THE CASA DEL GOBERNADOR. 167 



to the whole fajade, is over the centre doorway. 

 Around the head of the principal figure are rows of 

 characters, which, in our first hurried visit, we did 

 not notice as essentially different from the other in- 

 comprehensible subjects sculptured on the facade ; 

 but we now discovered that these characters were 

 hieroglyphics. We had ladders made, by means of 

 which Mr. Catherwood climbed up and made accu- 

 rate drawings of them. They differ somewhat from 

 the hieroglyphics before presented, and are more 

 rich, elaborate, and complicated, but the general 

 character is the same. From their conspicuous po- 

 sition, they no doubt contain some important mean- 

 ing ; probably they were intended as a record of the 

 construction of the building, the time when and the 

 people by whom it was built. 



The full drawing of this rich and curious orna- 

 ment cannot be presented with any effect on the 

 scale adapted to these pages. All the other door- 

 ways have over them striking, imposing, and even 

 elegant decorations, varying sometimes in the de- 

 tails, but corresponding in general character and ef- 

 fect with that represented in the accompanying en- 

 gravings. 



The first engraving represents the part immedi- 

 ately over the doorway. It shows the remaining 

 portion of a figure seated on a kind of throne. This 

 throne was formerly supported by a rich ornament, 

 still forming part of similar designs over other door- 

 ways in this building. The head-dress is lofty, and 



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