File:Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan (1858) (14761493204).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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by itself is an unmeaningfractional portion, but, placed by the side of others,makes part of a whole, which without it would beincomplete. Perhaps it may with propriety becalled a species of sculptured mosaic; and I haveno doubt that all these ornaments have a symbolicalmeaning; that each stone is part of a history, alle-gory, or fable. The rear elevation of the Casa del Gobernador isa solid wall, without any doorways or openings ofany kind. Like the front, above the cornice itwas ornamented throughout its whole length withsculptured stone. The subjects, however, were lesscomplicated, and the sculpture less gorgeous andelaborate ; and on this side, too, a part of the facadehas fallen. The two ends are thirty-nine feet each. Thefollowing engraving represents the southern end. Ithas but one doorway, and of this, too, the sculpturedsubjects were more simple. The roof is flat, and had been covered with ce-ment ; but the whole is now overgrown with grassand bushes. 174 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
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Such is the exterior of the Casa del Gobernador.To go into any description of details would extendthese pages to an indefinite length. Its distinguish-ing features are, that it was long, low, and narrow;below the cornice plain, and above ornamented withsculpture all around. Mr. Catherwood made mi-nute architectural drawings of the whole, and has inbis possession the materials for erecting a buildingexactly like it; and I would remark that, as on ourformer expedition, he made all his drawings withthe camera lucida, for the purpose of obtaining tbe PLAN OF CASA DEL GOBERNADOR. 175 utmost accuracy of proportion and detail. Besideswhich, we had with us a Daguerreotype apparatus,the best that could be procured in New-York, withwhich, immediately on our arrival at Uxmal, Mr.Catherwood began taking views; but the resultswere not sufficiently perfect to suit his ideas. Attimes the projecting cornices and ornaments threwparts of the subject in shade, while others were inbroad sunshine; so that

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