6 COPAN. 



province of Honduras, called Copan, are certain ruins and vestiges of a great population 

 and of superb edifices, of such skill and splendour that it appears that they could never 

 have been built by the natives of that province. They are found on the banks of a 

 beautiful river in an extensive and well-chosen plain, which is temperate in climate, 

 fertile, and abounding in fish and game. Amongst the ruins are mounds which appear 

 to have been made by the hand of man *, as well as many other remarkable things. 



" Before arriving at them we find the remains of thick walls, and a great eagle in 

 stone, having on its breast a tablet a yard square, and on it certain characters which 

 are not understood. On arriving at the ruins we find another stone in the form of a 

 giant, which the elders amongst the Indians f aver was the guardian of the sanctuary. 

 Entering into it we find a cross of stone, three palms in height, with one of the arms 

 broken off. Further on we come to ruins, and, among them, stones sculptured with 

 much skill ; also a great statue, more than four yards in height, which resembles a 

 bishop in his pontifical robes with a well-wrought mitre (on his head) and rings on 

 his fingers. 



" Near this is a well-built plaza or square with steps, such as writers tell us are in 

 the Coliseum at Rome. In some places there are eighty steps, in part at least of fine 

 stone, finished and laid with much skill. 



"In this square, are six great statues, three representing men, covered with mosaic 

 work and with gaiters round their legs, their weapons covered with ornaments ; two of 

 the others are of women with long robes and head-dress in the Roman style. The 

 remaining statue is of a bishop, who appears to hold in his hand a box or small coffer. 

 They seem to have been idols, for in front of each of them is a large stone with a small 

 basin and a channel cut in it, where they executed the victim and blood flowed off. 

 We found also small altars used for burning incense. In the centre of the square is a 

 large basin of stone which appears to have been used for baptism, and in which, also, 

 sacrifices may have been made in common. After passing this square we ascend by a 

 great number of steps to a high place which appears to have been devoted to mitotes 

 and other ceremonies ; it seems to have been constructed with the greatest care, for 

 through the whole of it there can still be found stone excellently worked. On one side 

 of this structure is a tower or terrace, very high, and overhanging the river which 

 flows at its base. 



" Here a large piece of the wall has fallen, exposing the entrance of two caves or 

 passages extending under the structure, very long and narrow, and well built. I was 

 not able to discover for what they served or why they were constructed. There is a 

 grand stairway descending by a great number of steps to the river. Besides these things 



* " Hai montos que paracen haber sido fechos a mano " Squier here translates " are trees which appear to 

 have been planted by hand." "Monte " all over Spanish America is synonymous with " bush " as that term 

 is used in Australia; but it here clearly is used in its original sense of hill or mound. 



t " Dicen los Indios antiguos." 



