156 
beams of savine wood^ that formed the ceiliag. 
Three of these beams are still in good preserva- 
tion. The roof consisted of very large slabs. 
The columns^ which indicate the infancy of the 
art, are the only high ones hitherto found in Ame- 
rica, are without capitals. Their shaft is of a 
single piece. Some persons, well versed in mi- 
neralogy, have told me, that the stone is a fine 
amphibolic porphyry ; others have asserted, that 
it is a porphyritic granite. The total height of 
the columns is 5*8 m. ; but they are buried in 
the ground to one third of their height. I have 
sketched one of these columns separately, on a 
larger scale. 
10. The inner court. 
11, 12, and 13. Three small apartments sur- 
rounding the court, and not communicating with 
a fourth, which is behind the niche. The diffe- 
rent parts of this edifice present very striking in- 
equalities, or want of symmetry. In the inte- 
rior of the apartments there are paintings, re- 
presenting weapons, trophies, and sacrifices. 
There is no appearance of their ever having had 
windows. 
Don Luis Martin and Colonel de la Laguna 
have sketched with great exactness the drawings 
a la Grecque, the labyrinths, and meanders, with 
v/hich the exterior of the walls of the palace of 
Mitla is covered. These drawings, which de- 
