30 CHICHEN ITZA. 



the outer surface and the principal part of the inner surface 1 moulded in paper, and 

 on Plate XXXV. is a drawing of all that can be made out of the designs *. 



The arrangement of the pilasters and jambs gives five flat surfaces on either side of 

 the doorway (k, k, Plate XXVII.), all of which were highly decorated and are figured 

 in Plates XXXVI. -XXX VIII. Part of the inner jamb on the north side has fallen 

 away. The inner jamb of the south side was unfortunately not moulded, as moulding- 

 paper ran short. These sculptures are so much weather-stained that it was difficult to 

 get satisfactory photographs of them, the discoloration of the stone almost entirely 

 hiding the design, as can be seen in the photograph on Plate XXXIV., b. No washing 

 or scrubbing of the stone had any beneficial effect, and the very successful photographs 

 given in Plates XXXVI. and XXXVII. were only obtained, after many experiments, 

 by washing the stone over with a distemper made from a coloured earth and finely- 

 powdered plaster. 



In writing the description of his visit to this temple in 1843, Stephens says : — 

 " Between these jambs we enter an inner chamber, the walls and ceilings of which 

 are covered, from the floor to the peak of the arch, with designs in painting, repre- 

 senting, in bright and vivid colours, human figures, battles, houses, trees, and scenes 

 of domestic life, and conspicuous on one of the walls is a large canoe ; but the first 

 feeling of gratified surprise was followed by heavy disappointment, for the whole was 

 mutilated and disfigured. In some places the plaster was broken off; in every part 

 deep and malignant scratches appeared in the walls, and while individual figures were 

 entire, the connection of the subjects could not be made out." 



If such were the condition of the walls in 1843 I expected to find very little 

 remaining in 1888. However, although much of the plaster had fallen since the time 

 of Stephens's visit, and the floor was heaped high with fragments of plaster and rubbish, 

 and although the paintings had been further ruthlessly damaged by visitors from the 

 neighbouring towns and villages, who, with the point of a charred stick, had written 

 their names in large letters all over the walls, yet there is still so much remaining of 

 great interest that I deeply regret not having provided myself with materials for 

 making tracings of all that is sufficiently distinct. 



The fragments which I am now able to reproduce were traced on thin bank-post 

 letter-paper, then transferred to the linen-backed paper which had been prepared for 

 my large plane-table, and were coloured on the spot. 



Plate XXXIX. shows a picture of a human sacrifice, which was painted on the 

 space between the top of the doorway and the spring of the roof. Unfortunately the 

 heads of the figures have all disappeared, as they were painted on the sloping surface 

 of the roof itself, whence all the plaster has fallen away. The body of the victim is 

 stretched backward, over a large stone, an attendant kneels to grasp its ankles, while 

 •what I venture to call the serpent-priest stands over the body, and is probably about 

 * The grotesque snakes' heads are omitted in the drawing Plate XXXV., b. 



