MAYA INDIANS OF" YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 



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dently fragments of incenso burners, as arms, legs, and parts of head- 

 dresses, faces, maxtlis, and breastplates were plentiful among them. 

 Near the center of the summit, partially projecting from the earth, 

 was discovered the almost complete incense burner shown in plate 20 

 and figure 67. Tlie vess.el which served as a receptacle for the 

 incense is 15^ inches high by 9 inches in diameter at the mouth. The 

 human figure wliich decorates the side of the vessel is 22 inches in 

 height from the top of the headdress to the sole of the sandals. The 

 figurine was not complete when first discovered, as the hands, arms, 

 feet, maxtli, and feather ornaments from the sides and headdress were 

 missing; nearly all of these, howeyer, were unearthed, mixed with 

 other pieces of pottery, not far from the incense burner. The head- 

 dress consists of a flat, broad cap with slightly projecting rim and 

 large quadrangular flaps, which extend 

 do^^^lward and outward over the largo 

 ear plugs. Tlie back of the cap ex- 

 tends upward 3 inches; the crown is 

 decorated with feather ornaments, 

 while on each side appears an object 

 resembhng half an ear of maize, from 

 the top of which depends a tassel. 

 The nose is sharp, thin, and promi- 

 nent; starting on each side of it and 

 passing down almost to the angles of 

 the jaw, where it ends in a little up- 

 ward curl, is what might bo intended 

 as either a mustache or some form of 

 nose ornament. From each angle of 

 the mouth projects a circular labret; 

 this evidently passes behind the upper 

 lip, which it causes to bulge consider- 

 ably. The ear plugs are large, round, 

 and fimnel-shaped (pi. 20) ; these, as 

 well as the shoulders, show traces of 

 blue paint, with which the entire figure 

 was evidently at one time covered. Around the neck is a flat collar 

 decorated with five circular studs, to the sides and front of which is 

 attached a hollow cylindrical bar, wliich supports the quilted cotton 

 breastplate. The latter is decorated with six tassels, three above 

 and three below, and below it is seen the plain apron (maxtli), which 

 descends almost to the sandals. Tlie shoulders are covered with caps 

 or epaulets reaching just below the armpits ; on the forearms are brace- 

 lets, fastened with loops on the inner side, and on the feet sandals, 

 held in place by vertical heelpieces and thongs, and decorated with 

 large fiaps, wliich almost cover the dorsum of each foot. Attached 



Fig. 67.— Another view of incense burner 

 shown in plate 20. 



