ADVERTISEMENT. 



In 1862, Dr. Habcl, in obedience to a long-felt desire, relinquished liis medical 

 practice, in order to make, at his own expense, a tour of exploration tliroogli 

 Central America, and the Northwestern States of South America. In the course 

 of the seven years devoted to tliese investigations he made collections in natural 

 history, and observations in meteorology, topography, geology, and archccology. 

 The following memoir contains a brief account of Dr. ilabel's ethnological and 

 archtEolofical researches, and a minute description of a group of sculptures dis- 

 covered by him at Santa Lucia Cosumalwhuapa, in Guatemala, a suudl town in 

 the department of Escuintla, near the base of the Volcan del Fuego, at the com- 

 mencement of the slope which extends from the mountain range to the Paciiic 

 coast. The variety of ornamentation, the skill in execution, and the grade of 

 refinement exhibited in the designs upon these bas-reliefs, as well as the almost 

 total absence of sculptures hitherto reported on the southern side of the Sierras, 

 induced the Smithsonian Institution to include Dr. Habel's paper among its Con- 

 tributions to Knowledge. [^The slabs were afterwards visited by Dr. Bastian, who 

 purchased them for the Berlin Museum. 



The author was invited to visit AYashington, Avhere a room was provided for liim 

 at the Institation, and the drawings of these sculptures were reproduced by an 

 artist, under his personal supervision and constant instruction. The expense of the 

 preparation of the manuscript and illustrations, as avcU as of the publication, has 

 been borne by the Smithsonian Institution. The publication of the work was 

 recommended by several of the leading archaeologists of the country, and in a report 

 in regard to it Prof. W. D. AVIiitney remarks, " It seems to me a story refreshing 

 by its brevity and simplicity, very unlike the pompous and boastful way in Avliich 

 such things are often heralded. One may not agree with all tlie inferences drawn 

 at the end, but that is a matter of very small importance ; no two persons would 

 arrive at precisely the same conclusions. So far as I can judge, the Institution has 

 every reason to take pleasure and pride in the issue of such a contribution to 

 American arcliEeology." 



The Institution is under obligations to Prof. Otis T. Mason for a critical revision 

 of the manuscript and the correction of tlie proof-sheets of this work. 



Washington, I). C, February, 18T3. 



JOSEPH HENRY, 



Secretary iSniitbsouian Institution. 

 (iii) 



