Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/188

164 a flat open gallery, on which three or four men could walk abreast. On three sides of the building, every story was plain; but on each of the different stories on the south side was ranged a flight of steps—not a single continued staircase, but five, running from gallery to gallery; so that, on arriving at the top of the first flight, it was necessary to go all round before ascending the second; and thus with all the remainder. The balustrade rails of these steps were of a serpentine form, adorned with polished stones; while at intervals statues were stationed, supporting candelabra of a fantastic shape in their hands.

Upon the fifth and last story, there was a platform nearly two hundred and thirty feet square, finely paved with polished stones; at one end of which, was the green "Stone of Sacrifices," containing a hollow in which human victims were laid, while the priests opened their breasts and took out their hearts for offerings. In the eastern extremity of the platform, two towers were erected fifty-six feet high, each consisting of three stories; the lower one being built of stone, and the other two of wood: of these the lower story was properly devoted to the sanctuaries, which were of