April 1896] BOOK REVIEWS 139 
carries the weight of generalization by a skilled observer. The 
ancient structures remain in surprising number and are often of 
colossal size, and the buildings are the more conspicuous because 
commonly erected on pyramids or terraced platforms. Most of 
those remaining were probably temples, some perhaps gymna- 
siums or ball-courts; they were not defensive, and seldom if 
ever mortuary. The relation of parts indicates a real architect- 
ure in accordance with predetermined plan, and argues the use 
of instruments of precision, though the structures of Yucatan 
are not so well oriented or grouped as those of other portions of 
Mexico. The material of the structures is chiefly the massive 
Tertiary limestone of which the peninsula is composed, with 
mortar and grout, and backings or heartings of earth; thestones 
used in facing are large, but not enormous as those used by the 
Incas and Montezumas, no single block weighing more than six 
or eight tons; and blocks and beams of wood were sometimes 
used in combination with stone. The structure is extravagantly 
massive, the cubic content of walls and partitions often exceeding 
the aggregate content of the rooms; and, in a typical case, if the 
substructure is taker into account, the mass of masonry is to the 
chamber space approximately as 40 to 1. The distinctive feat- 
ures of the Yucatec buildings are (1) massive hearting of earth, 
grout, or rubble, and (2) facing or veneering, usually with elab- 
orately carved blocks, albeit of crude design, each block forming 
part of a figure or group, while in each wall the blocks are united 
in a mosaic of form. ‘‘ Words fail to give a clear notion of the 
work, for what definite conception is conveyed when it is stated 
that in a single continuous facade upward of twenty thousand 
stones were used, not only hewn of varied special shapes, but 
each sculptured to represent some individual part ofa face, figure, 
or geometric design, and all fitted together with such skill as to 
give the effect of an unbroken whole?” (page 26). Stucco work 
and painting were combined with carving in the representation 
of subjects, chiefly sacerdotal, in glyphs and reliefs, with some 
statuary. 
The details of structure and ornamentation are illustrated in 
excellent photographs, admirably reproduced, as well as by the 
facile pencil of the artist-author. A feature of the work is the 
representation of cities in plan and juxtaposed birdseye pano- 
rama, from which the vegetation is omitted, so that relations may 
