ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 7 



lievc that these arc a remnant of an older tribe inhabiting the island. There 

 are traditions pointing that way, and these people are more reticent and suspi- 

 cious than the others, seeming still to have reverence for their ancient gods, and 

 showing no disposition to guide me to the idols. As recently as 1850 Mr. Squier 

 found many words of the Aztec language spoken by the Indians of Ometepec. 



The absence of springs and streams confines the population to the shore of 

 the lake, the latter supplying excellent drinking water and fish in abundance. 



URN BURIAL. 



Almost everywhere in the cultivated belt south of Moyogalpa may be 

 found relics of the ancient inhabitants, and in the woods that clothe the foot hills 

 are still to be seen the gods of their idolatry. About half a mile south of the 

 village, the hacienda of Don Jose Angel Luna was placed at my disposition dur- 

 ing the -months of February, March, and April, 1876, with free permission to 

 dig wherever I chose. (For plan see page 8.) 



The first work was done in the northern boundary ditch of the estate, at a 

 point about a hundred yards from the house and eighty from the lake. For con- 

 venience of reference this was called Campo Santo, the burial ground. Here were 

 obtained twenty-eight burial urns, besides smaller vessels in terra cotta, beads, 

 shells, &c. 



The accompanying section shows the geological formation down into a 

 stratum of black sand. The sand was quite thick at this point, and the excava- 

 tion did not go through it ; but in other places a hard, gritty ash was found 

 underlying. 



Section showing position of burial urn, Campo Santo. 



No. 1 of the section was of light ash and volcanic cinder, with rich soil on 

 top. The cinder predominated towards the bottom. 



