Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatán, Vol. 2

John Lloyd Stephens (1805 - 1852)

The year is 1838. The scene is the dense Honduran forest along the Copán River. Two men, John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood, are about to rediscover Mayan civilization. Their guide, slashing through the rampant growth with his machete, leads them to a stone column, fourteen feet high, sculptured on the front with a portrait of a man, “solemn, stern and well fitted to excite terror,” covered on the sides with hieroglyphics, and with workmanship “equal to the finest monuments of the Egyptians.” Stephens records their discoveries and also his travels in Central America, while Catherwood directs his immense artistic talent to illustrating views of Mayan architecture. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatán was a best seller in its day and has been called an “Indiana Jones” saga by modern reviewers. (Summary by Sue Anderson)

Genre(s): Travel & Geography, Memoirs

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Visit to the Volcano of Masaya; Lake of Managua Sue Anderson
00:33:08
Play 02 02 - Baneful Effects of Party Spirit; Importance of a Passport Sue Anderson
00:33:22
Play 03 03 - Eruption of 1835; Prejudice against Foreigners Sue Anderson
00:33:28
Play 04 04 - Depredations of Rascon; Subterranean Fires Sue Anderson
00:34:14
Play 05 05 - Surrender of the Town; Diplomacy Sue Anderson
00:35:34
Play 06 06 - The Town taken by General Morazan; Plans Deranged Sue Anderson
00:32:44
Play 07 07 - Arrival at Guatimala; A Sketch of the Wars Sue Anderson
00:33:34
Play 08 08 - Purchasing a Ruined City; The Captain in Trouble Sue Anderson
00:33:13
Play 09 09 - Last Interview with Carrera; Departure from Guatemala Sue Anderson
00:32:14
Play 10 10 - A Sacred Stone; Losing a Good Friend Sue Anderson
00:34:36
Play 11 11 - Whipping Posts; Ruins of Quiche Sue Anderson
00:33:17
Play 12 12 - Description of the Ruins; A Facetious Cura Sue Anderson
00:35:11
Play 13 13 - Royal Bird of Quiche; Another Lost City Sue Anderson
00:33:43
Play 14 14 - Preparations for Holy Week; The Crucifixion Sue Anderson
00:35:01
Play 15 15 - Sierra Madre; A Huge Skeleton Sue Anderson
00:34:32
Play 16 16 - A Forest on Fire; Entry into Mexico Sue Anderson
00:33:38
Play 17 17 - Scarcity of Soap; A Curious Cave Sue Anderson
00:33:50
Play 18 18 - Indian Carriers; Ride in a Silla Sue Anderson
00:33:42
Play 19 19 - Village of Palenque; Ruins of Palenque Sue Anderson
00:32:49
Play 20 20 - Discovery of the Ruins of Palenque; Mammoth Fireflies Sue Anderson
00:37:27
Play 21 21 - Mode of Life at Palenque; Description of the Palace Sue Anderson
00:32:01
Play 22 22 - Effect of Insect Stings; A Scene of the Sublime and Terrible Sue Anderson
00:31:21
Play 23 23 - Human Figures; Remarkable Hieroglyphics Sue Anderson
00:30:16
Play 24 24 - Negotiations for Purchasing Palenque; Adventure with a Monstrous Ape Sue Anderson
00:34:42
Play 25 25 - Embarcation for the Laguna; Shooting Alligators Sue Anderson
00:35:08
Play 26 26 - Arrival at the Laguna; Journey to Merida Sue Anderson
00:32:47
Play 27 27 - Value of Water; A Peculiar Kind of Coach Sue Anderson
00:34:14
Play 28 28 - House of the Dwarf; An Indian Legend Sue Anderson
00:37:47
Play 29 29 - Who built these ruined Cities?; Accounts of the Spanish Historians Sue Anderson
00:33:17
Play 30 30 - Probable Antiquity of these Ruins; Exploration Finished Sue Anderson
00:29:25
Play 31 31 - Getting Lost at Sea; Passage to New York Sue Anderson
00:25:22