202 
GUATEMALA. 
Into two of the posts of one of these were inserted two 
ancient sculptures, said to have been brought from Peten, 
but more probably from the neighboring ruins of Copan, 
just beyond the mountains. One was the grotesque head 
of a griffin, the other a small human figure with a pre¬ 
posterous head-dress. The Santuario is an imposing 
structure, massive rather than elegant, and dazzling in its 
whiteness. Towers rise at the four corners, divided into 
four stages, of which the lower one is broken only by a 
small oval window on the side; the second is pierced by 
an arched window and decorated with pilasters; the 
third, still square, rises above the general roof with two 
windows on each side ; the fourth, octagonal in shape, 
has a single window on the alternate sides. A large 
dome rises in the midst, figures of saints and a clock 
mark the facade, and the whole structure rises from an 
extensive platform surrounded by an iron fence with 
masonry posts, and approached by a broad and easy flight 
of steps. 
On entering, the first thing noticed was the immense 
thickness of the walls, ten or twelve feet at least, — a 
reminder that this is an earthquake country. The floor 
was paved with large red tiles, needing repairs in 
places. Among the pictures was one of the Last Supper, 
and near it a decidedly local one of people lassoing 
Christ. We had hardly glanced about, when a curious 
figure presented himself, speaking tolerable English very 
rapidly, and, after the usual interchange of compliments, 
introduced himself as Dr. Jose Fabregos y Pares, a trav¬ 
eller ; and then presented his companion, the handsome 
young cura, Padre Gabriel Davila, who welcomed us to 
his church and showed us the curiosities of the place. 
