njectural name. We have no reason, except its size, to
suppose it the residence of a royal owner. Its base is a pyramid which,
Mr. Stephens tells us, is of oblong form, forty feet high, three hundred
and ten feet in front and rear, and two hundred and sixty feet on each
side. The pyramid was formerly faced with stone, which has been thrown
down by the growth of trees, so that its form is hardly distinguishable.
The sides may once have been covered with cement, and perhaps painted.
Dupaix, who examined these ruins in 1808, so represents them. Mr.
Stephens expressly states that the eastern front was the principal
entrance. Mr. Waldeck, however, detected traces of stairways on the
northern side. M. Charney has settled the point, that the principal
entrance was on the northern side.

The principal bulk of this pyramid seems to have been earth; the facing
only being composed of stone. Mr. Bancroft thinks he has discovered
evidence that there were four or more thick foundation-walls built
from the surface of the ground to support the buildings on top of the
pyramid; that the space between these walls was subsequently filled with
earth, and that sloping embankments, faced with stones, were built
upon the outside.<11> The summit platform of this pyramid supports
the building, or collection of buildings, known as the palace. Though
generally spoken of as one building, we think we have here the ruins of
a number of buildings.

Probably the original inhabitants built a continuous structure close
to the edge of the platform, leaving the interior for an open court.
Subsequently, as population increased, rather than resort to the
labor necessary to raise a new pyramidal structure, they erected other
buildings on this court. From the plan, as given by Mr. Stephens, there
seems to have been no less than five such put up, besides the tower.
Thus covering the platform with a somewhat confused mass of buildings,
and, instead of the large open court, there were left only three
narrow courts, and one somewhat larger--seventy by eighty feet.<12> The
building erected near the edge of the platform, inclosing the court, was
some two hundred and twenty-eight feet on its east and west sides, by
one hundred and eighty feet on its north and south sides, and about
thirty feet high.

Illustration of General View of Palace.-----------

Our general view, taken from Mr. Stephens's works, represents the ruined
eastern front of this building, surm