The Search for the Silver City

The Search for the Silver City, by
James Otis

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Title: The Search for the Silver City A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan
Author: James Otis
Release Date: May 2, 2007 [EBook #21268]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: Instead of releasing his hold on Neal the reptile held firm,
etc. See Page 193.]

THE SEARCH FOR THE SILVER CITY.
A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN YUCATAN.
By JAMES OTIS. Author of "The Castaways," "A Runaway Brig,"
"The Treasure Finders," etc., etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
NEW YORK: A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER.
Copyright, 1893, by A. L. BURT.

INTRODUCTION.
In Mr. E. G. Squier's preface to the translation of the Chevalier Arthur
Morelet's "Travels in Central America" the following paragraph can be
found:
"Whoever glances at the map of Central America will observe a vast
region, lying between Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, and the republic of
Guatemala, and comprising a considerable part of each of those states,
which, if not entirely a blank, is only conjecturally filled up with
mountains, lakes and rivers. It is almost as unknown as the interior of
Africa itself. We only know that it is traversed by nameless ranges of
mountains, among which the great river Usumasinta gathers its waters
from a thousand tributaries, before pouring them, in a mighty flood,
into the Lagoon of Terminos, and the Gulf of Mexico. We know that it
has vast plains alternating with forests and savannas; deep valleys
where tropical nature takes her most luxuriant forms, and high plateaus
dark with pines, or covered with the delicate tracery of arborescent
ferns. We know that it conceals broad and beautiful lakes, peopled with
fishes of new varieties, and studded with islands which supports the
crumbling yet still imposing remains of aboriginal architecture and
superstition. And we know, also, that the remnants of the ancient Itzæs,
Lacandones, Choles, and Manches, those indomitable Indian families
who successfully resisted the force of the Spanish arms, still find a

shelter in its fastnesses, where they maintain their independence, and
preserve and practice the rites and habits of their ancestors as they
existed before the discovery. Within its depths, far off on some
unknown tributary of the Usumasinta, the popular tradition of
Guatemala and Chiapas places that great aboriginal city, with its white
walls shining like silver in the sun, which the curé of Quiche affirmed
to Mr. Stephens he had seen, with his own eyes, from the tops of the
mountains of Quesaltenango."
In Stephens' "Yucatan," Vol II, page 195, are the following lines:
"He (meaning the padre of Quiche, with whom Mr. Stephens was
conversing), was then young, and with much labor climbed to the
naked summit of the Sierra, from which, at a height of ten or twelve
thousand feet, he looked over an immense plain--and saw at a great
distance a large city spread over a great space, and with turrets white
and glittering in the sun. The traditionary account of the Indians of
Chajul is, that no white man has ever reached this city, that the
inhabitants speak the Maya language, are aware that a race of strangers
has conquered the whole country around, and murder any white man
who attempts to enter their territory. They have no coin or other
circulating medium; no horses, cattle, mules, or other domestic animals
except fowls, and the cocks they keep under ground to prevent their
crowing being heard. One look at that city would be worth ten years of
an every-day life. If he (the padre) is right, a place is left where Indians
and an Indian city exist as Cortez and Alvarado found them; there are
living men who can solve the mystery that hangs over the ruined cities
of America; who perhaps can go to Copan and read the inscriptions on
its monuments. No subject more exciting and attractive presents itself
to my mind, and the deep impression will never be effaced."

CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.

The Sea Dream. 1
CHAPTER II.
Under Weigh. 8
CHAPTER III.
Nassau. 19
CHAPTER IV.
A New Danger. 29
CHAPTER V.
Fighting the Flames. 39
CHAPTER VI.
The Last Resort. 49
CHAPTER VII.
On Shore. 60
CHAPTER VIII.
Suspense. 71
CHAPTER IX.
Across the Country. 81
CHAPTER X.
A Strange Story. 91

CHAPTER XI.
The Journey. 101
CHAPTER XII.
The Silver