the recovered statue to the Department of State, gave no time in which a copy of it could be taken in this capital, the Government of the State reserving the right to ask of the President of the Republic, who resides in Mexico, to send such a copy to the Museo Yucateco, as a just compensation.
PEON CONTRERAS.