yphics an explanation of each statue, but what it is, is
yet unknown. Mr. Stephens says: "Of the moral effect of the monuments
themselves, standing as they do, in the depths of a tropical forest,
silent and solemn, strange in design, excellent in sculpture, rich in
ornament, different from the works of any other people; their uses and
purposes--their whole history--so entirely unknown, with hieroglyphics
explaining all, but perfectly unintelligible, I shall not pretend to
convey any idea. Often the imagination was pained in gazing at them. The
tone which pervades the ruins is that of deep solemnity."

In front of most of the statues is what is called an altar, which would
seem to imply that these monuments are really idols. "The altars, like
the idols, are all of a single block of stone. In general, they are not
so richly ornamented, and are more faded and worn, or covered with moss.
Some were completely buried, and of others it was difficult to make out
more than the form. All differed in position, and doubtless had some
distinct and peculiar reference to the idols before which they stood."

Illustration of Statue, Copan.----------------

These altars are strongly suggestive of sacrificial scenes. The altar
before the idol found in the court-yard on the terrace of the temple,
is one of the most interesting objects found at Copan. It is six feet
square and four feet high. The top is divided into thirty-six tablets
of hieroglyphics which we may well imagine records some events in the
history of this mysterious people. Each side has carved on it four human
figures. They are generally all represented as facing the same way.
We give an illustration of the east side. Each individual is sitting
cross-legged on a hieroglyphic, and has a ponderous head-dress.

Illustration of Hieroglyphics, top of Altar.---------

Mr Stephens found the quadrangle at the south-east corner of the plan to
be thickly strewn with fragments of fine sculpture. Amongst the rest was
a "remarkable portrait." (Shown later.) "It is probably the portrait
of some king, chieftain, or sage. The mouth is injured, and part of the
ornament over the wreath that crowns the head. The expression is noble
and severe, and the whole character shows a close imitation of nature."
Colonel Gallindo, who visited Copan in 1835, discovered a vault very
near where the circular towers are located, on the terrace fronting the
river. This vault was five feet wide, ten f