18 CHICKEN ITZA. 



west side, and on the other two sides are chambers (b & c), now reduced to rough 

 heaps of stones, with carved stone columns in front. The ground-plans of the latter 

 buildings can now only partly be made out by excavation. 



The frieze of grotesque heads is carried for a short distance along the south side 

 of the east wing, and the remaining wall-surfaces are plain and only relieved by the 

 usual string-courses and notched cornice. 



The ruined structures on the east side of the courtyard may have been joined with 

 the two chambers d, d (Plate III.), which are still standing, but which do not merit 

 any detailed description. These chambers, again, may have had some connection with 

 surrounding structures, of which heaps of broken stone and debris are all that remain. 



To return once more to the growth of this group of buildings, we may consider them 

 to have been raised in the following order : — 



1. The lower half of the third basement — no trace of stairway or chambers 



remaining. 



2. The addition of the upper part of the third basement — no trace of stairway or 



chambers remaining. 



3. The second basement, accessible by the present stairway or possibly by a 



narrower stairway in the same position — chambers probably removed, but 

 possibly remaining as the two long chambers of present lower range. 



4. Enlargement of the second basement, and erection of the present lower ranges 



of chambers. 



5. Filling-up of northern long chamber, and erection of upper stairway and upper 



chamber. 



6. Erection of east wing. 



7. Addition of chambers a, a. (There is clear indication, from the joint of the 



wall, that a, a were added after the east wing was built.) 



8. Filling-up of central chambers of east wing with intention of erecting upper 



storey — not carried out. 



Of course the east wing may have been built before or at the same time as the upper 

 stairway and chamber, and the comparative date of the surrounding structures cannot 

 be ascertained; but the consecutive structure of Nos. 1 to 5 and the subsequent 

 aggregations show that the site must have been one of special sanctity or importance 

 during a considerable number of years. 



Before leaving the group of the Monjas, there is one small but very elaborately 

 decorated building to be noticed, the detached single-chambered building (Plate III., e). 



The photographs of this building (Plates XVI. and XVII.) are so good that there is 

 no need to describe the decoration in detail. Its general appearance would be much 

 improved if the earth which has accumulated around its base to the depth of about 

 2 feet were to be cleared away. 



