ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 59 



On another vase, about eight inches in height and six in diameter, are two 

 serpents occupying nearly the whole surface on opposite sides. They arc over an 

 inch broad, painted red, with black or brown plumes on the head and either 

 plumes or rattles, I am uncertain which, on the tail. Squier's figure from the 

 rock painting near Managua had plumes on the tail, while that of Catherwood, 

 from the Casa do Monjas, Uxmal, had rattles. The painting on the vase is very 

 distinct. The gods, Quctzalcoatl in Mexico, Kukulcan in Yucatan, and Gugu- 

 matz in Guatemala, were symbolized by the plumed serpent. 



In this Santa Helena mine were also found several figures, in terra-cotta, of 

 men, women, children, and dogs, also a rude unpainted whistle, with two holes. 

 On the man's face were red lines, giving it a tattooed appearance. One of the 

 clogs was painted in spots, reminding one of the animals for sacrifice spoken of 

 by the old writers. This specimen had its head turned half around, looking 

 back. Near it a beautifully painted armadillo was found. Three boy-like images, 

 two of them joined at the back, were found sitting astride another dog. 



Fig. 117. 



No. 28,445. 



No. 28,441. 



Images in terra-cotta, Santa Helena. 



STONE GRAVE. 



At San Francisco, on the western side of Madera, in the woods near the 

 beach, piles of stones were pointed out as graves of the old Indians. An antique 

 metate was shown me, which was said to have been taken from one of the heaps. 



