Page:Researches in the Central Portion of the Usumatsintla Valley.djvu/19

Rh building we found small rear rooms in a half-preserved condition; everything else was completely in ruins. Then we followed the road to Tenosique for nearly two kilometres, to the end of the mountain pass, where the path running between high cliffs begins to descend into the valley of the Usumatsintla. Though it was a difficult task, we climbed these cliffs and enjoyed a magnificent view of the endless, wooded lowlands through which the Usumatsintla rolls. From these lofty heights our view extended as far as Balancan and beyond. But finding no structures on these cliffs, we returned wearied to our camp.

On the following day we undertook the exploration of that portion of the town which lies on the left of the road. Here we found the main mass of the buildings, which, it is true, are mostly in ruins. Two groups of buildings of noble proportions especially attracted our attention. In one the outlines of a large court were recognizable, intersected by a high and massive structure. The rooms which formerly bordered this court were in ruins, but from out the débris projected great lintels. These I examined in the hope of finding sculptures on the under side, but, alas, in vain!

The other larger group of buildings, which in past years had more particularly fallen a prey to the depredations of the woodcutters exploiting these woods, was especially difficult to rediscover, since, when the woodcutters abandoned this region, the forest had been set on fire and everything was now concealed by the dense vegetation.

Mr. Molina himself came to our assistance from La Reforma, bringing with him some of the most experienced of the elder monteros. And it was only with this help that we were successful in finding the ruins.

A great pyramid, rising in several terraces, once formed the substructure of the principal temple, which now like the adjacent apartments has fallen to ruin. From among the débris the woodcutters — who, I regret to say, seem to busy themselves, incidentally and in a manner quite uncalled for, with archaeology, but naturally only after the style of woodcutters — had taken out a slab bearing inscriptions, intending to carry it away with them, but finding it too heavy, they left it lying on the side of the pyramid and contented themselves with knocking off a corner to take with them as a "specimen"!

I succeeded in finding this slab, and at once perceived that it was part of a stone table, which had rested against a wall, and whose three exposed (naturally narrow) faces were ornamented with very delicately executed hieroglyphs in bas-relief, while the top (at least of the portion which I found) also had an inscription, which, however, was incised.

Here was another instance of the mischief arising from the meddling of ignorant people. If the men had simply left the slab on the spot where they found it, it would have been an easy matter for me to have dug a little further and the missing portion would undoubtedly have come to