Hae TO a eR cenit Be 
ieee 
aati spetiie- ana era adi. aes te armies re 
been cloisters for religious societies. So strong is the resemblance of 
these to those used by religious orders in the Old World, that one of 
the most celebrated of the ruins at Uxmal is known as the “ Nun- 
nery.” Other ruins suggest ‘“‘ gymnasiums ” and “ ball courts,” while 
there are yet others for whose existence even speculation cannot assign 
a reason. ‘Tombs of simple construction are found in various relations 
with the ruined monuments, occurring not infrequently as vaults or 
small chambers in the side of pyramids and terraces.” But the gen- 
eral method of disposing of the dead at the time of the great builders 
is, as yet, imperfectly understood. But while these structures may 
have been monumenis to the dead, it is settled that they could not 
have been mausoleums. | 
While it is very certain that the domestic structures of the Mayas, 
in the past, as to-day, were largely of wood, and so subject to quick 
decay, many of the mighty ruins show, by their varied architecture 
and additions, that the original designs were changed by successive | 
generations of builders. It is certain that architecture was a well- 
developed art with these people, and it is reasonable to believe that 
they worked from carefully prepared drawings, in which even the art 
details were given. The structures made necessary instruments of 
precision, for securing accuracy of dimension, line, surface and angle, 
though some students think the work was done “ by rule of thumb.” | 
If the latter were the 
case, it would indicate 
an architectural genius 
in the workers for which 
there is no parallel in 
the record of human 
effort. 
While copper chis- 
els have been found in 
Yucatan, the metal was 
too rare and too soft to 
be used for  stone- 
dressing. We must find 
some cutting article of 
that fabulously tem- 
pered copper before 
placing faith in its ex- 
istence. Obsidian or 
other forms of  vol- 
canic stone, brought 
from the uplands, may 
have furnished cutting 
tools. 
“Mortar made of 
limes nandesasan chara 
cement-like mixtures of 
mortar, tempered with 
gravel, pounded stone, 
etc., were extensively 
used, and their durabil- 
ity is remarkable.” 
Wood was extensively SCULPTURED SANCTUARY, TEMPLE OF THE TIGERS. | 
used in connection F ; 
with many of the great stcne buildings, particularly for the lintels. 
I —— 
SS 
