eet long, and four feet high.
It was used for burial purposes. Over fifty vessels of red pottery,
containing human bones, were found in it.<3>

Illustration of Bas-relief, East Site of Altar.------------

In this hasty sketch we do not feel that we have done justice to Copan.
It is, however, all the space we can devote to this interesting ruin.
We call special attention to the hieroglyphics on the altar and the
statues. We will find other hieroglyphics at Palenque, and in Yucatan,
evidently derived from these.<4> They have been made the subject of very
interesting study, and we will refer to them again at another page.
We also notice especially the fact that we have no ruined buildings at
Copan. In this respect it stands almost alone among the Central American
ruins. The distinguishing features, however, are the carved obelisks.
They are evidently not the work of rude, people. Mr. Stephens, who was
every way qualified to judge, declares that some of them "are in every
way equal to the finest Egyptian workmanship, and that with the best
instruments of modern times, it would be impossible to cut stone more
perfectly."

Illustration of Portrait, Copan.-------------

A dark mystery hangs over these ruins. Their builders are unknown.
Whether we have here some temple sacred to the gods of the Maya pantheon
or some palace made resplendent for royal owners, who can tell? Whether
these are the ruins of the more substantial public buildings of a great
city, of which all other buildings have vanished--or whether this is
the remains of a prosperous pueblo, whose communal houses crowded the
terraces, with sacrificial altars on the lofty pyramids--who knows? At
long intervals a passing traveler visits them, ponders over their fast
disappearing ruins, and goes his way. The veil drops, the tropical
forest more securely environs them--and thus the years come and go over
the ruins of Copan.

Nearly north from Copan (see map), about half-way to the coast, on the
bank of the river Montagua, is found a small hamlet, by the name of
Quiriga. Mr. Stephens, when traveling in the country in 1840, after many
careful inquiries, heard of ruins near that place. Though not able to
explore them himself, his companion, Mr. Catherwood, did. The result
of this gentleman's exertion makes us acquainted with another group of
ruins, in many respects similar to those of Copan, though apparently
much farther gone in decay. His visit was a very hur