Note VI-14 — Chapter VI · ANTIQUITIES OF TABASCO AND CHIAPAS, RUINS OF PALENQUE.

Dimensions from Stephens, vol. ii., p. 310. It is not likely that they are to be regarded as anything more than approximations to the original extent; the state of the pyramid rendering strictly accurate measurements impracticable. The authorities differ considerably. 273 feet long, 60 feet high. Waldeck, p. ii. 1080 feet in circumference, 60 feet high. Dupaix, p. 14. 20 yards high. Del Rio, Descrip., p. 4. 100×70 mètres and not over 15 feet high. Charnay, Ruines Amér., p. 424. Circumference 1080 feet, height 60 feet, steps one foot high. Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. i., p. 85. 20 mètres high, area 3840 sq. mètres. Morelet, Voyage, tom. i., p. 267; 20 feet high. Id. Travels, p. 88. Over 340 mètres long. Lafond, Voyages, tom. i., pp. 143-4. Waldeck, p. iii., is the only one who found traces of a northern stairway, and none of the general views show such traces. Charnay, p. 425, thought the eastern stairway was double, being divided by a perpendicular wall. Brasseur, Palenqué, p. 17, in a note to his translation of Stephens, says that author represents a stairway in his plate but does not speak of it in his text—an error, as may be seen on the following page of the translation or on p. 312 of the original. The translation 'qui y montent de la térasse' for 'leading up to it on the terrace' may account for the error.