WELCOME VISITERS. 



131 



is represented in the plate opposite. It is in a dilap- 

 idated condition, but still presents bold and striking 

 ornaments. Even on this scale, however, the details 

 of the sitting figures above the cornice do not appear. 



While we were engaged in making a clearing in 

 front of this building, two young men came down 

 upon the terrace from the corner that was fallen, and 

 apparently from the top of the building, with long 

 guns, the locks covered with deer-skin, and all the 

 accoutrements of cac adores, or hunters. They were 

 tall, fine- looking fellows, fearless and frank in ap- 

 pearance and manner. Dr. Cabot's gun was the 

 first object that attracted their attention, after which 

 they laid down their guns, and, as if for the mere 

 sport of swinging their machetes, were soon fore- 

 most in making the clearing. When this was fin- 

 ished, Mr. C. sat up his camera lucida, and though 

 at first all gathered round, in a few minutes he was 

 left with only the two brothers, one of them holding 

 over him an umbrella to protect him from the sun. 



Except the Uttle boy and the woman, these were 

 the first persons we had seen within speaking dis- 

 tance. We were so pleased with their appearance 

 that we proposed to one of them to accompany us 

 in our search after ruins. The elder was quite ta- 

 ken with the idea of rambling, but soon said, with 

 a rather disconsolate tone, that he had a wife and 

 children. His hermanito, or younger brother, how- 

 ever, had no such ties, and would go with us. We 

 made an agreement on the spot ; and nothing can 



