Within these quadrangular edifices is a terrace about six feet wide, extending round the entire court, with flights of steps on all sides, descending to the large court below, which is covered with square blocks of stone, considerably worn. The surface was broken, and covered with earth and vegetation. In the centre of the court is an excavation, in which an immense shapeless stone was discovered, similar to one excavated from the area of the main terrace of the Governor’s House. The PYRAMID is situated about two rods easterly from the ruins of the Nuns’ House, to which it appears, in some way, to have been connected. It presents a fine exterior of hewn stone, large at the base, and their sizes diminishing as they approach the platform. The sides are precipitous, much broken, and covered with trees. Its base measures five hundred feet; from the base to the summit or platform, it is one hundred. The summit is reached, on the eastern side, by a flight of a hundred stone steps, each one foot high, and about six inches deep; making the ascent quite difficult, although the steps are still in good preservation. The area of the platform measures seventy-two feet in length and twenty-one in width, and is occupied by an edifice sixty feet long, twelve wide, and twenty high; having two rooms both on the east and on the west sides, and one on either end. These rooms are much defaced, and their doorways dilapidated. The eastern front has two doorways, and two small pavilions projecting six or eight inches from the façade, supported by plain pilasters. The western façade is ornamented with human figures similar to _caryatides_, finely sculptured in stone with great art. Their heads are covered with a casque, and ear ornaments similar to those worn by the Egyptians. They have girdles around their bodies. On the western side, immediately in front of the doorway, is a platform, or roof of a room, the base or floor of which includes about twenty feet of the inclined side of the Pyramid; leading to which is a broken plane, once occupied by the steps. Here are two rooms, one of which is of an unusually large size, with a proportionate doorway, fronting the Nuns’ House. The interior of these rooms was finely finished with smooth stone. There appeared to be no communication from them with any other part. The front and sides of the exterior were filled with sculptured work of the most elaborate and incomprehensible description. The same degree of skill and precision was perceptible here that distinguishes the whole ruins. Below these rooms, at or near the base of the side, are others, where excavations have been made. They are now much broken, and covered with the fallen ruins. [Illustration: _Section of_ THE PIGEON HOUSES; UXMAL RUINS.]