god of the Mayas.

Illustration of Temple of the Cross. (Smithsonian Institute.)--

Eastward from the palace, and across the creek, are seen on the plan the
location of two other structures. The one marked is a somewhat famous
structure, which, for reasons that will soon appear, is called the
"Temple of the Cross." The pyramid in this case is one hundred and
thirty-four feet on the slope. It, however, stands on a terrace about
sixty feet on the slope. The forest is so dense that, though other
structures are but a short distance from it, yet they can not be seen.
The last two engravings represent the building and the ground plan. This
is not a fanciful sketch, but is a restoration, "from such remains and
indications that it is impossible to make any thing else out of it."

Illustration of Plan of Temple. (Smithsonian Institute.)---

"The building is fifty feet front, thirty-one feet deep, and has three
door-ways. The whole front was covered with stucco ornaments. The two
outer piers contain hieroglyphics." We notice a new feature about the
roof. It is similar to the roof of the temple of the "Three Tablets,"
in having two different slopes--the lower one covered with stucco
ornaments, but the range of pillars along the roof is here replaced by a
peculiar two-storied arrangement nearly sixteen feet high. Mr. Stephens
says: "The long sides of this narrow structure are of open stucco-work,
formed into curious and indescribable devices, human figures with legs
and arms spreading and apertures between, and the whole was once loaded
with rich and elegant ornaments in stucco relief. Its appearance at
a distance must have been that of a high, fanciful lattice. It was
perfectly unique--different from the works of any other people
with which we are familiar, and its uses and purposes entirely
incomprehensible."

It was evidently added to the temple solely for the sake of appearance.
One writer<19> believes the roof structures were erected by some people
that succeeded the original builders of the temple. The plan of the
temple gives us a clear idea of the arrangement of the inner rooms. Our
principal interest centers in the altar, which we notice placed in the
center of the back room. We give an illustration of a similar altar-form
in the temple, at number 5 of the plan. In form it is that of an
inclosed chamber, having a roof of its own. The altar in the Temple of
the Cross was very similar to this. Mr. Stephens's des