128 LOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. VIII.—B. S. 
may be intended as genuine representations of de¬ 
parted Indian chiefs, and the terrifying ones as idols 
calculated to overawe. But it is just possible that 
the figures with mild expression are idols worshipped 
by the Nicaraguans previous to the Aztec (Mexican) 
conquest, which doubtless brought along with it the 
bloody rites of the dominant religion of the plains of 
Anahuac, of which Cortez and his companions were 
the unwilling spectators during their memorable stay 
in Mexico. A most finished piece of sculpture I found 
near the Limon mine in New Segovia. It was a large 
font broken in halves, having on the outside a human 
face representing the sun, the hair doing duty for the 
rays, as shown in the rough cut below. But what 
struck me as singular was the circumstance that there 
was a long pair of moustaches, such as no Indian ever 
had; and the question at once suggested itself, Did 
fancy induce the Indian artist to add this long appen- 
dage, or did he copy it directly or indirectly from a 
bearded race with which his countrymen had come 
in contact ? 
