COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADRID. 33 



most striking are idols of stone in human form varying in height 

 from a quarter to half a meter. 



That numbered 1 in the catalogue is a black stone, skillfully worked, 

 representing a human figure seated on a stool of the same substance, 

 which has four feet. It is stated according to tradition to represent 

 the god of old age. 



Another idol, also of stone somewhat similar, has the left arm crossed 

 upon the breast, the right resting upon the legs. 



Still another, No. 6 of the catalogue, also of stone, presents the figure 

 of a woman with her arms crossed upon the breast and a broad collar 

 on the lower part of the neck. 



No. 7 is an idol of stone showing a human head that of a man, and, 

 what is noteworthy, bearing a well-marked beard. 



No. 74, 48 centimeters in height, is of clay. It represents a human 

 figure holding in the hands a circular bowl, or vase, with small promi 

 nences on the external surface; the nose is prominent, and the mouth is 

 open as it in the act of laughing. It was found in Escuintla, which 

 was inhabited by the Pipiles, of Nahuatl affiliations. 



Somewhat similar is No. 100, made of fine clay, and representing a 

 chief seated, wearing ornaments on the head, earrings in the ears, and 

 a collar around the neck. Upon the head is a cap, from the sides of 

 which hang two pendants. On his back he is carrying two small 

 human heads. 



No. 177, also of clay, burned, shows a human figure seated and hold 

 ing in his hands a cup or bowl. He also wears a collar, earrings, and 

 nose rings. The majority of these idols were derived from the province 

 of Quiche&quot;. 



Although these articles were classified as idols, and therefore sup 

 posed to be objects of worship, it is not certain that they were not 

 portraits or small statues of living persons, or of the dead, intended to 

 be kept as memorials by the family or the tribe. 



In this same collection there are a number of vases, cups, and jars 

 of terra cotta, either red or black, the clay from which they are made 

 usually finely worked and bearing a high polish. Some of them are 

 painted or decorated by lines and geometrical figures. Several of 

 them present the form of familiar animals, such as No. 04, where we 

 see the head of a crocodile, from which is proceeding a human face. 



No. 106 is a human head with large circular earrings in the ears and 

 a surface ornamented by lines forming geometrical figures. 



No. 126, which was obtained from Copan, also shows a human head 

 with similar large earrings, and rising above the head a circle of 

 feathers. 



Among the objects in stone in the Government collection there is 

 one (No. 12) representing an armadillo. 



No. 14 is a monkey, his right hand lifted to his head in the act of 

 scratching himself. 



H. Ex. 100 3 



