164 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



forms the foundation for the support of the two up- 

 per ranges. It is cut off and enclosed on all sides 

 by the inner wall, has no communication with any 

 of the apartments, and is apparently a solid mass. 

 Whether it really is solid or contains apartments, 

 remains, as in other structures of the same kind, 

 a question for the investigation of future explorers. 

 Under the circumstances attending our visit, we 

 were utterly unable to attempt anything of the kind. 



The reader will notice in the plan two places 

 marked " sculptured bas-rehefs." In these places 

 are carved tablets set in the wall, as at Palenque, 

 and, except at Palenque, this was the only place in 

 all our wanderings in which we found bas-reliefs 

 thus disposed. We were now moving in the direc- 

 tion of Palenque, though, of course, at a great dis- 

 tanct3 from it ; the face of the country was less sto- 

 ny, and the discovery of these bas-rehefs, and the in- 

 crease and profusion of stuccoed ornaments, in- 

 duced the impression that, in getting beyond the 

 great limestone surface, the builders of these cities 

 had adapted their style to the materials at hand, un- 

 til, at Palenque, instead of putting up great facades 

 of rudely-carved stone, they decorated the exterior 

 with ornaments in stucco, and, having fewer carved 

 ornaments, bestowed upon them more care and skill. 



The plate opposite represents the bas-reUefs re- 

 ferred to. Though resembling those at Palenque in 

 general character and detail of ornament, they are 

 greatly inferior in design and execution. Stand- 

 ing in the outer wall, they are much defaced and 



