PAINTINGS. 



311 



lignant scratches appeared in the walls, and while 

 individual figures were entire, the connexion of the 

 subjects could not be made out. For a long time 

 we had been tantalized with fragments of paint- 

 ing, giving us the strong impression that in this 

 more perishable art these aboriginal builders had 

 made higher attainments than in that of sculpture, 

 and we now had proofs that our impression did them 

 justice. The plate opposite represents detached 

 portions of these paintings. The colours are green, 

 yellow, red, blue, and a reddish brown, the last be- 

 ing invariably the colour given to human flesh. 

 Wanting the various tints, the engraving, of course, 

 gives only an imperfect idea of them, though, even 

 in outhne, they exhibit a freedom of touch which 

 could only be the result of discipline and training 

 under masters. But they have a higher interest 

 than any that attaches to them as mere specimens 

 of art; for among them are seen designs and fig- 

 ures which call forcibly to mind the well-known pic- 

 ture writings of the Mexicans ; and if these analo- 

 gies are sustained, this building attached to the walls 

 of the Tennis-court stands an unimpeachable wit- 

 ness that the people who inhabited Mexico at the 

 time of the conquest belonged to the same great 

 race which furnished the builders of the ruined cit- 

 ies in Yucatan. 



But to continue. At the distance of five hundred 

 feet southeast from this rises the Castillo, represent- 



