INVESTIGATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 73 



the aborigines of America had no cattle, we should be obliged to take it for the 

 representation of a bull's head. From the head descends a short body, narrower 

 than the head itself, and shaped like the tail of a fish at its extremity. On the 

 breast is a brooch in the form of a rosette, in the centre of which is a stone sur- 

 rounded by others. From this brooch a ribbon extends with small objects attached 

 to the edges. The wrist of the right hand is covered by two rows of rufiies, while 

 the upraised left hand is inclosed in a kind of gauntlet made of a human skull. 

 The waist is surrounded by a stiff girdle, the back part of which contains a human 

 skull, and the fore part two oblique openings. From the centre of the lower edge 

 in front descends a double band, tied in a bow-knot with drooping ends. From 

 the waist ascend four faint serpentine lines dividing at the top hito two ends, the 

 expression of breath or a speech without words, reminding us of the " speaking 

 girdle" of the ancient Hebrews. Unquestionably it seems to indicate an auxiliary 

 to the prayers emanating from the mouth. Both the knees are covered with scales, 

 which would indicate tliat the legs were clothed, it being impossible to interpret 

 the scales otherwise. The right leg is adorned below the knee with a garter, to 

 which is attached a pyriform pendant. On both feet are shoes of peculiar pattern; 

 that of the right foot leaves the three smaller toes bare, while the left shoe sur- 

 rounds the foot in the shape of a bandage. 



Sculpture Number VII, Plate IV. 



This is a large fragment, five feet five inches long, apparently broken from a 

 slab twelve feet in length and two feet nine inches in breadth. The missing part 

 is either lost, or more likely covered by the heap of sculptures and thus rendered 

 inaccessible. The sides and the top of the sculpture are surrounded by a rim of 

 the usual width. The sculpture represents a deity inclosed in a shrine variously 

 embellished. The most conspicuous among the ornaments are huge tusks curved 

 upward and downward. I would not venture to explain the meaning of these 

 ornaments, but feel assured that they do not represent flames, since we have seen 

 them differently represented in the previous sculptures. The interpretation of the 

 other ornaments I have likewise to leave to others more versed in this art than I 

 claim to be. I would only venture to say that the triangle forming the apex of the 

 shrine might be the symbol of eternity. Only the head, arms, and breast of the 

 deity are present, as in the sculpture before described. The head-dress surrounds 

 the forehead in the usual manner, while a diadem constructed of circular disks 

 encircles the head. From the centre of the foremost disk hang three pendants. 

 The hair is smooth on the top of the head and descends in tresses behind the 

 shoulders. Behind each ear, ornamented by a circular disk, descends a short band 

 to the neck. Three roAvs of beads surround the neck and fall upon the upper part 

 of the breast. The arms are folded, and the wrist is encircled by a bracelet com- 

 posed of small square stones. From the breast descends, on either side, a short 

 winding staff on which leaves, a bud, flowers, and fruit are growing. The attri- 

 butes adorning the shrine and other characteristics are not sufficiently familiar to 

 enable one to define the nature of this deity. 



10 December. 1878. 



