These buildings are but one story in height, though the roof 
crests give the idea of much greater elevation. As a rule, each build- 
ing is occupied by two lines of compartments, the rooms being 
vaulted and of good size and height. ‘The structures, save in the 
case of pyramids, usually inclose a central court, like Moorish houses. 
The first figure to attract the attention of the visitor at Uxmal 
is the grand ruin known to students as “The Temple of the Magician.” 
It stands to the left in Professor Holmes’ panoramic drawing, and 
faces the observer. The steep pyramid supports upon its summit a 
ruined building, and upon its western face, near tne top, is a second 
structure of remarkable position and appearance. ‘The height of the 
pile is upward of eighty feet, the length of the base about two | 
hundred and forty feet. A wide stairway, not shown in the drawing, 
rises from the roadway, at so steep an angle as to make its ascent | 
difficult. The temple on the summit is about seventy feet by twelve, 
and contains three rooms. ‘The arched roof has fallen in, and, as is 
always the case where wooden lintels were used, the doors have caved 
in. The most notable feature of the structure is a temple built 
against the north side of the pyramid. The fagade of this temple is 
about twenty-two feet square and is a most ornate and forceful piece 
of stone carving. Here are found the characteristic snout masks, 
one of which, of colossal size, occupies the principal doorway. It is 
twelve feet square, and filled with striking details: the most remark- 
able of these is a life-size figure standing on the snout and resting on 
the forehead, which is nearly demolished ; others are a pair of tigers, 
with averted heads, supporting the pedestal of the statue. Masks of 
this character decorate the cornices, giving them a most grotesque 
appearance. 
“The Nunnery” group is among the finest specimens of Maya 
_ architecture, and has already been described by Charnay and others. 
It is composed of four extensive, rectangular structures, standing on 
a broad terrace, the ornate fronts facing inward on the court. At the 
first glance these massive structures look like fortifications, but the 
wide spaces at the corners preclude the thought of such a purpose. One 
feature that distinguishes the Nunnery from the other structures, is 
the many rooms that indicate that they were intended for communal 
purposes, possibly residences for priests or other sacred bodies. 
The base of the terrace, on which the quadrangle rests, is about 
three hundred feet on the side. The sides facing the court are thought 
to be the most notable in Yucatan, particularly to the artist or the 
lover of art. Here again the snout mask is prominent in the decora- 
tions, but it is always the centre of more elaborate and delicate 
ornamentation. Next to the mask the serpent seems to be the im- 
portant motive, though sculptured lattice work is to be found on every 
hand, and human figures, sometimes of colossal size, are frequent. It 
is worthy of note that the north building in the group is built over the 
ruins of one much older, and the examination of which would, no doubt, 
be profitable. 
“The Gymnasium” is a thorough ruin, only two massive walls 
remaining; these are south of the Nunnery in the panorama. The 
remnants of sculptured serpents and other works of art indicate that 
this was a building of importance. The length of this building is 
