24 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



how to make the attempt, and set out on a contin- 

 uation of the road by which we had reached the 

 ruins, and which led us rather from than to the 

 mound. On the way we met another Indian, who 

 turned back with us, and a Httle beyond, taking his 

 range, he cut through the woods to another path, fol- 

 lowing which a short distance, he again struck 

 through the woods, and, all cutting together, we 

 reached the foot of a stony hill covered with the 

 gigantic maguey, or Agave Americana, its long 

 thorny points piercing and tearing all that touched 

 them. Climbing up this hill with great toil, we 

 reached the wall of a terrace, and, climbing this, 

 found ourselves at the foot of the building. 



It was in a ruinous condition, and did not repay 

 us for the labour ; but over the door was a sculp- 

 tured head with a face of good expression and work- 

 manship. In one of the apartments was a high 

 projection running along the wall ; in another a 

 raised platform about a foot high ; and on the walls 

 of this apartment was the print of the red hand. 

 The doorway commanded an extensive view of 

 rolhng woodland, which, with its livery of deep 

 green, ought to have conveyed a sensation of glad- 

 ness, but, perhaps from its desolation and stillness, it 

 induced rather a feeling of melancholy. There was 

 but one opening in the forest, being that made by 

 us, disclosing the Casa Grande, with the figures of a 

 few Indians still continuing their clearings on the 

 top. 



