640 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 2S 



colors used, in polish and border decoration, it corresporids to the 

 vases described in Verhandlungen, 18^3, page 548, except that the 

 ground is white. It is well preserved, and does not seem to have been 

 used before burial. 



This time, however, the picture is essentially different. Thus far 

 we have only met with paintings where one figure appears twice on 

 the same pot, with slight variations; on this vase, on the contrary, we 

 have a group of seven persons taking part in a common action. This 

 is no conventional design, but a painting which possesses life and 

 shows an amazing degree of artistic skill. It seems to represent some 

 religious ceremony which Avas celebrated at the completion of a cer- 

 tain still undetermined j^eriod of time, and at which human sacrifice 

 was performed. It ought to be possible, however, to determine this 

 period, since the glyph referring to it occurs on the monuments 

 of Palenque and Co^ian. Ihifortunately, it has not thus far l)een pos- 

 sible to collect sufficient accurate material for such comparisons, and 

 yet it is of the utmost importance for the decipherment of the 

 glyphs that the inscriptions on stone should be made accessible to all. 

 The only student who has made this his life task is the distinguished 

 Englishman, Mr A. P. Maudslay, wdio for many years has studied 

 the ruins and collected extensive material, which he is gradually 

 publishing in his work, Biologia Centra li-x\mericana, issued in 

 London. Thus far four volumes have appeared, which treat of Copan 

 and Quirigua, and which should be consulted b}' all who are inter- 

 ested in Maja investigation. Science owes Mr Maudslay a debt of 

 gratitude for his generous labors, to which he is devoting nuu'h care 

 and expense. It is to be hoped that others may soon follow who 

 will share in these researches, but wealthy institutions and govern- 

 ments are particularly called upon to undertake this work. In 

 Germany we possess the most valuable Maya manuscript, and our 

 scholars have taken the most active part in deciphering it; but, on the 

 other hand, almost nothing has been done on the part of Germany 

 toward collecting fresh material and promoting researches which 

 give such rich returns when conducted on the spot. The British 

 Museum, on the contrary, as soon as space can be found will arrange 

 a Maya department in which the plaster casts prepared by Mr 

 Maudslay are to be placed, and the Peabody jNIuseum has leased 

 the ruins of Copan for eight years more and has already begun exca- 

 vations, the results of which Avill, it is hoped, very soon be published. 



Meanwhile some of the ruins, especially Quirigua, past wdiich the 

 new Guatemalan railroad is to be carried, will soon be completely 

 destroyed. If Germany desires to take part in these researches a 

 beginning must be made at once. 



I will now proceed to a description of the picture. I wnll designate 

 the Indian standing in the left-hand corner by a, the next by 6, and 



