Note VI-65 — Chapter VI · ANTIQUITIES OF TABASCO AND CHIAPAS, RUINS OF PALENQUE.

Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. i., p. 87, following Castañeda, speaks of regular semi-circular arches at Palenque, and states that he has himself seen several such arches in other American ruins. It is very certain that no such arches exist at Palenque. Indeed, Dupaix himself, notwithstanding Castañeda's drawings, says, p. 17, that semi-circular arches were not used, and Lenoir, Antiq. Mex., tom. i., div. ii., p. 74, repeats the statement; although the latter on the same page speaks of the 'voûtes cintrées' as appearing among the ruins. Brasseur's statement about arches in other ruins would be more satisfactory if he had seen fit to give further particulars. 'This original mode of construction, which discloses the principle of the arch, was not wanting in grandeur or boldness of design, although the architects did not understand the science of curves, and stopped short, so to speak, on the verge of the discovery.' Morelet's Travels, p. 88; Id., Voyage, tom. i., pp. 265-6.