310 



INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



and forms another connecting link with the very peo- 

 ple vv^ho occupied the city of Mexico at the time of 

 the conquest. And the proofs go on accumulating. 

 In the upper building, the back of w^hich appears 

 in the engraving, is presented a casket containing, 

 though broken and disfigured, perhaps the greatest 

 gem of aboriginal art which on the whole Conti- 

 nent of America now survives. 



The steps or other means of access to this build- 

 ing are gone, and we reached it by clambering over 

 fallen stones. The door opens upon the platform 

 of the wall, overlooking the Tennis-court. The 

 front corridor was supported by massive pillars, por- 

 tions of which still remain, covered with elaborate 

 sculptured ornaments. The hntel of the inner door- 

 way is a beam of sapote richly carved. The jambs 

 are partly buried, and above the rubbish appear 

 sculptured figures with rich head-dresses, which 

 anywhere else we should have considered it neces- 

 sary to bring to light and copy ; but between these 

 jambs we enter an inner chamber, the walls and 

 ceiling of which are covered, from the floor to the 

 peak of the arch, with designs in painting, repre- 

 senting, in bright and vivid colours, human figures, 

 battles, houses, trees, and scenes of domestic life, 

 and conspicuous on one of the walls is a large ca- 

 noe ; but the first feeling of gratified surprise was 

 followed by heavy disappointment, for the whole 

 was mutilated and disfigured. In some places the 

 plaster was broken off ; in every part deep and ma- 



