1 



274 RUINS OF CENTRAL AMERICA. 



half an inch deep. The first figure on the left hand side 

 represents the radiant sun, followed by a series of heads with 

 some variation. These heads show a certain resemblance to 

 one of the most curious characters found on the British rocks. 

 They are followed by scorpion-like and other fantastic figures. 

 The tops of the stones on either side are covered with a num- 

 ber of concentric rings and ovals, crossed with lines. He 

 considers them to be symbols full of meaning, and recording 

 ideas held to be of vital importance to the people who used 

 them, and whose names have become a matter of doubt. 



In the district of Chontales, a vast number of ancient 

 tombs are met with in almost every direction. They are 

 found in plains having a good drainage, such as was generally 

 selected by the Indians for the sites of their villages. These 

 tombs are of different heights and sizes. Some are about 

 twenty feet long by twelve feet wide, and eight feet above 

 the ground. In one which was opened was found a round 

 pillar seven feet high and eighteen inches across, which was 

 standing upright in the centre of the tomb. There was a 

 hand-mill for grinding corn in shape like those still in use 

 in the country a knife ten inches long, a hatchet like a 

 reaping-hook, and a tiger's head of natural size, all of stone. 

 In some instances gold ornaments have been found, but not 

 in sufficient numbers to induce the people to destroy the 

 relics. 



The Indians inhabiting Nicaragua in ancient days did not 

 apparently construct any large temples or stone buildings, as 

 some other natives of Central America have done. They, 

 however, formed stone figures,, of considerable size, which re- 

 mind us greatly of those which exist in Easter Island in the 

 Pacific. These stone figures, often of colossal dimensions, are 



