152 



INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



Toward the south, at a distance of fifty feet, is a 

 mass of fallen sculpture, with an altar, marked E, on 

 the map ; and at ninety feet distance is the statue 

 marked Q, standing with its front to the east, twelve 

 feet high and three feet square, on an oblong pedestal 

 seven feet in front and six feet two inches on the sides. 

 Before it, at a distance of eight feet three inches, is an 

 altar five feet eight inches long, three feet eight inches 

 broad, and four feet high. 



The face of this idol" is decidedly that of a man. 

 The beard is of a curious fashion, and joined to the 

 mustache and hair. The ears are large, though not 

 resembling nature ; the expression is grand, the mouth 

 partly open, and the eyeballs seem starting from the 

 sockets ; the intention of the sculptor seems to have 

 been to excite terror. The feet are ornamented with 

 sandals, probably of the skins of some wild animals, in 

 the fashion of that day. 



The back of this monument contrasts remarkably 

 with the horrible portrait in front. It has nothing gro- 

 tesque or pertaining to the rude conceits of Indians, but 

 is noticeable for its extreme grace and beauty. In our 

 daily walks we often stopped to gaze at it, and the more 

 we gazed the more it grew upon us. Others seemed 

 intended to inspire terror, and, with their altars before 

 them, sometimes suggested the idea of a blind, bigoted, 

 and superstitious people, and sacrifices of human vic- 

 tims. This always left a pleasing impression ; and there 

 was a higher interest, for we considered that in its me- 

 dallion tablets the people who reared it had published 

 a record of themselves, through which we might one 

 day hold conference with a perished race, and unveil 

 the mystery that hung over the city. 



