12 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Ef. PORTAL. 



Till' uliiivf is tlie name of a cofTee plantation ami farm, owneil b}- Don Maniid 

 Ilcrrcra. at the timu of my visit .Minister of Agriculture in the Government of 

 (luatemala. The plantation is situated onl}' a few minutes' walk from "Antigua," 

 the old capilal of (Juateniala. The monuments of this place comprise a large natural 

 hill or miiiiiid several hundred feet high, and perhaps five hundred feet in diame- 

 ter. The top is covered 1)V three smaller mounds, artificially made. From the top 

 of one of these smaller mounds, and down the steep south side of the larger one, is 

 seen the very much ruined remains of a roughly made stairway, the stones once 

 composing its steps having neither been cut nor well fitted. Along the lower part 

 of this stairway, and also between the three small mounds at its top, were found all 

 the sculptures known from this place. At the base of the stairway is yet seen a 

 large basalt l)lock, in which can barely be made Out the figure in low relief of a 

 large tiger of natural size. A little higher up are seen several very rough heads of 

 animals, as well as a deer head, but they can hardly be called sculptures, the original 

 stones having somewhat resembled heads, and only been helped by the artist by the 

 addition of a line for the mouth or a hollow for the eye. All the better sculptures 

 were some time since removed to the near dwelling-house and here sheltered from 

 rain and destruction; Benor lierrera being one of the few native gentleman in (lua- 

 temala who takes interest in the ancient relics of the country. The following sculp- 

 tures are all which are at present known from this place. The numerals refer to 

 Uie figures appended only where "Fig." is put in front of them. 



Figure 1. Large block of basalt with the u))per surface covered with a tiger 

 in Ijas-relief. The tongue is stretched out, and on the same is seen perched a bird 

 with long bill, very similar to an Alcedo. Size 5^ by 3i feet. 



Figs. 2 and 3. Head of a male personage — Fig. 2 representing the i^ame 

 seen from the side, and Fig. 3 from the front. The face is serene and well made, 

 furnished with a beard. On the head is seen a kind of helmet, tlie original of 

 which was perhaps made of wood. In tliis helmet is seen a smaller face, and on 

 the side of it tiie two arms bent upward. Tiie back is furnished witii a [trojection. 

 Size of Fig. 2, 19 inches long by 14^ inches high. Size of Fig. 3, 14i inclies high 

 by 8i wide. 



Fic. '1. Head of some animal, perhaps a snake, seen from the front. Rectan- 

 gular posterini' pnijcctinn. Size, 1 I J. inchi-s higli by 1."] inches wide. Rougiily 

 jiiade sculpture. 



