10 QUIEIGUA. 



Stela D. (Plates III. and XXI. to XXVI.) 



Height 19 feet 6 inches ; breadth at the base about 5 feet; 

 thickness 2 feet 10 inches. 



The south face of this monument (Plate XXI.) is much damaged. The pedestal is 

 in the form of a large grotesque head. Above this head stands a full-face figure 

 holding in the left hand a tasselled shield with a grotesque full face on it, and grasping 

 in the right hand what I shall term a " manikin sceptre." The stone is so much worn 

 that the hand and sceptre are hardly distinguishable. Fig. «, on the opposite page, 

 shows a clearer example of the sceptre restored from the north face of Stela E. On 

 the top of the sceptre is a small grotesque figure with a winged scroll issuing from its 

 forehead, above the head is an ornament supporting a plume of three feathers. The 

 lower end of the shaft of the sceptre terminates in a serpent's head, with three feathers 

 issuing from its mouth. 



From the girdle hangs an apron similar to those on the Copan stelae. The legs 

 below the knee are bound with garters, to each of which is attached the usual orna- 

 ment of a human head. The sandals are most elaborate, and are ornamented over the 

 heel with a grotesque face, and over the instep with a large fringed boss. 



The ornament of the head-dress is figured on the opposite page (Fig. b). The breast- 

 ornament of the small upper grotesque face will be seen to be repeated in the same 

 position on the north face of Stela E and the south face of Stela F. 



The north face of the monument (Plate XXII.) is slightly broader than the south 

 face, and is much the same in design. The great grotesque head on the pedestal is 

 furnished with scrolls, which apparently spring from the cheeks and spread over the 

 ears ; attached to each of these scrolls is a human head with the face turned upwards. 



The tasselled shield is held in the right hand of the principal figure in such a 

 position that only half of it is shown. The manikin sceptre in the left hand is held 

 across the body with the face of the manikin turned downwards. The decoration of 

 the head-dress is so clearly shown in the photograph that no description of it is 

 necessary. 



The inscription on each side of the Stela (Plates XXIII. to XXVI.) is headed by 

 an initial series of six squares of picture-writing, the remainder of the inscription being 

 in the usual hieroglyphic script. 



The Initial Series of the inscription on the east side may, I think, be read as 

 follows: (1) 9th Cycle; (2) 16th Katun ; (3) 15th Ahau ; (4) a full count of Chuens; 

 (5) a full count of Days ; (6) 7 Ahau, (11) 18 Pop (second half of glyph). On the 

 west side : (1) 9th Cycle ; (2) 16th Katun ; (3) 13th Ahau ; (4) 4th Chuen ; (5) 17th 

 Day ; (6) 8 Caban, (11, second half of glyph) 5 Yaxkin. 



On the east side the full count of chuens and days makes the reckoning fairly easy. 

 On the west side the difficulty is greater ; however, the figure-numeral attached to the 



