38 COPAN. 



representing beads, lie over the bottom of the hanging band, which has a hatched mark 

 on the extreme end. 



From the centre of the girdle hangs what it will be convenient to call an apron. 

 The middle of this apron is, in this instance, ornamented with circles, bars, and dots ; 

 it is more usually decorated with a grotesque face or mask. The ornament of the sides 

 of the apron, which is shaded in the Plate, is derived from the plumed serpent's head, 

 as can be seen in the series of drawings on Plate XXIV., f-j. The lower part of the 

 apron is ornamented with circles and dots, and terminates in a winged scroll or loop. 



Broad bands or garters of beads and tassels are fastened round the legs below the 

 knees, and have a central ornament lying just below the knee-cap in the shape of a 

 grotesque head with a fringe of tassels in place of a lower jaw. 



It will be as well to quote here part of a description of the dress of the Indians in 

 the North of Yucatan, written at the orders of the Cabildo of Valladolid in the year 

 1579 * by a committee of the earliest Spanish settlers in that part of the country : — 



" The Indians of the province of Chiquinchal &c. are clad in ' xicoles ' of cotton and 

 feathers, woven like a two-sleeved jacket of many colours. They wear between their 

 legs a ' mastil,' which is a long piece of woven stuff; this is tied over the stomach and, 

 taking a turn below, clothes them decently. Two long ends with many feathers on 



them hang down before and behind Many of the men go naked except 



their ' mastiles.' " 



What I have called the girdle and apron is undoubtedly the ornamented loin-cloth 

 or " mastil " of the Indians of Yucatan ; but it will be convenient to retain the terms 

 girdle and apron in describing the decoration. 



The ornament of the anklets and sandals is similar to that of the bracelets, but the 

 three knotted bands are prolonged into thongs which pass between the toes and fasten 

 into the soles of the sandals. 



Above the plaited head-dress of the principal figure, and perhaps attached to it, is a 

 grotesque face or mask with a winged scroll rising from the top of it. On each side 

 of the plaited head-dress is a grotesque-headed human figure in a crouching attitude, 

 with its feet resting on one of the serpent's heads attached to the ends of the plait. 

 The head of this figure is surmounted by a grotesque mask. A cord round the neck 

 supports a breastplate, and on the wrists and ankles are bracelets and anklets, and the 

 end of a loin-cloth can be seen passing over the thigh and hanging down. This figure 

 is holding against its breast, with both hands, the body of a serpent, whose open- 

 mouthed head occupies the upper corners of the design. Something to which no 

 name or meaning can yet be attached is issuing from the serpent's open jaws. The 

 tail of the serpent hangs down and ends in a winged scroll. 



Behind these figures is a graceful arrangement of feathers, which were probably 

 attached to the back of the head-dress. 



From behind the elbows of the principal figure appears part of an ornament, con- 

 * ' lielacion de la Villa de Valladolid do Yucatan.' Iinprenta de Fovtanet, Madrid, 1884. 



