THE COURTYARD. 



315 



the centre apartment, in one of the holes before refer- 

 red to of the arch, are the remains of a wooden pole 

 about a foot long, which once stretched across, but the 

 rest had decayed. It was the only piece of wood we 

 found at Palenque, and we did not discover this until 

 some time after we had made up our minds in regard 

 to the wooden lintels over the doors. It was much 

 worm-eaten, and probably, in a few years, not a vestige 

 of it will be left. 



At the farther side of the courtyard was another 

 flight of stone steps, corresponding with those in front, 

 on each side of which are carved figures, and on the 

 flat surface between are single cartouches of hiero- 

 glyphics. The plate opposite represents this side. 



The Vhole courtyard was overgrown with trees, and 

 it was encumbered with ruins several feet high, so that 

 the exact architectural arrangements could not be seen. 

 Having our beds in the corridor adjoining, when we 

 woke in the morning, and when we had finished the 

 work of the day, we had it under our eyes. Every 

 time we descended the steps the grim and mysterious 

 figures stared us in the face, and it became to us one 

 of the most interesting parts of the ruins. We were 

 exceedingly anxious to make excavations, clear out the 

 mass of rubbish, and lay the whole platform bare ; but 

 this was impossible. It is probably paved with stone 

 or cement ; and from the profusion of ornament in other 

 parts, there is reason to believe that many curious and 

 interesting specimens may be brought to light. This 

 agreeable work is left for the future traveller, who may 

 go there better provided with men and materials, and 

 with more knowledge of what he has to encounter ; and, 

 in my opinion, if he finds nothing new, the mere spec- 

 tacle of the courtyard entire will repay him for the la- 

 bour and expense of clearing it. 



