File:Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan (1858) (14577420457).jpg

Identifier: incidentsoftrave11step (find matches)
Title: Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan
Year: 1858 (1850s)
Authors: Stephens, John L, 1805-1852
Subjects: Indians of Central America Indians of Mexico Mayas
Publisher: New York : Harper & Brothers
Contributing Library: Brigham Young University-Idaho, David O. McKay Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University-Idaho

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was the most imposing structure at Kabah. Itmeasured at the base one hundred and forty-sevenfeet on one side and one hundred and six on theother, and consisted of three distinct stories orranges, one on the roof of the other, the secondsmaller than the first, and the third smaller than thesecond, having on each side a broad platform infront. Along the base on all four of the sides wasa continuous range of apartments, with the door-ways supported by pillars, and on the side frontingthe rear of Casa No. 1 was another new and inter-esting feature. This was a gigantic stone staircase, rising to theroof, on which stood the second range of apart-ments. This staircase was not a solid mass, restingagainst the wall of the mound, but was supportedby the half of a triangular arch springing from theground, and resting against the wall so as to leavea passage under the staircase. This staircase wasinteresting not only for its own grandeur and thenovelty of its construction, but as explaining what
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K £ <3 ■5 s; RANGES OF BUILDINGS. 397 had before been unintelligible in regard to the prin-cipal staircase in the House of the Dwarf at Uxmal. The steps of this staircase are nearly all fallen,and the ascent is as on an inclined plane. Thebuildings on the top are ruined, and many of thedoorways so encumbered that there was barely roomto crawl into them. On one occasion, while clear-ing around this so as to make a plan, rain came on,and I was obliged to crawl into one with all the In-dians, and remain in the dark, breathing a dampand unwholesome atmosphere, pent up and almoststifled, for more than an hour. The doorways of the ranges on the north sideof this mound opened upon the area of Casa No 2.The platform of this area is one hundred and seventyfeet long, one hundred and ten broad, and is eleva-ted ten feet from the ground. It had been plantedwith corn, and required little clearing. The plateopposite represents the front of this building, and thepicote, or great stone found th

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