266 HOUSES AND HOUSE-LIFE OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 
Status of barbarism. The dinner of Montezuma, before considered, is an 
illustration. 
Near Uxmal are the interesting ruins of Zayi, which present a new 
feature in Yucatan house architecture. Upon alow eminence are three 
independent structures, the second within and above the first or lowest, and 
the third within and above the second, presenting the appearance, in the 
distance, of a single quadrangular edifice in three receding stories. But 
each stands on a separate terrace, and is built against the one within, which 
rises above it, except the inner one, a single edifice occupying the summit. 
The outer quadrangle stands on the lowest terrace. ‘The measurements of 
the several buildings are indicated on the plan. Together they contain 
eighty-seven apartments, assuming the parts in ruins to have corresponded 
with the parts preserved. The rooms, as usual, are either single or in pairs. 
An external staircase upon the front and rear sides interrupts the buildings 
on these sides from the lower terrace to the upper. The dots in the aper- 
tures indicate columns, which are found in this and several other structures. 
In case of attack, the outer quadrangle was not defensible; but its inhabi- 
tants could retire to the second terrace above, and 
defend their fortress at the head of the staircases, 
which were the only avenues of approach except 
by scaling the outer quadrangle, a very improbable 
undertaking. 
Attention has been called to this pueblo, which 
would accommodate two thousand or more persons, 
for a special reason. It seems to furnish conclusive 
proof of the manner in which these great edifices 
were erected in order to construct the peculiar tri- 
angular stone ceiling, which is the striking char- 
acteristic of this architecture. 
To understand the problem, the annexed cross- 
Fic. 56. —Cross-section through 
aes section of a single room will afford some aid by 
showing the relations of the walls to the chamber and its ceiling. The 
chamber, with its vaulted ceiling, was constructed over a solid core of 
masonry, laid simultaneously with the walls, which was removed after the 
