GANN] MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 117 



height, which doubtloss at one time ornamented the outer surface of 

 a largo incense burner. The left foot and leg are gone; the right foo.t 

 is covered with a sandal held on by a curved heelpiece rising above 

 the back of the ankle, and fastened in a bow in front of the instep, 

 while a leather thong passing between the great and second toe is 

 attached to this, holding the front part of the sandal in place. 

 Round the leg is a broad band, with a row of semilunar ornaments 

 projecting downward from it. The maxtli has been broken away, 

 but the quilted cotton chest covering is still in position. This is 

 held in place by bands passing over the shoulders, and is ornamented 

 by a row of five circular studs passing down its center, with long 

 tassels below, which must have hung on each side of the maxtli, 

 and tassels above, attached near the shoulder, which hang down on 

 each side of it. The tlu-oat is covered by a broad band, decorated 

 along its lower edge with fom* pairs of small circular studs. Round 

 the left wrist is a bracelet composed of six flat oval beads, fastened 

 in front by an ornamental loop. The left arm is extended, and in 

 the hand, held palm upward, is grasped an acorn-shaped object 

 from wliich project nine spikes. From each side of the mouth 

 project long curved tusks. The nose is of imusual shape, being 

 long, straight, and slender; the bridge is covered by a curved snake- 

 like object. The headdress rises 6 inches above the supercihary 

 ridges; its lower part consists of the head and upper mandible of 

 the bill of some bird, probably a hawk or eagle. Above this rises a 

 hollow cyhndrical erection, with the upper border scalloped, sup- 

 ported on each side by objects which suggest broad stone blades, 

 hafted in club-shaped handles, and ornamented in front with a 

 plume of feathers. There can be Httle doubt that this figure is 

 meant to represent the God Itzamna, as the sunken cheeks, the 

 single large tooth on each side of the mouth, and the prominent, 

 though well-formed nose, are all characteristics of this god. (c) An 

 earthenware figure, closely similar in size and appearance to those 

 just described. Of the face only the left eye, the left side of the 

 mouth, and the nose are left; the last named is short, rounded, and 

 well formed, and is ornamented at its root with a smaU round stud, 

 (d) Fragments of a rough bowl of yellowish pottery, which must 

 have been of considerable size. Unfortunately only four fragments 

 were found; these exhibit on their outer surfaces parts of a hiero- 

 glyphic inscription, roughly incised in the clay while it was soft, 

 with some sharp-pointed instrument. Of the many gly[)hic inscrip- 

 tions wliich have been found at different times in British Hon- 

 duras, painted on pottery and stucco and incised on pottery, stone, 

 and other material, none has proved to be an initial series, which 

 would fix the period in the Maya long count when the mounds, temples, 

 burial places, and other monuments scattered throughout this 



