HOUSE OF THE NUNS. 



425 



the victor as their new gobernador. The old woman 

 then died ; but at the Indian village of Mani, seventeen 

 leagues distant, there is a deep well, from which opens 

 a cave that leads under ground an immense distance to 

 Merida. In this cave, on the bank of a stream, under 

 the shade of a large tree, sits an old woman with a ser- 

 pent by her side, who sells water in small quantities, not 

 for money, but only for a criatura or baby to give the 

 serpent to eat ; and this old woman is the mother of the 

 dwarf. Such is the fanciful legend connected with this 

 edifice ; but it hardly seemed more strange than the 

 structure to which it referred. 



The other building indicated in the plate is called by 

 a name which may originally have had some reference 

 to the vestals who in Mexico were employed to keep 

 burning the sacred fire ; but I believe in the mouths of 

 the Indians of Uxmal it has no reference whatever to 

 history, tradition, or legend, but is derived entirely from 

 Spanish associations. It is called Casa de las Monjas, 

 or House of the Nuns, or the Convent. It is situated 

 on an artificial elevation about fifteen feet high. Its 

 form is quadrangular, and one side, according to my 

 measurement, is ninety-five paces in length. It was 

 not possible to pace all around it, from the masses of 

 fallen stones which encumber it in some places, but it 

 may be safely stated at two hundred and fifty feet 

 square. Like the house of the dwarf, it is built entirely 

 of cut stone, and the whole exterior is filled with the 

 same rich, elaborate, and incomprehensible sculptured 

 ornaments. 



The principal entrance is by a large doorway into a 

 beautiful patio or courtyard, grass-grown, but clear of 

 trees, and the whole of the inner facade is ornamented 

 more richly and elaborately than the outside, and in a 



Vol. II.— 3 H 



