The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 4, Antiquities: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 4Bancroft, Hubert Howe
History
The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 4, Antiquities: The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 4
Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Indians -- Bibliography; Indians of Central America; Indians of Mexico; Indians of North America -- Pacific Coast of North America
The Chontal statues are divided by Mr Boyle into two classes; the
first of which includes idols, with fierce and distorted features,
never found on the graves, but often near them; while the second is
composed of portrait-statues, always distinguished by closed eyes and
a calm, "simple, human air about their features, however irregularly
modeled." The latter are always found on or in the cairns under which
bodies are interred, and are much more numerous than the idols proper.
Unfortunately we have but few drawings in support of this theory. It
is true that the two classes of features are noticeable elsewhere, as
well as here, but the position of the statues does not seem to justify
any such division into portraits and idols. Mr Boyle also believes the
Chontal sculptures better modeled though less elaborate than those of
the south-west.[II-58]
[Illustration: Idols of Subtiava.--Fig. 3 and 4.]
[Illustration: Chontal Statues.--Fig. 1 and 2.]
[Illustration: Fig. 3.]
Fig. 1 is one of several statues found near Juigalpa; it is of the
portrait class, and is remarkable for the wen over the eye and a cross
on the breast. Fig. 2 is the head of another taken from a cairn near
Libertad, and since used to prop up a modern wall. Fig. 3 is what Mr
Pim terms a head-stone of one of the graves in the same locality. Many
of the images have holes drilled through them; there is no distinction
of sex, and here, as elsewhere, there is no attempt at drapery. Entire
statues seem to be rare, but fragments very abundant. Mr Squier notes
in all the Nicaraguan statues a general resemblance, but at the same
time marked individuality, and deems it possible to identify many of
them with the gods of the Mexican Pantheon.[II-59]
[Sidenote: NICARAGUAN WEAPONS.]
My fourth class includes weapons, implements, ornaments, and other
miscellaneous articles of stone. There is a mention without
description of arrow-heads and flint flakes dug up from the graves of
Ometepec. Celts, much like those extant in European collections, are
reported as of frequent occurrence; two of granite and one of basalt
at Ometepec, and one of chipped flint at Zapatero, the latter being
regular in outline, with a smooth sharp edge, believed by Mr Boyle to
be of very rare form, and unique in America. Axes are also said to be
numerous, there being specially mentioned one of basalt, broad and
thin, from Ometepec; and a similar one, three or four inches wide, six
inches long, and of a uniform thickness, not exceeding one third of an
inch, from Zapatero.
[Illustration: Nicaraguan Weapons.--Fig. 1 and 2.]
[Illustration: Nicaraguan Weapons.--Fig. 3 and 4.]
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