“Acting as a kind of pylon to the pigs’ palace at Son Saura is a megalithic monument, unlike any other we saw....”
(page [163])
“In the immense stone wall at Llafuda are built two or three small megalithic dwellings....”
(page [159])
A short walk brought us to the altar of Torre Trencádo, which is a very fine one. The horizontal stone has in its lower surface a clean cut socket which receives the head of the upright slab, but in spite of this it has needed additional support in the shape of a pillar and wedge like the mésa at Taláto-de-Dalt. One would give much to penetrate the secret of this old-world altar standing in its great solitude, wrapped in the silence of the ages. For what strange worship of sun or moon was it erected? What implacable deity demanded a human sacrifice? Does the spirit of priest or victim ever haunt the lonely monument at twilight and hovering around the symbol of an out-worn faith realise that the gods themselves have passed away in the Götterdämmerung that has descended upon the land?
The monuments at Llafúda, although exceedingly extensive, are in a state of chaotic ruin, the monoliths lying in confusion as though flung to the ground by an earthquake. The position is partially encircled by an immense stone wall, ten feet in height, in which are built two or three small megalithic dwellings. This wall is absolutely typical of those built at the present day by the Minorcans, barring the fact that its thickness is in places not less than fifteen feet.
From the neighbouring talayót a fine view over the surrounding country is obtained—even the faint blue mountains of Majorca being visible across the water. I had a somewhat ludicrous rencontre upon the summit of the cairn, for just as I reached the top I came face to face with a big brown and white buzzard who was skimming over it from the opposite side. It would be hard to say which of us was the most startled; we both stepped back hurriedly, but the great bird was so close that I felt the wind of his wings in my face and could see his magnificent golden eyes dilate as for one moment he hung motionless, with yellow claws upturned, before he swung round and with one convulsive flap was gone.