RUINS OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 277 



others are those of animals. One, a jaguar, is seated on its 

 haunches, the head thrown forward, the mouth open, — the 

 attitude and expression being that of great ferocity. It is 

 very boldly sculptured. Another, a very well proportioned 

 human figure, is seated on a square throne raised five feet 

 from the ground. It is remarkable for having on its head 

 another monstrous head, representing some fierce animal. The 

 heads of several of the idols are thus surmounted. These sym- 

 bolical heads were probably introduced with the same object 

 as those which were so general among the Egyptian idols. 



In the midst of this collection of idols are two or more 

 oblong stones, on the sides of which are hieroglyphical in- 

 scriptions. In the centre are hollow places, probably designed 

 to receive the blood of the victims. 



It is remarkable that the heads of many of the figures are 

 surmounted with cross-shaped ornaments similar to the one 

 discovered at Palenque by Mr. Stevens. One of these crosses 

 — which no doubt had their origin in Babylon, where they 

 are well-known symbols — was set up by the Spaniards in the 

 convent-church of Tonala, and there venerated. 



The Mexicans possessed a symbol called the TonacaquahutI , 

 or " tree of life," which was represented with branches some- 

 what in the form of a cross, surmounted by a bird. This 

 symbol also appears on a tablet discovered by Mr. Stevens at 

 Palenque. In various parts of the country terra cotta figures 

 have been dug up. Some of them are rude, but others arc 

 extremely artistic ; and though not equally graceful, resemble 

 much, in the form of the limbs, many Egyptian figures. 

 Among them is a figure from the island of Ometepe, which 

 represents an alligator upon the back of a human figure, 

 which apparently originally surmounted a large vase. 



