424 ETHNOLOGY. 



eroiis wood, a fossil probably foreign to the soil of the peninsula. The 

 mask of a human head or skull, which this relic evidently represents, 

 measures 25 millimeters from chin to the top of the forehead, and 22 

 millimeters across just above the eyes. The vertical facial line is divided 

 into three equal parts, corresponding respectively to the maxillary, nasal, 

 and frontal regions. The space between the eye-sockets measures 7 

 millimeters, and the facial angle is about 80 degrees of an arc. The dis- 

 tinct employment of geometrical forms by which some of the details of 

 the face are limited, is a prominent feature of the design, and invites 

 particular notice. 



Two circles of equal diameters, with their inner peripheries touching 

 each other, form the ocular region. The point where these circles con- 

 verge is assigned to the root of the nose. A straight horizontal line sepa- 

 rating the upper and lower jaw and running right to the centers of four 

 rings of equal size divides these latter into eight half rings, which seem 

 to represent so many teeth, the four upper ones standing directly upon 

 the lower. On each side of the head, and in place of the ears, two holes 

 are bored, one lateral and the other from the back, so as to meet each 

 other almost under a right angle. Over the temples a shallow grooved 

 line runs toward the upper part of the eye-sockets, where it is proba- 

 bly intended to mark more distinctly the prominent cheek-bones. 



As a work of art the specimen is much inferior to many others which 

 have been left by the 3Iayas, for simple linear designs are freely substi- 

 tuted for real plasticity. In other respects, however, it proves a consid- 

 erable degree of mechanical skill as well in the polish of so hard a 

 material as also in the obvious application of the drill. Still more re- 

 markable and mythologically highly interesting is a certain amount of 

 symbolism plainly expressed in the principal details of this specimen of 

 sculpture. Here the most striking feature is shown in the twice four 

 teeth, for with a race like the American aborigines, so well known as 

 close and faithful observers of natural objects, this deviation from 

 reality can only be taken as an intentional representation of certain 

 numerals ever recurring in their works of sculpture and architecture. 



To decipher the special meaning embodied in the present piece must 

 be left to the efforts of professional mythologists. Suffice it to hint here 

 at the (direction in which such researches should be made. 



As to the purpose for which this little piece may originally have been 

 intended, it is only conjectured that it was once worn by some person as 

 a badge or amulet, for the double lateral holes seem to have served for 

 passing through strings or fastenings of some kind. 



There is another fact connected with the present relic — that is, the high 

 appreciation with which the arts of sculpture and stone-cutting have 

 been considered among the ancient Mayas. They were, indeed, so 

 highly esteemed that their protection had been assigned to a special 

 deity, called " Etuhtun.'''' This aame is formed from the verb tul)^ to cut, 

 carve, engrave, and ^«w, stone or rock. The H |3refixed, when used as a 



