ACCOUNT OF THE RUINS. 



131 



I will mention the little that was previously known of 

 these ruins. 



Huarros, the historian of Guatimala, says, " Fran- 

 cisco de Fuentes, who wrote the Chronicles of the King- 

 dom of Guatimala, assures us that in his time, that is, 

 in the year 1700, the great circus of Copan still re- 

 mained entire. This was a circular space surrounded 

 by stone pyramids about six yards high, and very well 

 constructed. At the bases of these pyramids were fig- 

 ures, both male and female, of very excellent sculpture, 

 which then retained the colours they had been enam- 

 elled with, and, what was not less remarkable, the 

 whole of them were habited in the Castilian costume. 

 In the middle of this area, elevated above a flight of 

 steps, was the place of sacrifice. The same author af- 

 firms that at a short distance from the circus there was 

 a portal constructed of stone, on the columns of which 

 were the figures of men, likewise represented in Span- 

 ish habits <f with hose, and ruff* around the neck, sword, 

 cap, and short cloak. On entering the gateway there 

 are two fine stone pyramids, moderately large and 

 lofty, from which is suspended a hammock that con- 

 tains two human figures, one of each sex, clothed in the 

 Indian style. Astonishment is forcibly excited on vicAV- 

 ing this structure, because, large as it is, there is no ap- 

 pearance of the component parts being joined together ; 

 and though entirely of one stone, and of an enormous 

 w^eight, it may be put in motion by the slightest im- 

 pulse of the hand." 



From this time, that is, from the year 1700, there is 

 no account of these ruins until the visit of Colonel Ga- 

 lindo in 1836, before referred to, who examined them 

 under a commission from the Central American gov- 

 ernment, and whose communications on the subject 



