342 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



sculpture is in bas-relief. The tablets are represented 

 in the engravings opposite. 



The construction of the tablets was a large stone on 

 each side, and smaller ones in the centre, as indicated 

 by the dark lines in the engravings. 



In the right-hand tablet one line is obliterated by 

 water that has trickled down for an unknown length of 

 time, and formed a sort of stalactite or hard substance, 

 which has incorporated itself with the stone, and which 

 we could not remove, though perhaps it might be de- 

 tached by some chemical process. In the other tablet, 

 nearly one half of the hieroglyphics are obliterated by 

 the action of water and decomposition of the stone. 

 When we first saw them both tablets were covered 

 with a thick coat of green moss, and it was necessary 

 to wash and scrape them, clear the lines with a stick, 

 and scrub them thoroughly, for which last operation a 

 pair of blacking-brushes that Juan had picked up in my 

 house at Guatimala, and disobeyed my order to throw 

 away upon the road, proved exactly what we wanted 

 and could not have procured. Besides this process, on 

 account of the darkness of the corridor, from the thick 

 shade of the trees growing before it, it was necessary to 

 burn candles or torches, and to throw a strong light 

 upon the stones while Mr. Catherwood was drawing. 



The corridor in the rear is dark and gloomy, and di- 

 vided into three apartments. Each of the side apart- 

 ments has two narrow openings about three inches wide 

 and a foot high. They have no remains of sculpture, 

 or painting, or stuccoed ornaments. In the centre apart- 

 ment, set in the back wall, and fronting the principal 

 door of entrance, is another tablet of hieroglyphics, 

 four feet six inches wide and three feet six inches high. 

 The roof above it is tight ; consequently it has not suf- 



