290 



PLAN OF THE RUINS. 



CHAPTER XVIL 



Plan of the Ruins. — An Edifice called Akatzeeb.— Doorways. — 

 Apartments. — Circular Mass of Masonry. — Mysterious Cham- 

 ber. — Sculptured Stone Tablet. — Majestic Pile of Building call- 

 ed the Monjas. — Hieroglyphics. — Rich Ornaments. — Doorways, 

 Chambers, &c. — Remains of Painting. — The Eglesia, or Church. 

 — Ornaments on the Fagade. — Cartouche^in Plaster. — Circular 

 Edifice called the Caracol. — Apartment. — Staircase, having on 

 each Side entwined Serpents. — Gigantic Head. — Doorways. — 

 Paintings. — Building called Chichanchob. — Ornaments. — Row 

 of Hieroglyphics. — Another Building. — Vestiges of Mounds and 

 ruined Buildings. — Extraordinary Edifice, to which the Name 

 Gymnasium or Tennis-court is given. — Ornamented Columns. — 

 Sculptured Figures in Bas-relief. — Massive Stone Rings, with 

 entwined Serpents. — Indian Sports. — Two Ranges of Buildings. 

 — Procession of Tigers. — Sculptured Columns. — Figures in Bas- 

 relief. — Richly-carved Lintel. — Paintings. — The Castillo. — 

 Staircase. — Colossal Serpents' Heads. — Doorways. — Carved 

 Lintels. — Jambs ornamented with Sculptured Figures- — Corri- 

 dors. — Apartments. — Square Pillars, covered with Sculptured 

 Figures. — Rows of Columns. — Occupation and Abandonment of 

 Chichen by the Spaniards. — First Discovery of Chichen. — Se- 

 notes. 



The plate opposite represents the general plan of 

 the ruins of Chichen. This plan is made from bear- 

 ings taken with the compass, and the distances were 

 all measured with a Hne. The buildings are laid 

 down on the plan according to their exterior form. 

 All now standing are comprehended, and the whole 

 circumference occupied by them is about two miles, 

 which is equal to the diameter of two thirds of a 

 mile, though ruined buildings appear beyond these 

 limits. 



