COPAK 37 



upper edge and a fringe of feathers or some other material along the lower edge. A 

 small portion only of this cape is visible ; it is, however, more clearly shown on some of 

 the other monuments. Over the chest lies what I propose to call the breastplate, 

 probably supported by a string of beads which passed round the back of the neck. 



The oblong panel of the breastplate is ornamented with a plait, and at each end of 

 the panel is attached an elongated serpent's head, from the open mouth of which issues 

 the head and shoulders of a grotesque human figure. (Compare b and c, Plate XXIV.) 

 This figure has an oval mark on its forehead, which is surmounted by a tall cap or 

 head-dress. (This oval mark is to be found on the foreheads of almost all the grotesque 

 heads and masks.) A necklace of beads hangs round the neck of the figure, and 

 part of another string of beads is visible, which probably hung down the back. The 

 left hand and part of the bracelet on the wrist can be seen above the lower jaw of the 

 serpent. 



On the wrists of the principal figure are bracelets in the form of a grotesque head 

 without a lower jaw, surmounted by three knotted bands. 



Bound the waist is a girdle consisting of a broad band divided into panels, each panel 

 decorated with a different design. The designs in these panels are doubtless symbolical ; 

 they occur in certain positions throughout the sculptured work, and also in the few 

 Maya MSS. which have been preserved, and promise to be an interesting subject for 

 special study. 



Hanging from the bottom of the girdle is a heavy fringe of tassels, each tassel 

 formed from a roll of some pliable material with a thong passed through the upper end. 

 In the middle of the girdle, and at the sides over each hip, is a human head. Above 

 each of these heads lies a looped tie, and heavier folds or tassels fall behind the lar°-e 

 ears, which have ear-pendants attached to them. Under the chin is a stiff plait 

 (apparently made of the same material as the plaited head-dress of the principal figure), 

 and from the under surface and ends of this plait appear the loose ends and loops of a 

 softer material ; beneath these, again, are three heavy folded tassels, each tassel with 

 an oval mark on it. The frequent use of human and grotesque heads and masks on the 

 girdles and garters &c. may account for the great number of stone and earthenware 

 heads to be seen in every museum of American antiquities. A head said to have come 

 from Copan, and now in the British Museum, is figured on pages 44 and 47. It is 

 cut from jadeite, and has holes pierced at the sides for attachment, and was quite 

 possibly used for the ornament of a girdle. There is an inscription, now much worn, 

 cut on the back of it, which is figured on Plate XXXII. 



Attached to the girdle, and hanging over it in the same manner as the faces last 

 described, and lying between them, are two bands which reach almost to the knees: 

 each is ornamented with a grotesque head without a lower jaw, hanging forehead 

 downwards, of somewhat the same type as the grotesque heads on the bracelets, and 

 decorated in the same manner with three knotted bands, with the addition in this case 

 of loose ends hanging downwards. Two circles and a bell-shaped mark, probably 



