CHARACTER OF THE ENGRAVINGS. 137 



east, about six feet from the base of the pyramidal wall. 

 It is thirteen feet in height, four feet in front, and three 

 deep, sculptured on all four of its sides from the base 

 to the top, and one of the richest and most elaborate 

 specimens in the whole extent of the ruins. Originally 

 it was painted, the marks of red colour being still dis- 

 tinctly visible. Before it, at a distance of about eight 

 feet, is a large block of sculptured stone, which the In- 

 dians call an altar. The subject of the front is a full- 

 length figure, the face wanting beard, and of a feminine 

 cast, though the dress seems that of a man. On the 

 two sides are rows of hieroglyphics, which probably 

 recite the history of this mysterious personage. 



As the monuments speak for themselves, I shall ab- 

 stain from any verbal description ; and I have so many 

 to present to the reader, all differing very greatly in 

 detail, that it will be impossible, within reasonable lim- 

 its, to present our own speculations as to their charac- 

 ter. I will only remark that, from the beginning, our 

 great object and effort was to procure true copies of the 

 originals, adding nothing for effect as pictures. Mr. 

 Catherwood made the outline of all the drawings with 

 the camera lucida, and divided his paper into sections, 

 so as to preserve the utmost accuracy of proportion. 

 The engravings were made with the same regard to 

 truth, from drawings reduced by Mr. Catherwood him- 

 self, the originals being also in the hands of the engra- 

 ver ; and I consider it proper to mention that a portion 

 of them, of which the frontispiece was one, were sent 

 to London, and executed by engravers on wood whose 

 names stand among the very first in England ; yet, 

 though done with exquisite skill, and most effective as 

 pictures, they failed in giving the true character and 

 expression of the originals ; and, at some considerable 



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