A RICH FACADE. 



303 



but this he intended to build into the wall of a house 

 in Merida as a memorial of Uxmal. 



The second engraving represents the two entwi- 

 ned serpents enclosing and running through the or- 

 naments over a doorway. The principal feature in 

 the ornament enclosed is the figure of a human be- 

 ing, standing, but much mutilated. The bodies of 

 the serpents, according to the representations of the 

 same design in other parts of the sculpture, are 

 covered with feathers. 



The two engravings represent about one fifth of 

 the whole facade ; the other four fifths were en- 

 riched with the same mass of sculptured ornaments, 

 and toward the south end the head and tail of the 

 serpents corresponded in design and position with 

 the portion still existing at the other. Had it been 

 our fortune to reach this place a few years sooner, 

 we might have seen the whole entire. Don Simon 

 told us that in 1835 the whole front stood, and the 

 two serpents were seen encircling every ornament 

 in the building. In its ruins it presents a lively idea 

 of the " large and very well constructed buildings 

 of lime and stone" which Bernal Dias saw on land- 

 ing at Campeachy, " with figures of serpents and of 

 idols painted on the walls." 



At the end of the courtyard, and fronting the 

 gate of entrance, is the facade of a lofty building, 

 two hundred and sixty-four feet long, standing on a 

 terrace twenty feet high. The ascent is by a grand 

 but ruined staircase, ninety-five feet wide, flanked 



