principal ruins are said to be situated in a small
area, the whole section abounds in mounds and heaps of _debris,_ and it
may well be said that buildings as imposing as those already described
are concealed in the forest not far removed from the present ruins. A
plat of ground seventeen hundred feet long by twelve hundred feet wide
would include the principal structures now known.

The most imposing single edifice here is that called the Governor's
House. The only reason for giving it this name is its size. Being of
large size, and located on a terraced pyramid, it has received a name
which may be very inappropriate. We will first notice the pyramid on
which the building stands. At Palenque the pyramid rises regularly from
the ground. Here the pyramid is terraced. In order to understand clearly
the arrangement of these various terraces, we introduce this drawing.
The base is a somewhat irregular figure, though nearly a square. Another
pyramid cuts into one corner of the terrace. The first terrace is about
three feet high, fifteen feet broad, and five hundred and seventy-five
feet long. The second terrace is twenty feet high, two hundred and fifty
feet wide, and five hundred and forty-five feet in length. The third
terrace, on which the building stands, is nineteen feet high, and its
summit platform is one hundred by three hundred and sixty feet. The
height of this platform above the general surface is a little over forty
feet.<45>

Illustration of Pyramid at Palenque.--------------

The material of which the pyramid is composed, is rough fragments of
limestone, thrown together without order; but the terraces were all
faced with substantial stone work. At the time of Mr. Stephens's
visit the facing of the second terrace was still in a good state of
preservation. Charney believes the platform was paved with square
blocks. This pyramid was not entirely artificial--they took advantage of
a natural hill, as far as it went. No stairway or other means of ascent
to the first terrace is mentioned. From its low height, probably none
was needed. The second terrace being twenty feet high, some means of
ascent was required. This was afforded, as seen in the drawing, by
an inclined plane, at the south side one hundred feet broad. From the
second terrace a grand staircase, one hundred and thirty feet wide,
containing thirty-five steps, led up to the summit of the third terrace.

No buildings or other ornaments are mentioned a