32 CHECHEN ITZA. 



walls are supported by buttresses (1, 1), and were probably without decoration on the 

 outer side ; but the exposed surfaces at m, m were adorned with sculptures shown in 

 Plate LI. The drawing on Plate LI. is taken from the carving on the face m v 

 supplemented by two fragments (e and /) belonging to m 2 , and the probable connection 

 of the design is indicated in dotted lines. 



There is no doubt that the general design on m 2 was similar to that on m v but the 

 figures were different : unfortunately the face only of the figure on m 2 could be discovered 

 amongst the fallen stones ; this is given on Plate LI. The figure on m 1 is encased in 

 a sort of armour made from the shell of a tortoise or turtle, and may have some 

 connection with the turtle-backed figure on the " Inglesia" shown in Plate XVII., and 

 referred to on p. 19. The lower panel, on which the figure stands, represents a human 

 head issuing from the mouth of a plumed dragon ; the design is similar to that on 

 the balustrade of the stairway (Plate XXVII. , f) in front of the Ball Court Temple, 

 and is repeated elsewhere amongst the ruined buildings (see Plate LIL, d and e). 



The top stones of the two square pillars (Plate XLIIL, c and d) which supported 

 the roof of the building have unfortunately been displaced, and one of the displaced 

 stones which was found among the debris was so much weather-worn that the 

 design on it could not be made out. Reference to the photographs on Plate XLIIL 

 will show that the base of each face of the pillars is decorated with a grotesque face 

 to which is attached the water-plant and its accompanying fish, turtles, and aquatic 

 birds. (See also Vol. IV., Plate XCIIL, o.) On the south pillar the figure standing 

 on this base is clad in the turtle-shell armour similar to that shown on Plate LI. 

 The figure on the north pillar is clothed in a skirt ornamented with discs and 

 crossed bones. Behind each figure is shown the curved body of a snake. 



Between the columns was an overturned figure of a puma, very crudely carved, which 

 may have been used as an altar for offerings. It is seen restored to its place in 

 Plate XLIIL 



Plate XLIV. gives a key-plan of the decoration of the interior of the chamber, and 

 the following Plates give detail drawings of the sculptures. An ornamental border and 

 five rows of human figures occupy the whole of the space. The ornamental border in 

 which the water-plant is the principal feature runs round the bottom of the wall. A 

 plain string-course separates this border from a row of elaborately decorated proces- 

 sional figures in line A, each figure, with one exception, bearing a spear in its hand. 

 The masks, head-dresses, shields, and ornaments of these figures deserve most careful 

 examination. From the mouth of each there issues a scroll which may indicate speech, 

 and above each head is a sign which possibly stands for the name or totem of each 

 individual, or the family which he represents. (See also Plate XXXVIII.) The 

 five lines of figures are separated from one another by string-courses formed of the 

 entwined bodies of snakes. 



The middle figure in line B appears to be the serpent-priest, and the body of the 



