of formed the terrace in front of the second story, whose foundation
M. Charney so happily discovered. But such suggestions as this are very
unsafe to make, and must be supported by further discoveries before they
are of any real value.

He found a large number of good-sized rooms, and speaks especially of
one hall fifty feet square, in the center of which was six pillars,
sloping from the base upwards. They, doubtless, served to support the
roof. We regret that we have not been able to see M. Charney's ground
plan of this ruin. Of the pyramids themselves we have quite full
information. The larger one, that of the sun, is seven hundred and sixty
feet square and two hundred and sixteen feet high. It will be seen that
these dimensions throw the great mound at Cahokia into the shade. Though
the base may not be quite as great, the height of the pyramid is over
twice that of the mound. Three terraces are plainly visible. The surface
was covered with cement, large slabs of which remain in their place. The
moon pyramid is further north.

It is in all respects like that of the sun, but of smaller dimensions,
being one hundred and fifty feet high. In early times these pyramids are
said to have supported statues, but, if so, they have long since been
thrown down. Their surface and the ground around is thickly strewn with
fragments of pottery, obsidian knives, and other small relics. Running
south from the House of the Moon, and passing a little to one side of
the House of the Sun, are the remains of a wide, paved road. Its width
is stated to be one hundred and thirty feet, and its length about two
hundred and fifty rods.<17>

This road suddenly expands in front of the Moon, so as to suggest
the idea of a Greek cross. Pieces of cement (with which this road was
covered) are still visible in places. It is lined with mounds on
either side, and they stand so close together as to resemble continuous
embankments in some places. Speculations are abundant as to the object
of this graded way. Tradition calls it the "Path of the Dead." Small
mounds are very numerous over the surface. They may have been for burial
purposes, but sculptured stones are found in them, and specimens of hard
cement. This group of ruins is regarded as of very great antiquity.

We can easily see that the growth of the soil formed by the decay
and detrition of the stone slabs of the pyramids, temples, and other
buildings would be slow, especially as the rainfall i