UXMAL. 283 



of the people who collected round the base. The ruins differ 



entirely fi'om Copan and Palenque. Here no statues, carved 



figures, or hieroglyphics are seen. It is therefore supposed 



that these cities are of a much older date, and built by another 



race. 



UXMAL. 



The most magnificent and perfect remains in the country 

 are those of Uxmal, about fifty miles south of Merida, the 

 principal city of Yucatan. Here, amid the dense forest, are 

 found walls of considerable elevation, with very extensive 

 Ijuildings, — the walls still standing to theii- full height, and 

 even the roofs, in some places, perfect. The largest building 

 — supposed to be the palace of the sovereign — stands on the 

 uppermost of three terraces, each walled with cut stone. It 

 is 322 feet in length, 39 broad, and 24 high. The front has 

 thirteen doorways; the centre of which is 8 feet, 6 inches wide, 

 and 8 feet, 10 inches high. The upper part is ornamented 

 with sculpture in great profusion, of rich and curious work- 

 manship. The walls are covered with cement ; and the floors 

 are of square stones, smoothly polished, and laid with as 

 much regularity as that of the best modern masonry. The 

 roof forms a triangular arch, constructed with stones overlap- 

 ping, and covered by a layer of flat stones. It is remarkable 

 that the lintels of the doorways are of wood, known as 

 Sapote wood. Many of them are still hard and sound, and 

 in their places ; but others have been perforated by worm- 

 holes, their decay causing the fall of the walls. 



Two other large buildings, facing each other, are embel- 

 lished with sculpture, the most remarkable features of which 

 are two colossal serpents, which once extended the whole 

 length of the walls. Further on are four great ranges of 



