C *57 ) 



The gate is in the middle of the length of the 

 building, which has no other opening : on each 

 fide there are feats of ftone. What is within is 

 quite correfpondent to this ruftic outfide. Three 

 pieces of wood, joined at the extremity, and placed 

 in a triangle, or rather at an equal diftance from 

 one another, take up aim off the whole middle fpace 

 of the remple, and burn (lowly away. An Indian, 

 Whom they call keeper of the temple, is obliged 

 to tend them, and to prevent their going our* 

 If the weather is cold he may have a fire for him- 

 felf, for he is not allowed to warm himfelf at this, 

 which burns in honour of the fun. This keepef 

 Was alfo at the fefhval ; at lead I did not fee 

 him, but his brands oocafioned a fmoke which 

 almoff blinded us. 



Ornaments 1 faw none, nor any thing indeed 

 which could inform me that this was a temple. I 

 faw only three or four boxes lying in diforder, with 

 a few dry bones in them, and fome wooden heads 

 on the ground, of fomewhat better workmanfhip 

 than the eagles on the roof. In fhort, if it had 

 not been for the fire, I mould have believed this 

 temple had been deferted for fome time, or that it 

 had been lately plundered. Thofe cones, wrapt 

 up in fkins, the dead bodies of the chiefs ranged 

 in a circle within a temple intirely round, and 

 terminated in the manner of a dome, thofe altars,- 

 &c. of which fome accounts make mention, of all 

 thefe I have feen nothing ; and, if ever fuch things 

 were to be feen, they have been greatly changed 

 fince that time. 



But, as no one ought absolutely to be condemned 

 while there is a fhadow of an excufe for him, it is 

 Vol. It S poffibkf 



