390 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



an invisible hand. While we were clearing off the 

 trees upon the roof, a shower came up suddenly, and, 

 as we were hurrying to descend and take refuge in 

 one of the apartments below, a stone on the edge of 

 the cornice gave way and carried me down with it. 

 By great good fortune, underneath was a mound of 

 ruins which reached nearly to the roof, and saved 

 me from a fall that would have been most serious, 

 if not fatal, in its consequences. The expression 

 on the face of an Indian attendant as he saw me 

 going was probably a faint reflection of my own. 



The structure on the top of this building is about 

 fifteen feet high and four feet thick, and extends 

 over the back wall of the front range of apartments, 

 the whole length of the edifice. In many places it 

 has fallen, but we were now more struck than when 

 at a distance with its general resemblance to the 

 ruined structures on the top of some of the build- 

 ings at Palenque. The latter were stuccoed ; this 

 was of cut stone, and more chaste and simple. It 

 could not have been intended for any use as part 

 of the edifice ; the only purpose we could ascribe 

 to it was that of ornament, as it improved the ap- 

 pearance of the building seen from a distance, and 

 set it off with great effect on near approach. 



I have said that we were somewhat excited by 

 the first view of the facade of this building. As- 

 cending the steps and standing in the doorway of 

 the centre apartment, we broke out into an excla- 

 mation of surprise and admiration. At Uxmal there 



