168 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



this one with the ranges around the courtyard. It 

 was clear that it did not stand alone ; hut we were 

 so completely buried in the woods that it was utter- 

 ly impossible to know which way to turn in search 

 of others. In making our clearing we had stumbled 

 upon two circular holes, like those found at Uxmal, 

 which the Indians called chultunes, or cisterns, and 

 which they said existed in all parts, and Doctor Ca- 

 bot, in pursuit of a bird, had found a range of build- 

 ings at but a short distance, disconnected from each 

 other, and having their facades ornamented with 

 stucco. 



Going out to the path from which we had turned 

 off to reach this edifice, and proceeding upon it a 

 short distance, we saw through the trees the corner 

 of a large building, which proved to be a great par- 

 allelogram, enclosing a hollow square. In the cen- 

 tre of the front range a grand but ruined staircase 

 ascended from the ground to the top of the building, 

 and, crossing the flat roof, we found a corresponding 

 staircase leading down into the courtyard. The 

 richest ornaments were on the side facing the court- 

 yard, being of stucco, and on each side of the stair- 

 case were some of nevK and curious design, but, un- 

 fortunately, they wei-e all in a ruinous condition. 

 The whole courtyard was overgrown, so that the 

 buildings facing it were but indistinctly visible, and 

 in some places not at all. 



In the afternoon the wind increased to a regular 

 Norther, and at night all the Indians were driven in 

 by the rain. 



