254 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



The height of this mound was sixty-five feet, and 

 it measured at the base three hundred feet on one 

 side and -two hundred on the other. On the top 

 was a great platform of sohd stone, three feet high 

 and seventy-five feet square, and about fifteen feet 

 from the top was a narrow terrace running on all 

 four of the sides. The walls of the platform were 

 of smooth stone, and the corners had sculptured or- 

 naments. The area consisted entirely of loose 

 rough stones, and there are no remains or other in- 

 dications of any building. The great structure 

 seemed raised only for the purpose of holding aloft 

 this platform. Probably it had been the scene of 

 grand religious ceremonies, and stained with the 

 blood of human victims offered up in sight of the 

 assembled people. Near as it was, it was the first 

 time I had ascended this mound. It commanded 

 a full view of every building. The day was over- 

 cast, the wind swept mournfully over the desolate 

 city, and since my arrival I had not felt so deeply 

 the solemnity and sublimity of these mysterious 

 ruins. 



Around the top of the mound was a border of 

 sculptured stone ten or twelve feet high. The prin- 

 cipal ornament was the Grecque, and in following 

 it round, and clearing away the trees and bushes, 

 on the west side, opposite the courtyard of the Casa 

 de Palomos, my attention was arrested by an orna- 

 ment, the lower part of which was buried in rub- 

 bish fallen from above. It was about the centre of 



