46 EUIXS OP MENCHE. 



larger and eight smaller niches or recesses in the stonework. The larger niches have 

 each held a seated human figure moulded in stucco over a sort of rubble skeleton, and 

 the eight smaller niches probably held similar figures of smaller size. 



The best-preserved of the rubble skeletons is to be seen in the middle of the super- 

 structure above the frieze. Here the figure was of heroic size ; the rubble body can 

 easily be seen (Plate XCL, a) resting on the stone bench on which the figure was 

 seated, with the two long stones on which the left leg was moulded still in place. 

 The square hole in the body formerly held the long stone which pinned the figure 

 against the wall. The rough outline of the head and the position of the feather head- 

 dress can be seen in the photograph, and close inspection showed the projecting stone 

 on which the nose had been moulded. 



The superstructure itself, which now resembles a pigeon-house, is hollow, and 

 appears to have been used merely as a support for stucco ornament, of which only 

 slight traces now remain. 



The interior of the temple is divided into chambers and recesses by a number of 

 interior buttresses. In the recess almost opposite to the middle doorway there was a 

 stone figure, more than life-size, seated cross-legged, the hands resting on the knees. 

 The head with its head-dress of grotesque masks and plumes was broken off and lying 

 beside the body. From the number of fragments of ornamental plaster-work which, 

 together with rubbish and broken pottery, choked up the recess, it seems probable that 

 some sort of ornamental plaster canopy had formerly occupied the upper part of the 

 recess. 



A large number of rough pottery bowls decorated with grotesque heads had been 



placed round the figures, and similar bowls were 



to be found in most of the other buildings : 



nearly ail contained some half-burnt copal, and, 



from the position in which they were found, it is 



quite clear that they must have been placed 



there after the buildings had been partly ruined, 



I and there can be little doubt that they are made 



* ? and brought there by the Lacandon Indians, who 



are said still to hold the place in reverence. 



At the back of Temple K there are two ruined houses and two pyramidal mounds, 



and beyond them again are traces of terraces and one loDg house ; but of these remains 



1 had no time to make a careful examination. 



To the west of the town is a triangular hill with stone-faced slopes on the north and 

 east and rough ground to the west. On the flat top of this hill are the remains of 

 several buildings, of which the houses marked L and M had stone lintels. Photographs 

 of those lintels which were sufficiently well-preserved are given on Plates XCV. to 

 XCVII. 



