"In the front was a broad avenue with a line of ruins on each side, leading beyond the wall to a great mound of ruins: and beyond this a lofty building in the rear. Between the two was a large _patio_, or courtyard, with corridors on each side, and the ground of the courtyard sounded hollow. In one place, the surface was broken, and I descended into _a large excavation, cemented_, which probably had been intended as a granary. [Rather as a _water_ reservoir] At the back of the courtyard, on a high, broken terrace, which it was difficult to climb, was another edifice more ruined than the others, but which from the style of its remains, and its commanding position, overlooking every other building [except the first described] and apparently having been connected with the distant mass of ruins in front, must have been one of the most important in the City, perhaps the principal Temple. The whole presented a scene of barbaric (?) magnificence, utterly confounding all previous notions in regard to the Aboriginal inhabitants of this Country; and calling up emotions which had not been wakened to the same extent by any thing we had yet seen." "There was one strange circumstance connected with these ruins--viz., no water had ever been discovered, and there was not a single stream, fountain, or well, nearer than the Hacienda, a mile and a half distant. It is supposed that the face of the Country had not changed; and that somewhere under ground must exist great wells, cisterns or reservoirs [perhaps acquaducts] which supplied the former inhabitants of the City with water." * * * * * "While I was making the circuit of these ruins, Mr. Catherwood proceeded to the _Casa del Gobernador_; it indicates the principal building of the old City, or _royal_ house. (?) It _is the grandest in position_, the _most stately in Architecture and proportions, and the most perfect in preservation_ of all the structures remaining at Uxmal." The same argument brought forward in the last Section, to prove that the chief edifice of Palenque was the _Temple_, and not the Palace, will apply to this supposed "royal house." As to the phrase _"Casa del Gobernador_"--or Governor's house,--it is the name by which it is called in the neighbourhood, and can have no bearing upon the true character of the edifice,--but the very superior preservation of the building would point it to be one held Sacred from any rude assault by the people; while its Architecture, importance of its position, and magnitude, at once justify the name of Temple being given to this edifice, and as such we shall view it. Mr. Stephens appears to be so strict a Spartan Republican, that every large, or magnificent building in the Ruined Cities, he considers to be a _Palace_,--he seems to have thought less of mind, than of matter.