Page:Here and there in Yucatan - miscellanies (IA herethereinyucat00lepl 0).djvu/77

 they raised and lowered, to invite the travelers to join them.

Within the great wall of Tulum, which has a circuit of 2,800 feet, we yet see several buildings, that were at one time decorated with beautiful stucco ornaments and fresco paintings.

The grand old castle, including a wing on each side, measures at the base one hundred feet in length. The entrance faces inland, and is reached by a stairway thirty feet wide, with twenty-four steps. On each side it has a broad balustrade.

There are two rooms, twenty-six feet in length; low stone benches run along the walls, on which are seen imprints of the red hand.

The east wall has no opening, except small oblong holes for ventilation.

The wings are buildings of two stories, both together being much lower than the main structure. The stairs leading to the second floor are outside.

A peculiar feature in the edifices of Tulum is that some had flat ceilings, not found elsewhere in the peninsula.

Three miles from the ancient city is a new village, Tulum Pueblo, whose inhabitants come regularly to the old castle to burn copal, incense, and wax candles; and practise rites of the religion of their fore-