Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development; (1909) (14781789315)

Identifier: mexicoitsancient00enoc (find matches)
Title: Mexico, its ancient and modern civilisation, history and political conditions, topography and natural resources, industries and general development;
Year: 1909 (1900s)
Authors: Enock, C. Reginald (Charles Reginald), 1868-1970
Subjects: Mexico
Publisher: London : Unwin
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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THE STRANGE CITIES 46 a remarkable feature of the interior. The beautifulfigure known as the Beau Relief is compared to therelief sculptures of Babylon and Egypt. The materialof construction was limestone, generally in unshapedblocks, not laid in regular courses, but with largequantities of mortar and stucco. The walls werelavishly painted and coloured. Indeed, the nature ofthe building has doubtless obeyed the character ofthe stone, which does not lend itself to careful cuttingand carving like the easily-worked trachyte of Mitla.A very noteworthy structure of this prehistoric city,is the subterranean passage-way for the stream, whichpasses down the valley upon whose slopes the ruinsof Palenque are situated. This, of stone-vaulted con-struction, after the manner before described, is somewhatess than i,ooo feet long, and the stream still flowsthrough a portion of it. On every hand the extra-ordinary vigour of the tropical forest is evident, andthe dense growth of trees, vines, and herb