122 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



engraving opposite. It is leaning twelve feet two inch- 

 es out of the perpendicular, and seems ready to fall, 

 which is probably prevented only by a tree that has 

 grown up against it and the large stones around the 

 base. The side toward the ground represents the fig- 

 ure of man, very perfect and finely sculptured. The 

 upper side seemed the same, but was so hidden by ve- 

 getation as to make it somewhat uncertain. The other 

 two contain hieroglyphics in low relief. In size and 

 sculpture this is the finest of the whole. 



A statue ten feet high is lying on the ground, cover- 

 ed with moss and herbage, and another about the same 

 size lies with its face upward. 



There are four others erect, about twelve feet high, 

 but not in a very good state of preservation, and several 

 altars so covered with herbage that it was difficult to 

 ascertain their exact form. One of them is round, and 

 situated on a small elevation within a circle formed by 

 a wall of stones. In the centre of the circle, reached 

 by descending very narrow steps, is a large round stone, 

 with the sides sculptured in hieroglyphics, covered with 

 vegetation, and supported on what seemed to be two 

 colossal heads. 



These are all at the foot of a pyramidal wall, near 

 each other, and in the vicinity of a creek which empties 

 into the Motagua. Besides these they counted thir- 

 teen fragments, and doubtless many others may yet be 

 discovered. 



At some distance from them is another monument, 

 nine feet out of ground, and probably two or three un- 

 der, with the figure of a woman on the front and back, 

 and the two sides richly ornamented, but without hie- 

 roglyphics. 



The next day the negro promised to show Mr. C. 

 eleven square columns higher than any he had seen, 



