Chalchihuitls from Central America. 



255 



lief, with the figure of a divinity seated, cross-legged, on a kind 

 of carved seat, with his left hand resting on his thigh, and his 

 right raised to his breast, as if in the act of giving benediction. 

 Around his loins is an ornamental girdle, and depending from 

 his neck and resting on his breast is an oblong rectangular plate 

 or charm, not unlike that said to have been worn by the Jewish 

 high-priests. The face is in profile, showing the salient nose and 



Fig. 3. 

 Basso-Eelievo of the god Cuculcan, from Palenque. 



conventional receding forehead that characterize most Central 

 American sculptures. Ornaments are inserted in the lobes of 

 the ears, and the head is surmounted with the characteristic and 

 elaborate plumed head-dress that we observe on the Palenque 

 monuments and in the paintings. The whole is almost an exact 



