long, and
twelve feet wide--and consists of but three rooms, none opening into
each other. The front of the building, though much ruined, presented an
elegant and tasteful appearance. There seems to be no doubt that this
temple was the scene of idolatrous worship; perhaps of human sacrifices.
In a legal paper which Mr. Stephens saw at Meridia, containing a grant
of the lands on which these ruins stand, bearing date 1673, it is
expressly stated that the Indians at that time had idols in these
ancient buildings, to which, every day, openly and publicly, they burned
copal. Nor is there any doubt that this was the continuation of an old
custom. In the end room of this temple are engraved two circular figures
which, by some, are considered as proofs of the presence of Phallic
worship.<49>

The buildings we have described will give us a very good idea of the
structures of this ancient city. We have described but a few of them,
but we have now only space to make some general observations. We wish to
point out some resemblances to the ruins at Palenque. In both, buildings
that served as temples were not large, but of small dimensions, and
contained but few rooms. They occupy the summits of high pyramids.
Such was probably the building on the summit of the pyramid at "F"
(see plan). The buildings on the top of this pyramid, like that just
described, had but three rooms. A very large pyramid is seen at "E." Our
information in regard to it is very meager. A square platform was found
on the summit. It is not unreasonable to suppose that this platform was
intended to support a temple. But, before it was erected, the presence
of the Spaniards put an end to all native building. There are, however,
no proofs to be advanced in support of this statement; it is a mere
suggestion.

We think the House of the Nuns illustrates the general plan of building
employed at both places. That is as follows: They first erected a
rectangular pyramid or mounds often terraced. Buildings were then put
up parallel to the four sides, thus inclosing a court. At Palenque this
court, as we have seen, was built over. Besides the House of Nuns, there
are several other instances at Uxmal of courts with buildings on their
sides. Looking at the plan, we see one at "G," and a still more ruined
one between that and "F." Such a court, with traces of ruined buildings,
also exists between the nunnery and the temple, at "D." It is not
improbable that groups of low rui