RAMBLES BY LAND & WATER.
RAMBLES
BY
LAND AND WATER,
OR
NOTES OF TRAVEL
IN
CUBA AND MEXICO;
INCLUDING A CANOE VOYAGE UP THE RIVER PANUCO, AND RESEARCHES AMONG THERUINS OF TAMAULIPAS, &c.
"He turns his craft to small advantage, Who knows not whatto light it brings."
By B. M. NORMAN,
AUTHOR OF RAMBLES IN YUCATAN, ETC
NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY PAINE & BURGESS.
NEW ORLEANS:
B. M. NORMAN.
1845.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by
PAINE & BURGESS,
in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for
the Southern District of New York.
Stereotyped by Vincent L. Dill,
128 Fulton st. Sun Building, N. Y.
C. A. Alvord, Printer; Cor. of John and Dutch sts.
PREFACE.
The present work claims no higher rank than that of a humble offering tothe Ethnological studies of our country. Some portions of the field whichit surveys, have been traversed often by others, and the objects ofinterest which they present, have been observed and treated of, it may be,with as much fidelity to truth, and in a more attractive form. Of that thereading public will judge for itself. But there are other matters in thiswork, which are now, for the first time, brought to light. And it is theinterest, deep and growing, which hangs about every thing relating to thosemysterious relics of a mysterious race, which alone emboldens the author toventure once more upon the troubled sea of literary enterprise. Hadcircumstances permitted, he would have extended his researches among thesepulchres of the past, with the hope of securing a more ample, and a moreworthy[Pg vi] contribution to the museum of American Antiquities. He has donewhat he could, under the circumstances in which he was placed. From what hehas been enabled to accomplish, alone and unaided, he hopes that others,more capable, and better furnished with "the sinews" of travel, will beinduced to make a thorough exploration of these regions of ruined citiesand empires, and bring to light their almost boundless treasures of curiousand interesting lore. The field is immense. It is, as yet, scarcely enteredupon. No one of its boundaries is accurately ascertained. The researchesmade, and the materials gathered, are yet insufficient to enable us tosolve satisfactorily the great problem of the origin of the races, thatonce filled this vast region with the arts and luxuries of civilization,and reared those mighty and magnificent structures, and fashioned thosewonderful specimens of sculptured art, which now remain, in ruins, toperpetuate the memory of their greatness, though not of their names.
The exploration and illustration of these marvels of antiquity, belongappropriately to American literature. They should be accomplished byAmerican enterprise. If not soon attempted, the honor, the pleasure, andthe profit, will assuredly fall into other hands. Enough has already beendone, to awaken a general interest and curiosity among the wonder-seekingand world-exploring adventurers of Europe; and, if we do not speedilyfollow up our small beginnings, with an[Pg vii] efficient and thorough survey, theBelzonis, and the Champollions of the Old World, will have ant