without doubt symbolical. The interiors of some corresponded with the imposing character of their exteriors.
Pyramidal Temple, Palenque.
They were divided into narrow corridors and dark chambers. These were arched, or rather the roofs were supported by overlapping courses of stones—constituting a pointed arch, corresponding in type to the earliest monuments of the old world. The walls of these corridors were often stuccoed, and covered with paintings and figures in bass-relief.
Monolith, Copan.
Within some of the chambers, as at Palenque, have been discovered tablets clearly of a mythological character, covered with elaborate and artistic sculptures and hieroglyphics. In these chambers are still found the remains of idols and altars, and evidences of ancient sacrifices. The works of Stephens, Catherwood, Squier, Brasseur de Bourbourg, and Charney contain full accounts of these monuments.—In Honduras, at Copan, the remains of edifices are found, corresponding generally with the preceding description, but associated with grand monoliths, intricately carved, such as have been discovered nowhere else except at Quirigua, in the vicinity of Copan, and on the islands of Lake Nicaragua. They seem to have been planted in the areas, perhaps also on the steps and summits, of the ancient structures. Whether designed as statues of the gods of ancient worship, or to commemorate distinguished priests, warriors, or statesmen, can probably only be determined when the hieroglyphical inscriptions which some of them bear shall have been deciphered. To Copan we may safely assign an antiquity higher than to any of the other monuments of Central America with which we are acquainted, except those rude works of earth and uncut stone which also exist there, and which seem to have been the early types after which, as civilization and the arts advanced, the more imposing monuments of which we have spoken were modelled. It is certain that Copan was a ruin, concerning which only the vaguest traditions existed, at the period of the Spanish conquest.—In New Granada, among many minor relics of antiquity, such as figures of divinities and objects worked in gold and stone, are found a few considerable monuments, consisting of structures which seem to have been supported by columns of large size and just proportions. In Peru we find a very large number of aboriginal monuments, consisting not alone of ruined temples, but of great works of public utility—aqueducts, bridges, and paved roads hundreds of miles in length. The remains of the great temple of the sun at Cuzco are still imposing. In describing it as it existed at the time of the conquest, the early Spaniards expended every superlative of their language. It consisted of a principal building and several chapels and inferior edifices, covering a large extent of ground, in the heart of the city. Aqueducts opened within this sacred enclosure; and it contained gardens, and walks among shrubs and flowers of gold and silver, made in imitation of the productions of nature. It was attended by 4,000 priests. "The ground," says La Vega, "for 200 paces around the temple, was considered holy, and no one was allowed to pass within this boundary but with naked feet." Nor even under these restrictions were any permitted to enter except of the blood of the incas, in whom were centred the priestly and civil functions of the government. Besides the great temple of the sun, there was a large number of inferior temples in Cuzco, estimated by Herrera at 300. Nu-
