A PORTRAIT. 



139 



of the wall, at which we began our survey. The bank 

 was elevated about thirty feet above the river, and had 

 been protected by a wall of stone, most of which had 

 fallen down. Among the fragments lying on the ground 

 on this side is the portrait here given. 



The plan was complicated, and, the whole ground 

 being overgrown with trees, difficult to make out. 

 There was no entire pyramid, but, at most, two or 

 three pyramidal sides, and these joined on to terraces 

 or other structures of the same kind. Beyond the 

 wall of enclosure were walls, terraces, and pyramidal 

 elevations running off into the forest, which some- 

 times confused us. Probably the whole was not erect- 

 ed at the same time, but additions were made and 

 statues erected by different kings, or, perhaps, in com- 

 memoration of important events in the history of the 

 city. Along the whole line were ranges of steps with 

 pyramidal elevations, probably crowned on the top with 

 buildings or altars now ruined. All these steps and the 

 pyramidal sides were painted, and the reader may ima- 

 gine the effect when the whole country was clear of 

 forest, and priest and people were ascending from the 



