CHICKEN ITZA. 17 



doned, for the East Wing, which will now be described, is clearly an addition made 

 after the basement had arrived at its present form. However, in this wing it is 

 probable that the second process of enlargement was about to be carried out, for the 

 two inner chambers had already been blocked up, doubtless with the intention of 

 erecting another range of chambers above them. 



The flooring of the five outer chambers of the east wing is about 2 feet above the 

 level of the ground, and that of the closed inner rooms a step higher. The inner 

 chambers have been broken into, and their contents now partially fill the outer rooms. 



The outside decoration of this wing is very elaborate. The whole height of the 

 building is about 25 feet. 



On the north side (Plate XIV.) the wall-surface, up to the level of the wall-plate, is 

 composed of alternate flat surfaces and cross-bar work. The wall-plate itself is marked 

 by a prominent cornice, over which is a frieze of alternate cross-bar work and rosettes 

 and huge grotesque faces, arranged somewhat irregularly. This, again, is surmounted 

 by a notched cornice of more than usually elaborate design. 



Towards the east end the faces are also used to decorate the wall-space, and the three 

 great heads one above the other, which turn the corner, form a very curious piece of 

 ornamentation, and it must have had a still more striking appearance when the trunk- 

 like noses were entire. The facade of the east end (Plate XV.) is, however, the most 

 highly-wrought piece of work of all. Here the grotesque faces are continued all over 

 the wall-spaces and frieze. The lower string-courses are raised over the central door- 

 way (Plate XL, b), so as to admit of trunk-like projections which surround the opening, 

 and the outer surface of the lintel is covered with a hieroglyphic inscription (Plate 

 XIII., c) on either side of a central grotesque mask. 



Above the doorway the remains of a figure seated cross-legged, with a large feather 

 head-dress, can be traced. An incomplete oval of radiating feathers encloses this 

 figure, and from the sides of the oval projects a double fret. A straight-edged band 

 marked with the wavy lines which indicate the body of the plumed serpent bounds 

 the sides of this design, and turns inwards at right angles over the top, and the two 

 serpents' heads facing one another can with difficulty be made out just below the pro- 

 jecting cornice. 



The projecting line of stonework on which this central ornament rests is covered 

 with a curious line of figures (Plate XIII., b), and it was supported at either end by the 

 couching figure of a small monkey ; only one of them now remains in place in a very 

 much mutilated condition. 



I am inclined to think that the doorway itself is meant to represent an open mouth, 

 and that the trunk-like projections are intended for teeth. 



The south face of this wing forms the north side of a courtyard, of which the cham- 

 bers «, a (Plate III. and Plate VIII., a) (a later addition to the east wing) form the 



biol. cente.-amee., Archaeol., Vol. III., July 1895. d 



