FATE OF THE LINTEL. 407 



the most interesting specimens the comitry afforded. 

 I had the sculptm-ed sides packed in dry gras^nd 

 covered with hemp bagging, and intended to pass 

 them through the village without stopping, but the 

 Indians engaged for that purpose left them two days 

 on the ground exposed to heavy rain, and I was 

 obliged to have them brought to the convent, where 

 the grass was taken out and dried. The first morn- 

 ing one or two hundred Indians at work at the no- 

 ria came up in a body to look at them. It was sev- 

 eral days before I could get them away, but, to my 

 great relief, they at length left the village on the 

 shoulders of Indians, and I brought them with me 

 safely to this city. The reader anticipates my con- 

 clusion, and if he have but a shade of sympathy 

 with the writer, he mourns over the melancholy fate 

 that overtook them but a short time after their ar- 

 rival. 



The accidental discovery of these sculptured 

 beams, and in a position where we had no reason 

 to look for such things, induced us to be more care- 

 ful than ever in our examination of every part of 

 the building. The lintel over the corresponding 

 doorway on the other side of the staircase was still 

 in its place, and in good condition, but perfectly 

 plain, and there was no other sculptured lintel 

 among all the ruins of Kabah. Why this particu- 

 lar doorway was so distinguished it is impossible to 

 say. The character of this sculpture added to the 

 interest and wonder of all that was connectet? with 



