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MEXICO 
1 was unable to find any one who could explain its signification, or 
inform me of the place where it was discovered. 
But of all the figures within this inclosure, none struck me so much ax 
that of the Indio Triste — or "Sad Indian." 
This remarkable statue was discovered behind the Palace, beneath the 
street which now bears its name. It is three feet four inches high, and 
two feet broad, and was disinterred in the year 1828. It is rather the 
figure of a surly, than a sad Indian. His brows are drawn together with 
anger. His eyes are wide and glaring. His tongue is slightly protruded 
from the mouth. Around his neck is a cape of feathers, and his feet are 
sandalled. His hands are joined by the points of the fingers, and an 
aperture is thus left to insert a staff or pole — ;the bottom of which evidently 
rested in a socket cut in the base of the statue, between the feet, as indi- 
cated in the engraving. This figure was probably set on the wall, or at 
the portal of some edifice, and in his hand was erected a banner or in- 
signia of command. There is a fixed, stony gaze of imperturbable sur- 
liness and impudence in the face, which always struck me as making it 
one of the most characteristic remains in the Museum. 
Although there is ample material around me for further illustration 
of the curious idolatry of the ancient Indians, I will not trouble you with 
more sketches at present, and conclude this part of my description of 
the Museum by simply saying, that the remainder of the idols are chiefly 
images of dogs, monkeys, lizards, and rabbits— the proportions of whiob 
