RUINS OF ZAYI. CAS A GRANDE. 17 



once. If we had encountered these woods at Ka- 

 bah, where we had such difficulties in procuring In- 

 dians, we should have despaired of being able to ac- 

 complish anything, but, fortunately so far, where our 

 labours were great we had at hand the means of 

 performing them. 



We were at no loss what to do, our great object 

 now being to economize time. Without waiting to 

 explore the rest of the ground, we set the Indians at 

 work, and in a few minutes the stillness of ages was 

 broken by the sharp ringing of the axe and the 

 crash of falling trees. With a strong force of Indians, 

 we were able, in the course of the day, to lay bare 

 the whole of the front. 



Dr. Cabot did not arrive on the ground till late in 

 the day, and, coming upon it suddenly from the 

 woods, when there were no trees to obstruct the 

 view, and its three great ranges and immense pro- 

 portions were visible at once, considered it the grand- 

 est spectacle he had seen in the country. 



The plate opposite represents the front of this 

 building. The view was taken from a mound, at 

 the distance of about five hundred feet, overgrown 

 and having upon it a ruined edifice. In clearing 

 away the trees and undergrowth to this mound we 

 discovered a pila, or stone, hollowed out, and filled 

 with rain-water, which was a great acquisition to 

 us while working at these ruins. 



The plate represents so much of the building as 

 now remains and can be presented in a drawing. 



Vol. IL— C 



