RANGES OF BUILDINGS. 



397 



had before been unintelligible in regard to the prin- 

 cipal staircase in the House of the Dwarf at Uxmal. 



The steps of this staircase are nearly all fallen, 

 and the ascent is as on an inclined plane. The 

 buildings on the top are ruined, and many of the 

 doorways so encumbered that there was barely room 

 to crawl into them. On one occasion, while clear- 

 ing around this so as to make a plan, rain came on, 

 and I was obliged to crawl into one with all the In- 

 dians, and remain in the dark, breathing a damp 

 and unwholesome atmosphere, pent up and almost 

 stifled, for more than an hour. 



The doorways of the ranges on the north side 

 of this mound opened upon the area of Casa No 2. 

 . The platform of this area is one hundred and seventy 

 feet long, one hundred and ten broad, and is eleva- 

 ted ten feet from the ground. It had been planted 

 with corn, and required little clearing. The plate 

 opposite represents the front of this building, and the 

 picote, or great stone found thrown down in all the 

 courtyards and areas, is exhibited on one side in the 

 engraving. The edifice stands upon an upper ter- 

 race ; forming a breastwork for which, and run- 

 ning the whole length, one hundred and sixty-four 

 feet, is a range of apartments, with their doors open- 

 ing upon the area. The front wall and the roof of 

 this range have nearly all fallen. 



A ruined staircase rises from the centre of the 

 platform to the roof of this range, which forms the 

 platform in front of the principal building. 



34 



