application was promptly responded to by that distinguished, traveller, who sent
me a beautiful drawing of which the annexed lithograph is an exact copy. The
original is preserved in the collection of the illustrious Professor Blumenbach,
and is the identical specimen brought by the Prince de Wied, and figured in the
Decades Craniorum. Not having had access to the skull itself, I cannot give all
its measurements according to my adopted plan; hut the following description
from the above work of Professor Blumenbach, will in a great degree supply the
deficiency.
“ The age of this man,” says he, “ was about five and twenty. During the
war between the Botocudos and the Portuguese, he was accustomed to join his
countrymen in their hostile incursions; but after hostilities ceased, he frequently
visited the garrison on the Rio Doce, where he not long after fell sick and died.
“ The cranium, which is large, is also very ponderous from the thickness of
the bones, and their dense and hard texture: and as a whole, if you disregard for
a moment the under jaw, the figure and interval of the orbits, the elevated nasal
spine, and other particulars peculiar to man, the general aspect approaches nearer
to that of the Orang Outang than any other skull from a barbarous nation to be
seen in my collection. I have indeed one or two specimens of the Negro, in
which the upper jaw is more projecting; but this skull differs from them in other
respects, besides having the cheek bones more prominent, and a greater swell of
the parietal bones.
“ But what deserves particular notice is an indentation, shaped like the point
of the finger on wax, which remains after the loss of the front teeth, the sockets
of which are compressed, or rather completely absorbed. So universally, the
Prince de Wied assures me, does this happen to the youth of this nation from
wearing the wooden lip-ornament, already mentioned, that you will scarcely find
one of them arrived at the age of thirty who retains these teeth.”*
I have only to add the following measurements, which are derived from the
drawing.
Longitudinal diameter 6.5 inches.
Vertical diameter about 5.6 inches.
Facial angle.
T H E MEXICANS .
The valleys of Mexico, the ancient Anahuac, have been compared, in their
political vicissitudes, to those of Italy. Beautiful and productive in a remarkable
degree, and possessing a delightful climate, Mexico has excited the cupidity of
many different nations, who have successfully established their dominion over it.
Let us for a moment enumerate these various people, and at the same time
inquire into their peculiar characteristics.
1 . Mexican tradition states that the country was originally inhabited by
barbarous hordes, who were no doubt analogous, in their physical appearance and
social institutions, to the present population of the more northern, regions of the
continent. They have left no monuments ; but it is probable their descendants
yet exist among the uncultivated tribes which are still scattered over the country.
2 . Of the civilised nations of Anahuac, those which claim the greatest,
antiquity are the Olmecas, who extended their migrations to Nicaragua and the
Gulf of Nicoya;—the Miztecas and the Zapotecas. These people are said to have
been as highly cultivated as any of the nations who succeeded them: and it seems
more than probable that some of the architectural monuments of Mexico, will yet
be traced to a period long antecedent to the arrival of the Toltecas.* Among the
nations who inhabited the country at this early epoch, are also to be mentioned
the Tarascas, and the Otomies, the latter being the least civilised of them all.
3. The first recorded invasion of Mexico was that of the Toltecas, which is
dated by most historians about the year 600 of our era.f Their original seats are
stated in their traditions to have been to the northwest of Mexico, in a country
called Huehuetapallan. Their monarchy commenced in the year 607, and
terminated, as we have already stated, A. D. 1031; at which period a series of
calamities caused their partial destruction, and dispersion into other countries.
Of all the nations of Anahuac, the Toltecas were the most refined in their social
relations, and most skilful in the arts and sciences. They introduced the
cultivation of Indian corn and cotton : they made roads, lived in towns and cities,
and erected as we have seen,J the most surprising monuments of the new world.
* Humboldt, Monuments, H, p. 249.
t Boturini, with much plausibility, dates the Toltecan monarchy before the Christian era. It is
indeed difficult to imagine that the monuments of Palneque are but 1200 years old.
% See page 84, and sequel.
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