GG ARCH^OLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL 



representing the deities, are twelve feet in lengtli, tliree feet in width, and two 

 feet in thicluicss. Nine feet of the npper part of tliese stones are occupied by the 

 sculptures, while the lower three feet appear to have served as a base. 



Considering that tools of iron were unknown to the makers of these sculptures, 

 and that they had at their disposal only such implements as stone and perhaps 

 bronze could furnish, it seems wonderful that such works of art as these monoliths 

 could have been produced. 



When I arrived one morning to continue my drawings, I found two stone-cutters 

 chiselling at one of the sculptures, with the object of dividing it into parts. To 

 my question: how they dared to touch such valuable objects'? they answered that 

 they were obeying the orders of the justice of the peace, who wanted the stones 

 for the construction of a fountain. I ordered the men away, intimating that I 

 would settle the case with the justice. They obeyed, and I went to the justice, a 

 Frenchman, to explain to him that it was a sacrilegious act to cut the sculptures 

 to pieces, even if it were done with the intention of preserving them, as his view 

 of it was. At the same time I leased the ground for two years, the longest term 

 allowed by law, as I could not purchase it, the community reserving the right 

 of ownership to all the land within their jurisdiction. By this act I prevented the 

 possibility of the sculptures being disturbed by any one during my lease, which 

 could be renewed at its expiration. 



Sculpture Number I, Plate I. 



This sculpture is of porphyritic rock, originally twelve feet long, three feet wide, 

 and two feet thick. Three feet of the lower portion apparently served as a base 

 to be buried in the ground. The stone is broken into two nearly equal parts, 

 and a few small fragments have been chipped from the sides. The design repre- 

 sents in low relief an erect hinnan figure in profile, Avith the head and shoulders 

 slightly inclined forward. The body is apparently naked, excepting those portions 

 wliich are concealed by elaborate ornaments, the most prominent of which is a 

 crab covering the head. Since there is every reason to believe tlic figure to repre- 

 sent a priest, the crab may be taken as the emblem of priestly rank. This is, as far 

 as I know, the only instance in which the crab has been used as a symbol of rank 

 of any kind. 



The portion of the hair nearest the back of the head appears to be braided and 

 interwoven at nearly equal distances with ring-sliaped ornaments, while below the 

 shoulder-blade strips of cloth are variously interwoven with an ornament resembling 

 a sheathed scimitar, the cue ending in an ornament somewhat in the shape of a 

 scythe, and reaching to the ankle. In the lobe of the ear is a small ring, to which 

 one about three times as large is suspended. To a band around the neck is attached 

 a rosette with a tassel in the centre. Around the waist is a stift", broad, and projecting 

 girdle, of which the head of an animal forms the back part. From its lower edge, in 

 front, hangs a serpent, tied in a bow-knot. To the same point is joined a scaly band, 

 which surrounds the thighs. To the left foot is attached a sole, fastened by two 

 strings around the instep, the whole foot being covered except the toes. Below 

 the right knee is a kind of garter with a pear-shaped pendant in front. The right 



