34 CHICHEN 1TZA. 



of temples 18 and 25, Plate LX. (see also Plates LXIII. and LXV., b), and the 

 fragments of a similar figure, measuring 2 feet 2 inches from the pedestal to the bend 

 of the knee, were found lying a short distance to the north of mound No. 12. Each 

 of these figures grasps with its hands the rim of a cup or bowl cut in the stone, and 

 from the position of these figures at the entrance of the temples it seems probable that 

 the bowls were used as receptacles for offerings or brasiera in which to burn incense. 



No. 14, to the east of the last mound described, is also the scene of Dr. Le Plongeon's 

 excavations. It is much to be hoped that this mound was properly cleared, and a 

 series of photographs taken of it before the excavation was commenced. It is very 

 difficult now to make out its sculptural decorations, as the whole of the centre has 

 been excavated and the stones and earth thrown over the sides, and it would have been 

 the work of many days to have removed the large heaps of debris. The height of the 

 mound is 14 feet, and the platform at the top, which was accessible on all four 

 sides by stairways of 12 steps, had apparently been covered with a level pavement of 

 large flat stones. I was unable to make out whether the stairways had serpent-head 

 balustrades. The side walls were buttressed to the height of about 2 feet, and above 

 this the slabs were elaborately sculptured, the same design, so far as I could ascertain, 

 being repeated on all eight sections, and consisting of ribbon plaits and a full-faced 

 view of a plumed dragon with a human head issuing from its open jaw. Above these 

 slabs was a string-course which was surmounted by a frieze on which was sculptured 

 a hu°-e plumed serpent's body and some figures of fish. These designs are in part 

 shown in Plate L1L, d and e. 



Some of the contents of this mound, dug out by Dr. Le Plongeon, are figured 

 on Plate LIII. in the position in which he left them. They consist of a large number 

 of suo-ar-loaf-shaped stones about 3 feet 6 inches long and 6 inches in greatest diameter, 

 a circular stone cist 1 foot 10 inches high and 2 feet in diameter, with a plain stone 

 lid and a considerable number of plumed serpents' heads. How these sculptured 

 stones came to be buried in the mound is a mystery ; the serpents have clearly at one 

 time formed the external decoration of some building, as the end of almost every one 

 of the stones is provided with a tenon to fix it into masonry ; but unless Dr. Le Plongeon 

 can afford information on the subject the use of these curious carvings is likely to 

 remain a mystery. There can be little doubt that Nos. 13 and 14 are the two small 

 paved " theatros de Canteria " mentioned by Landa. 



About a hundred yards to the North of No. 14 mound there is an opening in the 

 Ion" line of masonry which runs eastward from the back of the temple C of the Ball 

 Court group, whence a passage 300 yards long between the remains of two walls leads 

 to the sacred 'Cenote. 



The sides of this 'Cenote, Plate LIV., are almost perpendicular, and it is no doubt 

 the 'Cenote of sacrifice mentioned in the Valladolid report. A small and very much 



