ection of edifices in Yucatan, and as exhibiting the
highest state of ancient architecture and sculpture in North America.
They are known as the "Nunnery," which we think is a very absurd name.
The pyramid on which they stood is also terraced, though on one side
only. We give a drawing showing the position on the summit platform
of the four buildings forming this group. Since we have so many ruined
structures to describe, we must avoid such details as will prove
tiresome. We will give in a note the dimensions of these buildings, and
of the pyramid, and pass at once to some points of special interest.<47>

Traces of stairways are mentioned as leading up to the terrace, but none
of the steps remained in place. The southern building is seen to have
doors in both the court and terrace walls, but in this case the middle
wall is unbroken. All the rooms of this building are single. In the plan
it appears divided into two buildings; the opening is, however, but a
triangular arched doorway, through which access was had to the court.

There is no one to dispute our right of way, and so, climbing up the
ruined stairs, and passing through the deserted gateway, we emerge
into a courtyard, now silent and deserted and overgrown with bushes and
grass. It was once paved and covered with cement, and in the center
are the remains of a stone pillar, similar to that in front of the
governor's house. When the houses were all occupied this court must have
presented an animated scene. But, now that the buildings are tenantless
and going to ruin, it must impress all beholders with a sense of the
changes wrought by time.

Illustration of Room in Nunnery.---------------

It will be noticed that the northern building does not stand in quite
the same direction as the southern one, which detracts from the symmetry
of the whole. It stands on a fourth terrace, twenty feet higher than
the others. A grand, but ruined, staircase leads up the center of the
terrace. At each end of this staircase built against the terrace, could
be distinguished the ruins of a small building. There is one unusual
feature about the ruins in the eastern building. In general, only two
rooms open into each other. In this building, however, six rooms
form one suite, and, furthermore, all the doorways of this suite are
decorated with sculpture. As this suite of rooms was evidently a place
of interest, we will introduce this illustration, which gives us a good
idea of the a