108 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL VI. 
reveals six or more coats or layers, each revealing traces of painting. 
This indicates that the building had been used so long before it was 
deserted that the plastering needed to be many times renewed. There 
is some evidence that painting was used as a means of decoration, but 
that which most engages attention is the artistic management of the 
stone work, and, above all, the beautifuliy executed sculptures for orna- 
mentation. 
“Two other buildings at Palenque, marked by Mr. Stephens, in his 
plan of the ruins, a$ ‘Casa No. 1,and “Casa -No. 2; arevsmaller ous 
in some respects, still more remarkable. The first of these, 75 feet long 
by 25 wide, stands on the summit of a high truncated pyramid, and has 
solid walls on all sides save the north, where there are five doorways. 
Within, are a corridor and three rooms. Between the doorways leading 
from the corridor to these rooms are great tablets, each 13 feet long and 
8 feet high, and all covered with elegantly carved inscriptions. A 
similar but smaller tablet, covered with an inscription, appears on 
the wall of the central room. ‘Casa No. 2’ consists of a steep and lofty 
truncated pyramid, which stands on a terraced foundation, and has 
its level summit crowned with a building 50 feet long by 31 wide, which 
has three door-ways at the south, and within, a corridor and three rooms. 
The edifice, sometimes called ‘La Cruz’ has, above the height required 
for the rooms, what is described as ‘two stories of interlaced stucco 
work, resembling a high fanciful lattice.’ Here, too, inscribed tablets 
appear on the walls;-but the inscriptions, which are abundant at 
Palenque, are by no means confined to tablets. As to the ornament- 
ation, the walls, piers, and cornices are covered with it. Everywhere, the 
masterly workmanship and artistic skill of the old constructors compel 
admiration; Mr. Stephens going so far as to say of sculptured human 
figures found in fragments, ‘In justness of proportion and symmetry 
they must have approached the Greek models.’ 
“<Casa No. 2’ of Mr. Stephens is usually called ‘La Cruz,’ because 
the most prominent object within the building is a great bas-relief, 
on which are sculptured a cross and several human figures. This 
building stands on the high pyramid, and is approached by a flight of 
steps. Dr. Paix says, ‘It is impossible to describe adequately the 
interior decorations of this sumptuous temple.’ The cross is supposed 
to have been the central object of interest. It was wonderfully 
sculptured and decorated; human figures stand near it, and some grave 
ceremony seems to be represented. The infant held toward the cross by 
one of the figures suggests a christening ceremony. The cross is one of 
the most common emblems present in all the ruins. This led the 
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