12 QUIEIGUA. 



apparently spring from the ears of this mask extend on to the sides of the pedestal, 

 and a drawing of this ornament, so far as it can be traced, is given in the illustration 

 (Fi^. d). It consists of a string of grotesque faces somewhat similar to that on the 

 cornice of the sanctuary of the Temple of the Sun at Palenque (see Plate LXXXV. 

 Vol. IV.), but in this case the string of faces seems to be doubled back on itself. 



From the head-dress of the principal figure downwards, the general design on the 

 north and south faces of the monument may be said to be the same. In each case, a 

 manikin sceptre is grasped in the right hand, and a tasselled shield in the left hand. 

 The head-dresses of the figures, however, differ considerably. On the south face 

 (Plate XXVII.) the head is surmounted by two grotesque masks, above which 

 appear the head, arms, and hands of another figure. On the north face (Plate 

 XXVIII.) the head-dress consists of a single grotesque mask, above which, surrounded 

 by scrolls and other ornaments, is another grotesque mask of a somewhat different 

 form, with a breast-ornament similar to that on the upper grotesque face on the south 

 side of Stela D. 



The head of the principal figure on the north face of the monument is the best 

 preserved of any found on the monuments either of Copan or Quirigua. However, 

 when Mr. Giuntini began to take a mould of it, he found that there was a crack right 

 across the base of the nose, and when he touched the nose it fell off into his hand. 

 The crack was evidently an old one, as the interior surfaces were discoloured, and the 

 nose had been adhering by a piece as big as a thumb-nail, which showed a new and 

 clean fracture. The nose was carefully replaced until the moulding was finished, and 

 then, as there was no one to whose care it could be entrusted, we compounded a 

 cement and stuck it on again, leaving a rope tied round the monument to keep it in 

 place. I am glad to say that on returning to the ruins eleven years later I found that 

 our impromptu cement had proved efficacious, and, although the rope had rotted away, 

 the nose was safely in its place. 



Stela F. (Plates XXXIII. to XL.) 

 Height 24 feet ; breadth 4 feet 5 inches ; thickness 3 feet. 



This is the most graceful and most elaborately decorated of all the Quirigua stelae. 

 A drawing of both the north and south face of the monument is given on Plate XXXVI. 

 In each case the ornament extends from the face round the sides of the monument, 

 and as the complete design could not otherwise be shown, the drawing has been 

 made as though the whole of the ornament were carved on one flat surface only. 



South face: on the pedestal is a large grotesque head or mask, and above it is the 

 upper part of a human figure with hands raised and the palms turned outwards ; 



