The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-18

CJ Ponds.
aRourp PLAN OF THE RUINS AT uxMAL
The Governors House, is vast and splendid pile o
ruins 1t stands upon three ranges of terraces the frs
Of which is slight projection forming finish The grea
platform or terrace above IT, measures upwards OF nv
hundred feet long, and four hundred and fifteen broad
is encomPassed by wall OF fine hewn stone thirty fee
high with angles rounded still in good preservation In
the centre Of this PLATFORM upon which tress and vegeta
ton grow in profuson stands shalt OF grey Limestone in
inclined position, measuring twelve feet in crcumsr
and eight in height bearing upon its surface no
marks of form ornament by which might be distn-
gpished from natural piece. Near by Is rude carving
Of a tiger with t. heads also saw excav atoms ear
them with level curbngs end smoothly finished inside,
which conjectured have been cstern grsnares
Along the southern edgeo this platform the remains
Of range of small pillars, br ken and in confusion.
Upon the north OF this platform is edfce,
which was doubt, from its location, connected with
the Governors House. II is the smallest of all he ruins
Its ornaments few and plain the most remarkable of
which is continuous line Of turtles, cut from stone of
about a foot square. arranged under the cornces
The south west corner has connected with il two piles
of loose stones in the pyramidca form eighty, and
the other hundred feet high the sides of the bases
measuring about two hundred feet Their tops broad
platforms which, and down the sides scattered
the remains OF e1ces. of which these pyramids were once
probably the foundations Here found pieces Of pot
terry consisting OF broken pieces OF vases and supposed
cooking utensils.
Upon the main terrace stands another OF smaller dmen
sions constituting the foundation Of the Governors House.
The measurement of this terrace is three hundred IN
thrtyeght long, eighty broad, and thirty high
having majestic fight Of sone steps, though considers-
bly, broken the centre in front of the entrance
This majestic pile faces the east is two hundred and
seventywo feat long, thrty-six broad and twenty -four
high The whole building is plain (unlike tn sc OF Chi
Chem from the base to the moudings which run through
The centre he doorways above which, to the top,
ornaments and sculptured work in great prcus on
and the most rch strange, and elaborate workman
ship is divided into double ranges II rooms from 'front.'
rear Two ofthe principal situated in the centre
fifty five feet long broad, and about nineteen high
with an angular ceiling, occupyin onehaifoi the whole.
There other in the front and fcaT Also
two rooms on each end aHd in front and OF the
two recesses OF about one half OF the average size
The interior OF these rooms is sometimes covered with
beautiful hard finish, and at others presents surface Of
uniform square blocks Of smooth stone The floors OF
stone covered with hard composition which, together
with the stone, is much broken
The linels which are Of zuporte wood, are decayed
and broken which, in great degree the falling OF the
walls may be attributed The inner SIDES OF the door
ways are pierced and hooks attached, whereon doors
probably swung. There also, aperures in the
walls where beams rested, to support hsmmocks some Of
which still remain, and show the marks OF The cor
There fresco, oher painting decorations Of
any kind in the interior of the building to be dscencd.
The front presents the most remarkable architectural
skill to be found about the building The walls were Of
the durable kind of limestone and upwards Of three
feet thick OF fine hewn stone lid with the greatest care
There eleven doorwoys besides those OF the recesses
.The names Though mnome) Of these structures orgna
ted with the people OF the country.