300 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



but, instead of unfolding secrets, it drew closer the 

 curtain that aheady shrouded, with almost impene 

 trable folds, these mysterious structures. 



At the distance of four hundred and twenty feet 

 northwest from the Caracol stands the building rep- 

 resented in the following engraving. It is called by 



the Indians Chichanchob, meaning in Spanish, Casa 

 Colorada, and in English, Red House. The terrace 

 is sixty-two feet long and fifty-five wide, and is still 

 in good preservation ; the staircase is twenty feet 

 wide, and as we approached it on our first visit, a 

 cow was coming quietly down the steps. 



The building measures forty-three feet front and 

 twenty-three feet deep, and is still strong and sub- 

 stantial. Above the cornice it was richly orna- 



