10 



COPAN. 



to the north along this terrace, and leaving the ruins of some small houses on the right, 

 there remains now to be described the high foundation [No, 26] which projects 

 furthest in this direction. A few steps, shown on the plan, lead from the terrace to 

 the top of the foundation. Here I commenced to dig, in hope of finding at least 

 portions of the walls of a building, but met with no success. That a building must once 

 have stood here is almost certain, as several roof-stones were found lying on the slopes. 

 This foundation was ascended from the south-eastern corner of the Great Plaza by a broad 

 stairway [No. 27], and although many of the stones forming the steps are now displaced, 

 and the carving much worn, yet enough is still left to show the excellence both of the 

 design and workmanship. Each step was carved along its face with a line of hiero- 

 glyphs*, and the stonework at the edge of the stairway was covered with elaborate and 

 curious ornament. This stairway could be traced up the slope for a distance of 45 feet. 

 I again commenced to dig just above the spot where the top step appeared to have 

 rested, and, after digging in at that level for 17 feet, through closely packed large 

 rough blocks of stone and earth, came to a perpendicular wall. It was necessary to 

 dis down some distance to reach the bottom of this wall, which was found to rest on a 



10 15 20 



SCALE OF FEET 



cement floor which ran outwards towards the steps. The wall is 7 feet high and without 

 any coping or cornice, but it is covered at the top with a layer of cement 6 inches 

 thick, which runs back for 6 feet, and forms a floor for another wall 7 feet high ; this 

 wall, again, has a similar cement platform at the top, which apparently runs in for 

 12 feet to meet another wall 10 feet high ; above this nothing at all oould be made 



* gee illustrations on pages 16 and 32. 



