294 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



surprise that similar sculptures have been mistaken by the uninformed for verita- 

 ble impressions from the feet of the animals themselves. They were cut at a later 

 date than the other figures, or have been cut deeper or subsequently retouched. 

 The turkey tracks are as distinct as if they had been left but yesterday in plastic 

 clay by the bird itself. Among the tracks of the animals occurs the Roman 

 capital P, exactly formed. This cannot be supposed to be anything more than an 

 accidental coincidence. The lines are from one half to three fourths of an inch 

 deep, and for the most part appear to have been pecked, instead of chiselled, into 



the stone. The rock measures about ten feet square. It lies close by the side of 

 the road or bridle-path, upon the east bank, and about seventy-five yards fi-om the 

 river. Just below this point is quite a broad interval of level land, which is now 

 under cultivation. 



From this place onward, the path winds under "beetling cliffs of ragged sand- 

 stone, huge blocks of which, occasionally worn into fantastic shapes, are met at 

 every step. At the distance of two miles, the traveller comes suddenly upon a con- 

 fused mass of rocks, weighing many thousands of tons each, which have fallen from 

 the very brow of the cHff, crushing the puny forests in their course and bedding 

 themselves deep in the earth, which it has forced up in billows around them. Here 

 occur the sculptured rocks of the Guyandotte. Two only had been heard of 

 originally ; but after a careful examination, removing fallen trees and stones and 

 rubbish, three others were discovered, which, if not so large, nevertheless proved 

 (juite as interesting as those which had at first attracted attention. Drawings 

 were taken of these on the. spot, which will give a better conception of the cha- 

 racter of the sculptures, than any description can possibly afford. 



Fig. 201. The larger rock measures thirteen feet in length by an average of 

 ten feet in width. Upon its horizontal face is cut, in deep outline, the figure of a 

 man, six feet three inches in height, by two feet in breadth at the shoulders. 

 There seems to have been no attempt at drapery. The proportions of the figure, 

 the curve of the leg, etc., are very well represented. The legs are placed near 



