42 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



to them, said that made no difference ; they imme- 

 diately set to work again, and the machete fell with 

 a rapidity unparalleled in our experience. In half 

 an hour space enough was cleared for Mr. Cather- 

 wood to set up his camera lucida. The same alert- 

 ness was shown in preparing a place for him to 

 stand in, and half a dozen stood ready to hold an 

 umbrella for his protection against the sun. 



The plate opposite represents the front of the 

 building. Its design is tasteful and even elegant, 

 and when perfect it must have presented a fine ap- 

 pearance. It has a single doorway, opening into a 

 chamber twenty-five feet long by ten wide. Above 

 the door is a portion of plain masonry, and over 

 this a cornice supporting twelve small pilasters, hav- 

 ing between them the diamond ornament, then a 

 massive cornice, with pilasters and diamond work, 

 surmounted by another cornice, making in all four 

 cornices ; an arrangement we had not previously 

 met with. 



While Mr. Catherwood was making his drawing, 

 the Indians stood around under the shade of the 

 trees, looking at him quietly and respectfully, and 

 making observations to each other. They were a 

 fine-looking race. Some of them, one tall old man 

 particularly, had noble Roman faces, and they seemed 

 to have more respectability of appearance and char- 

 acter than was consistent with the condition of men 

 not wearing pantaloons. All at once an enormous 

 iguana, or lizard, doubled the corner of the building, 



