Note III-12 — Chapter III · ANTIQUITIES OF SALVADOR AND HONDURAS. RUINS OF COPAN.

'Copan was a colony of Tultecos.' 'The Spaniards found Copan inhabited, and in the summit of its perfection.' Galindo, in Amer. Antiq. Soc., Transact., vol. ii., pp. 546, 549. On the expedition of Cortés referred to, see Alaman, Disertaciones, tom. i., pp. 203-25; Cogolludo, Hist. Yucathan, pp. 45-58; Cortés, Cartas, pp. 396-492; Gomara, Conq. Mex., fol. 245-74; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iii., lib. vii., cap. viii., to lib. viii., cap. vii.; Peter Martyr, dec. viii., lib. x.; Prescott's Mex., vol. iii., pp. 278-99; Torquemada, Monarq. Ind., tom. i., p. 588; Villagutierre, Hist. Conq. Itza, pp. 39-50; Helps' Span. Conq., vol. iii., pp. 33-57. Stephens seems to be in some doubt as to the identity of ancient and modern Copan, there being 'circumstances which seem to indicate that the city referred to was inferior in strength and solidity of construction, and of more modern origin.' Cent. Amer., vol. i., pp. 99-101. 'The ruins of the city of that name and their position do not at all agree with the localities of the severe battle which decided the contest.' 'There is every appearance of these places (Copan and Quirigua) having been abandoned long before the Spanish conquest.' Gallatin, in Amer. Ethno. Soc., Transact., vol. i., p. 171. 'Whatever doubts may have existed on the Subject, and as regards the high antiquity of the Ruins of Copan ... they are set at Rest by this Account of Palacio. They were evidently very nearly in their present Condition, at the Time he wrote, three hundred Years ago.' Squier's Pref. to Palacio, Carta, p. 9. 'Certain it is that the latter was a ruin long before the arrival of the Spaniards.' Squier's Cent. Amer., p. 345.