406 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



tempt upon this part of the coast, so that the aborigi- 

 nes must have remained for a long time in this place 

 unmolested. And the strong impression of a com- 

 paratively very recent occupation is derived from 

 the appearance of the buildings themselves, w^hich, 

 though not less ruined, owing to the ranker growth 

 of trees, had in some instances an appearance of 

 freshness and good keeping that, amid the desola- 

 tion and solitude around, was almost startling. 



Outside of the walls are several small buildings, 

 no doubt intended for adoratorios, or altars, one of 

 which is represented in the following engraving. It 

 stands on a terrace, having a circular platform, on 

 the brow of the cliff, overlooking the sea, and meas- 

 ures fifteen feet front by twelve deep. The door- 

 way faces the north. The interior consists of a 

 single chamber, and against the back wall is an al- 

 tar in such a state of preservation as to be fit for its 

 original uses. Near the foot of the steps, overgrown 

 by the scrubby wild palm which covers the whole 

 cliff, is a small altar, with ornaments in stucco, one 

 of w^hich seems intended to represent a pineapple. 

 These wanted entirely the massive character of the 

 buildings, and are so slight that they could almost 

 be pushed over with the foot. They stand in the 

 open air, exposed to strong easterly winds, and al- 

 most to the spray of the sea. It was impossible to 

 believe that the altar had been abandoned three 

 hundred years ; within that time some guardian eye 

 had watched over it, some pious hand had repaired 



