ANOTHER WITNESS FOR THESE RUINS. 413 



ing figure ; and under his feet is a row of hiero- 

 glyphics. 



While toiling to bring to light these buried stones, 

 I little thought that I was raising up another wit- 

 ness to speak for the builders of these ruined cities. 

 The reader will notice in the first engraving a weap- 

 on in the hands of the kneeling figure. In that 

 same large canoe before referred to, Herrera says, 

 the Indians had " Swords made of Wood, having a 

 Gutter in the fore Part, in which were sharp-edged 

 Flints, strongly fixed with a sort of Bitumen and 

 Thread." The same weapon is described in every 

 account of the aboriginal weapons; it is seen in 

 every museum of Indian curiosities, and it is in use 

 at this day among the Indians of the South Sea Isl- 

 ands. The sword borne by the figure represented 

 in the engraving is precisely of the kind described 

 by Herrera. I was not searching for testimony to 

 establish any opinion or theory. There was inter- 

 est enough in exploring these ruins without attempt- 

 ing to do so, and this witness rose unbidden. 



In lifting these stones out of the holes and set- 

 ting them up against the walls, I had been obliged 

 to assist myself, and almost the moment it was fin- 

 ished I found that the fatigue and excitement had 

 been too much for me. My bones ached ; a chill 

 crept over me ; I looked around for a soft stone to 

 lie down upon ; but the place was cold and damp, 

 and rain was threatening. I saddled my horse, and 

 when I mounted I could barely keep my seat. I 



