QUIEIG-TJA. 17 



arranged in somewhat the same manner as that on the great Turtle (see Plate 

 LIII., b). The limhs are furnished with scrolls on the elbows and knees, similar to 

 those on the double-headed dragons ; the armoured covering of the limbs is fashioned 

 into a number of grotesque masks. 



The head facing the north has no inscription round it. 



A drawing of the first ten glyphs of the inscription is given on Plate LXL, d, 

 unfortunately the remainder is much defaced. 



<£, Monolithic Animal P. (Plates LIII. to LXIV.) 

 The Geeat Turtle. 

 Height 7 ft. 3 in. ; length 9 ft. 8 in. ; breadth 11 ft. 6 in. ; girth 34 ft. 



This great monument, which rnust weigh nearly twenty tons, stands, like the other 

 monolithic animals, on a foundation of three large flat stones, which are not visible in 

 the photographs. When first found it presented a most enigmatical appearance, for it 

 was not until the earth had been dug away around the base that the great hands or 

 flippers could be seen, which proved the main design to be the representation of a 

 great turtle. The head of the animal, which faces nearly south, is surrounded by 

 a hieroglyphic inscription. 



Above the head and in the middle of the inscription is an opening surrounded by a 

 scroll-border, from which peers the head of a small human figure, with hands resting on 

 the border. Above the inscription are some grotesque heads and an arrangement of 

 featherwork ornamented with discs. 



The inscription extends over the front of each forearm, and on the outside of each 

 arm there are three cartouches containing glyphs, and a fourth cartouche can be seen 

 on the turn of the wrist below the elaborate bracelet. The drawing of this inscription 

 is given on Plate LIX. and that of the bracelets and anklets on Plate LXIV. The 

 hind legs are not easily made out, but on Plate LVI. a small part of the left leg can 

 be seen above the anklet. 



Beyond the fact that the general shape of the monument can be compared to that of 

 a great carapace, the likeness to a turtle here ceases, the remainder of the surface of 

 the stone being decorated with a bewildering maze of ornament in which huge serpents' 

 heads appear to be the leading features. 



The upper surface of the monument is shaped into a gigantic grotesque face (Plate 

 LVIIL, b) with huge square eyes half covered with eyelashes, and with the pupils 

 marked by a glyph, which is repeated several times on the upper surface of the 

 monument. 



biol. casKTB.-AMEH., ArchseoL, Vol. II., February 1901. d 



