15 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL 



necessary to cut down the trees nnd to clean the sculptures, a task exceedingly 

 difficult to perform iu a country without ladders, and where it is hard to got 

 laborers to perform even work they are used to, and almost impossible to make 

 them do what they have not done before. The sculptures, as I said before, are 

 some miles distant from the village. It would have been necessary, therefore, to 

 erect a small building on the spot for the workmen and myself, which, on a level 

 ground in a region where the rain falls every few days, would have oftered serious 

 difficulties. All this work I should have had to perform or superintend myself. 

 Finding that the task of taking photographs of the sculptures would prove to be 

 beyond my means and strength, I had to give it up with regret. 



The map of Guatemala is dotted everywhere with signs of ancient ruins, most 

 of which have not been visited by competent persons, and they are noted down 

 from simple hearsay. It is therefore possible that valuable discoveries miglit still 

 be made. In the elevated plain on which the city of Guatemala is biult are 

 many "mounds;" some of these have been examined, but nothing was found 

 except some pottery, and that mostly broken. 



FOURTH EXCURSION FROM THE CITY OF GUATEMALA. 



While in the city I received information of the existence of newly-discovered 

 ancient sculptures at Santa Lucia Cosumalhuapa. After having ascertained the 

 truth of this statement, I started on my fourth excursion in the republic of 

 Guatemala with the intention of visiting these relics. 



Before reaching Santa Lucia I visited the sculptures in the plain near the 

 hacienda Los Tarros. They are of very great interest, although but three in 

 ruunber ; they exhibit fine workmanship, and represent human figures in high 

 relief. They are five feet nine inches high, three feet seven inches broad, and one 

 foot eight inches deep, standing on a base ten inches above the ground. 



Two of these figures have ear-rings, and their heads are covered with a kind of 

 turban, on the front of which three leaves and the fruit of cacao form an agraffe 

 from which plumes ascend. Below the agraffe is a bow-knot. From the back, 

 between the shoulders, extends a narrow staff or band, wliich bends over above the 

 head, and to the front end of this a tassel is attached. The head of the tliird 

 figure, of advanced age, stands out entirely free. It is covered with a cap fitting 

 tightly, and the breast bears an ornament resembling a coat of mail. 



Besides these sculptures are two fragments of a round column, one foot two 

 inches in diameter, and two large square stones, eight feet long, and four feet five 

 inclies wide, nearly buried in the ground, only one side being exposed to view, 

 which not being carved, forms probably the rear of sculptures which are concealed. 



Finding the sculptures of Santa Lucia of far greater interest than any which 

 had previously come to my knowledge I resolved to make drawings of them. They 

 form the principal subject of the present essay. But before giving a detailed 

 account of these remarkable remains I will continue the general sketch of my 

 explorations. 



