CHAP. XIV. 



vase-busts: 



283 



which were continually being disturbed. Senor Gomez de la 

 Torre, hearing me lament that I was never able to be present at a 

 find, very kindly offered to send the entire contents of a grave, 

 and he was as good as his word. The case, however, did not even 

 reach Guayaquil before my departure for Europe ; and, upon arrival 

 in London, its contents were found to have suffered severely 



^^ 



from Panama ^ baggage-smashers ' and other disturbing influences. 

 Some rounded stones (presumably corn - pounders) had danced 

 about and cannonaded the pottery. After much labour, most of 

 the contents were ^ restored,^ and they are represented in the 

 engraving upon page 284.^ 



1 Dr. W. H. Flower has favoured me with the following note: — "The skull 

 from Ibarra is evidently of considerable antiquity, as shewn by the dry and brittle 



