RUINED BUILDING CALLED THE C O C I N A. 395 



ing up large stories fast locked in their embraces, 

 which thej now hold aloft in the air. At the same 

 time, its roots have girded the foundation wall, and 

 form the only support of what is left. The great 

 branches overshadowing the whole cannot be exhib- 

 ited in the plate, and no sketch can convey a true 

 idea of the ruthless gripe in which these gnarled and 

 twisted roots encircle sculptured stones. 



Such is a brief description of the first building at 

 Kabah. To many of these structures the Indians 

 have given names stupid, senseless, and unmeaning, 

 having no reference to history or tradition. This 

 one they call Xcoopoop, which means in Spanish 

 petato doblade, or a straw hat doubled up ; the name 

 having reference to the crushed and flattened con- 

 dition of the facade and the prostration of the rear 

 wall of the building. 



Descending the corner of the back terrace, at the 

 distance of a few paces rises a broken and over- 

 grown mound, on which stands a ruined building, 

 called 1 y the Indians the cocina, or kitchen, be- 

 cause, as they said, it had chimneys to let out smoke. 

 According to their accounts, it must have contained 

 something curious ; and it was peculiarly unfortu- 

 nate that we had not reached it one year sooner, 

 for then it stood entire. During the last rainy sea- 

 son some muleteers from Merida, scouring the coun- 

 try in search of maize, were overtaken by the after- 

 noon's rain, and took shelter under its roof, turning 

 their mules out to graze among the ruins. During 



