228 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



brightness. It had three feet, each about an inch 

 high, one of which is broken. In other respects it 

 was entire. 



The discovery of this vase was encouraging. 

 Not one of these places had ever been explored. 

 Neither Don Simon nor any of the Indians knew 

 anything about them, and, entering them now for 

 the first time, we were excited by the hope that we 

 had discovered a rich mine of curious and interest- 

 ing fabrics wrought by the inhabitants of this ruined 

 city. Besides this, we had already ascertained one 

 point in regard to which we were doubtful before. 

 This great terrace was not entirely artificial. The 

 substratum was of natural rock, and showed that 

 advantage had been taken of a natural elevation, so 

 far as it went, and by this means some portion of 

 the immense labour of constructing the terrace had 

 been saved. 



On the same terrace, directly at the foot of the 

 steps, was another opening of the same kind, and, 

 on clearing around, we found near by a circular 

 stone about six inches in thickness, which fitted the 

 hole, and no doubt had served as a cover. This 

 hole was filled up with dirt to within two feet of the 

 mouth, and setting some Indians at work to clear it 

 out, we passed on in search of another. 



Descending the terrace, and passing behind the 

 high and nameless mound which towers between 

 the Casa del Gobernador and Casa de Palomos, the 

 Indians cleared away some bushes, and brought us 



