CHICHEN ITZA. 39 



rows of sixteen each. I was unable to ascertain if these columns had supported a 

 stone roof for although many roofing-stones are lying among the debris, these have 

 more probably fallen from the building above. Two stairways with a smooth slope 

 between them rise from the back of these columns and lead to a broad terrace, in the 

 centre of which is a broken recumbent stone figure (see Plate LXIII.). Another short 

 stairway must have led from this terrace to the temple, the doorway of which was 

 adorned with two serpent columns ; portions of these columns and the two huge rattle- 

 snake capitals lie scattered over the slope and the terrace below. The floor of the 

 temple is 45 feet above the level of the ground. The remains of square columns and 

 the indications of partition-walls can just be made out. This building would probably 

 well repay excavation, as the back wall must be entire to the height of a few feet, and 

 it is more than possible that all the figures of an altar similar to that last described 

 would be found. 



Still in position outside the south-east corner of the temple are the remains of a 

 large grotesque head which had formed part of the outside decoration of the walls. 

 The two stone frets figured in Plate LXII. were found lying among the loose stones 

 and rubbish on the south slope of the foundation. 



No. 19. — Almost in line with the columns in front of No. 18, but at a lower level, is 

 a long colonnade (No. 1 9, Plate LX. and Plate LX1V., a) running to the southward, 

 containing 184 columns, arranged in four rows, each column 2 feet 2 inches in 

 diameter. The columns are round and are without any carved ornament, and, as is 

 always the case, each column is made up of a number of stones. The colonnade is 

 open to the west and closed on the east side by a buttressed wall. 



At the south end of No. 19 a second colonnade (No. 20), containing 44 columns, 

 1 foot 8 inches in diameter, runs almost at right angles to the westward, and ends 

 in a mound which probably supported a building, but which is now a complete ruin. 



There is comparatively little debris among the columns of the long colonnade, and 

 no roofing-stones could be seen, so that it is not likely that it supported a stone roof; 

 but the portion running to the west may possibly have had a stone roof, as roofing- 

 stones are numerous, and there are traces of walls running across the colonnade as 

 though it had been divided into several chambers. 



From the north end of No. 19 another colonnade (No. 21) runs to the eastward. 



Although the trees which cover this colonnade and the remainder of the buildings 

 comprised in the plan on Plate LX. are of small size, I did not attempt to remove 

 them, but contented myself with thoroughly clearing away and burning the under- 

 growth. This was found to be the more expeditious method, and it was far easier to 

 take measurements on this partly cleared ground than to do so by clambering over 



