COPAN. 



17 



The Jagua Stairway (No. 24, Plate I.), partly restored. 



■■ I — >- 



Detailed Description of Principal Structures. 



At the commencement of the survey the whole area comprised in the plan (Plate I.) 

 was covered with a dense growth of trees and shrubs, which had to be cleared away 

 and burnt ; but the level plazas, having been used as planting-ground, were free from 

 large timber-trees. The careless burning of felled timber and shrubs by the villagers 

 when forming their plantations has proved most disastrous to the sculpture in the 

 plazas ; almost all has been seriously damaged by fire and some entirely destroyed. 



On the slopes and raised terraces, which could not be planted with maize, there is 

 still a thick growth of forest-trees, which, except when absolutely necessary, I did not 



remove. 

 biol. centr.-amer., Archa:ol., December 1888. d 



