164 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



forms the foundation for the support of the two up- 

 per ranges. It is cut off and enclosed on all sides 

 by the inner wall, has no communication with any 

 of the apartments, and is apparently a solid mass. 

 Whether it really is solid or contains apartments, 

 remains, as in other structures of the same kind, 

 a question for the investigation of future explorers. 

 Under the circumstances attending our visit, w^e 

 were utterly unable to attempt anything of the kind. 



The reader will notice in the plan two places 

 marked " sculptured bas-reliefs." In these places 

 are carved tablets set in the wall, as at Palenque, 

 and, except at Palenque, this was the only place in 

 all our wanderings in which we found bas-reliefs 

 thus disposed. We were now moving in the direc- 

 tion of Palenque, though, of course, at a great dis- 

 tance from it ; the face of the country was less sto- 

 ny, and the discovery of these bas-reUefs, and the in- 

 crease and profusion of stuccoed ornaments, in- 

 duced the impression that, in getting beyond the 

 great limestone surface, the builders of these cities 

 had adapted their style to the materials at hand, un- 

 til, at Palenque, instead of putting up great facades 

 of rudely-carved stone, they decorated the exterior 

 with ornaments in stucco, and, having fewer carved 

 ornaments, bestowed upon them more care and skill. 



The plate opposite represents the bas-rehefs re- 

 ferred to. Though resembling those at Palenque in 

 general character and detail of ornament, they are 

 greatly inferior in design and execution. Stand- 

 ing in the outer wall, they are much defaced and 



