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Rh as breast-ornaments, as shown in Pl. XXII; p. 294). A fine stone mask discovered in a cist near Benque Viejo, in British Honduras, is illustrated in Fig. 65, and is interesting as showing the connection which this region evinces with the Totonac country, a specimen almost identical having been discovered in Vera Cruz. Unfortunately no early author has left an account of Maya arts and crafts as Sahagun has of Mexican, but it may safely be conjectured that the methods of the two peoples were similar.

Maya carving is seen at its best when applied to wood, but owing to the perishable nature of the material few examples have survived. Nearly all of these are from Tikal, and consist of lintels on which designs are sculptured in low and beautifully modelled relief (Fig. 48; p. 225). The fact that practically no idols have been discovered seems to indicate that they were carved in wood and so have failed to survive, and indeed Landa states that amongst the historical Yucatec the most venerated idols were wooden. The relation which the reliefs, especially those of the northern Maya region, as at Palenque, bear to wood-carvings is evident, and no doubt proficiency in wood-carving antedated skill in sculpture.

Of weaving and embroidery nothing is known, save that the historical Yucatec were experts in the art. However, the dresses of the figures sculptured on^ the monuments prove that the early Maya had attained great proficiency in the textile arts. Garments heavy with embroidery, and with elaborate inwoven designs,