162 
GUATEMALA. 
in one of the vaults a well-drawn fresco covered with a 
thick coat of whitewash, and we tried to pry off a por¬ 
tion ; but could not succeed without too much damaging 
it. Horses were pasturing on the grass-grown roof of a 
part of one of the churches, and a few had portions still 
in use as places of worship, while another was occupied by 
a blacksmith. In one of these we saw some finely carved 
wooden panels. All about the city eucalyptus-trees had 
been planted. The roads are very good, and the alameda, 
or public promenade, is attractive. The corner houses 
often had most comfortable projecting windows, so placed 
that one could see in both streets at once. 
There are two industries in Antigua of considerable 
interest to the visitor, — the carving of cane-heads, which 
is done in a most artistic manner, equalling, perhaps, 
the famous ivory carvings of Dieppe, in Normandy; and 
the manufacture of dolls, or effigies, mostly of cloth, 
representing every costume and occupation of the Indios. 
These little figures — seldom more than five inches high 
— have often an expression that would not be thought 
possible, considering the material of their fabric. Solola 
is another place where these dolls, or munecos, are made, 
— a single family, I believe, having the monopoly; but 
in Antigua we found a much greater variety. Especially 
good are their figures to represent the Nativity of Christ; 
for it is customary in many of the towns to keep open 
house at Christmas-tide, and each household tries to pro¬ 
vide a Bethlehem, — much as in Germany a Christmas- 
tree is arranged; but the groups of Shepherds, the Wise 
Men from the East, as well as the Holy Family, are often 
made in the most careful and artistic way, all from bits 
of cloth. 
