98 



APPENDIX. 



of great size ; one of which being displaced, measured three yards in length by 

 one in breadth. — {Juarros'' Hist. Guat., p. 462.) 



The ruins of Uxmal, in Yucatan, described by Mr. Stephens, are represented to 

 be enclosed by a wall of loose stones. — (^Stephens^ Yucatan, Vol. I., pp. 165, 230.) 

 It was not, however, completely traced by that gentleman. Enclosing the ruins of 

 Tuloom he found a well-constructed wall of regular outline, as represented in 

 Fig. 31. 



It forms three sides of a parallelogram, the fourth side, toward the sea, being 

 bounded by a precipitous cliff. " It is of rude construction, and composed of 

 rough, flat stones, laid upon each other without mortar or cement of any kind, and 

 varies from eight to thirteen feet in thickness. The south side has two gateways, 

 each about five feet wide. At the distance of six hundred and fifty feet, the wall 

 turns at right angles and runs parallel to the sea. At the angle, elevated so as to 

 give a commanding view, is a watch-tower, twelve feet square, which has two 

 doorways. The interior is plain, and against the back wall is a small altar, at 

 which the guard might offer up prayers for the preservation of the city. The 

 west hne, parallel with the sea, has a single gateway ; at the angle is another 

 watch-tower, like that before described, and the wall then runs straight to the sea. 

 The whole circuit is 2,800 feet. — {Stephens' Yucatan, Vol. IL, p. 396.) 



The remarkable structures within this work, seem to be of a religious origin, 

 suggesting the probability that it was designed as a sacred enclosure. It is not im- 

 possible that, as in the case of some of the works of the Aztecs, it was the citadel 

 of the surrounding population, within which, in times of danger, they sought the 

 protection and assistance of their gods. The fortified hill in the vicinity of Gran- 

 ville, Ohio, has a small sacred enclosure within its walls. — (" Ancient Monumetits of 

 Mississippi Valley,'''' Plate IX.) May it not furnish a rude type of the more impos- 

 ing work above described, and denote a similar practice ? 



