314 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



visit we were at a loss to know how it had been 

 reached ; but, from what we saw afterward, we are 

 induced to believe that a grand staircase upon a dif- 

 ferent plan from any yet met with, and supported 

 by a triangular arch, led from the ground to the door 

 of the building, which, if still in existence, would 

 give extraordinary grandeur to this great mound. 



The crowning structure is a long and narrow 

 building, measuring seventy-two feet in front, and 

 but twelve feet deep. 



The front is much ruined, but even in its decay 

 presents the most elegant and tasteful arrangement 

 of ornaments to be seen in Uxmal, of which no idea 

 could be given in any but a large engraving. The 

 emblems of life and death appear on the wall in 

 close juxta-position, confirming the belief in the 

 existence of that worship practised by the Egyp- 

 tians and all other Eastern nations, and before re- 

 ferred to as prevalent among the people of Uxmal. 



The interior is divided into three apartments, that 

 in the centre being twenty-four feet by seven, and 

 those on each side nineteen feet by seven. They 

 have no communication with each other ; two have 

 their doors opening to the east and one to the west. 



A narrow platform five feet wide projects from all 

 the four sides of the building. The northern end is 

 decayed, and part of the eastern front, and to this 

 front ascends a grand staircase one hundred and 

 two feet high, seventy feet wide, and containing 

 ninety steps. 



