12 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
EL PORTAL. 
The above is the name of a coffee plantation and farm, owned by Don Manuel 
Herrera, at the time of my visit Minister of Agriculture in the Government of 
Guatemala. The plantation is situated only a few minutes’ walk from “Antigua,” 
the old capital of Guatemala. The monuments of this place comprise a large natural 
hill or mound several hundred feet high, and perhaps five hundred feet in diame- 
ter. The top is covered by three smaller mounds, artificially made. From the top 
of one of these smaller mounds, and down the steep south side of the larger one, is 
seen the very much ruined remains of a roughly made stairway, the stones once 
composing its steps having neither been cut nor well fitted. Along the lower part 
of this stairway, and also between the three small mounds at its top, were found all 
the sculptures known from this place. At the base of the stairway is yet seen a 
large basalt block, in which can barely be made out the figure in low relief of a 
large tiger of natural size. A little higher up are seen several very rough heads of 
animals, as well asa deer head, but they can hardly be called sculptures, the original 
stones having somewhat resembled heads, and only been helped by the artist by the 
addition of a line for the mouth or a hollow for the eye. All the better sculptures 
were some time since removed to the near dwelling-house and here sheltered from 
rain and destruction; Sefior Herrera being one of the few native gentleman in Gua- 
temala who takes interest in the ancient relics of the country. The following sculp- 
tures are all which are at present known from this place. The numerals refer to 
the figures appended only where “Fig.” is put in front of them. 
Figure 1. Large block of basalt with the upper surface covered with a tiger 
in bas-relief. The tongue is stretched out, and on the same is seen perched a bird 
with long bill, very similar to an Alcedo. Size 53 by 3% feet. 
Fics. 2 and 8. Head of a male personage—Fig. 2 representing the same 
seen from the side, and Fig. 3 from the front. The face is serene and well made, 
furnished with a beard. On the head is seen a kind of helmet, the original of 
which was perhaps made of wood. In this helmet is seen a smaller face, and on 
the side of it the two arms bent upward. The back is furnished with a projection. 
Size of Fig. 2, 19 inches long by 143 inches high. Size of Fig. 3, 145 inches high 
by 83 wide. 
Fig. 4. Head of some animal, perhaps a snake, seen from the front. Rectan- 
gular posterior projection. Size, 11$ inches high by 13 inches wide. Roughly 
made sculpture. 
