" about half-way up, through openings in the trees, is seen the building represented in the engraving no. 58. The height of the structure on which it stands is 110 feet on the slope. The engraving represents the actual condition of the building, surrounded and overgrown by trees, but no description and no drawing can give effect to the moral sublimity of the spectacle. From the multiplicity of engravings required to illustrate the architecture and arts of this unknown people, we have felt obliged to omit many striking and picturesque views, for fear of wearying the reader. The ruins and the forest made the deep and abiding impression upon our minds; but our
object is to present the building as restored, as subjects for speculation and comparison with the architecture of other lands and times. The supposed restorations were made after a careful examination, and in each case the reader will see precisely what we had to guide us in making them. I must remark, however, that the buildings are the only parts which we attempted to restore; the specimens of sculpture and stuccoed ornaments were drawn as we found them. ".
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