vian cranium from Quilca: the form is different from that of
the skull represented by Tiedemann, and from those of the
Indians of North-western America, but different modes and degrees
of compression will produce different kinds of deformity.
We have in our possession a skull in which the pressure has
been applied diagonally from the left half of the frontal to
the right half of the occipital bone. In addition to these
facts, we have the testimony of historians and travellers, that
it was the practice in Peru to compress the heads of the children.
The following authorities, as quoted by Blumenbaeh^
are sufficient to establish this point. | De la Condamine informs
us that the custom prevails in South America, and
that it was known to the Peruvians; and in the year 1585,
the synod of Lima prohibited the custom under the pain of
ecclesiastical punishments. The synod alludes to the practice
as universally prevalent in Peru, and that it has fallen
into disuse since the arrival of the Spaniards in that country,”
_ These facts are sufficient to prove the possibility of modifying
the human cranium by means of pressure, that the custom
was very general throughout North and South America, and
that the same practice prevailed among the ancient Peruvians j
consequently, it is more probable that the ancient skulls of
Titicaca owed their strange configuration to a process which
we know is capable of explaining the phenomena, than that
they constituted an original race, a circumstance of which we
have no other evidence than that derived from the shape of
the cranium. Professor Scouler has given the sketch of an
infant skull of one of the Columbian tribes, which is as much
elongated as the skulls brought by Mr. Pentland from Titicaca.
The method used for the compression of the head is
described as follows:
“ Immediately after birth the infant is placed in a kind of
oblong cradle, formed like a trough, with moss under it.
One end, on which the head reposes, is more elevated than
the rest. A padding is then placed on the forehead with a
piece of cedar-bark over it, and by means of cords passed
through small holes on each side of the cradle, the padding
is pressed against the head. I t is kept in this manner upwards
of a year, and the. process is not, I believe, attended
with much pain. The appearance of the infant, however,
while in this^g|§|e of compression, is ftightful, and its little
black eyes,,,forced out by tlie/tightness of the bandages, resemble
thps^of a>mouse choked in a trap. When released
from this i n h u m a n e head is perfectly flattened,
and the upper partcsfjit seldoi|i'^^^disian inch in thickness.
It never, afterwards ^ecpvj%r||gfts': rotundity,iv' They deem this
an essential point .of beauty^and the most devoted adherent
of our first Charles, neyewmtertained Ujstronggr aversion to a
round-head than these^^aiages.-* ,
They allege, as an excuse fqr this- custom, that all their
sk^es have', round ^eads^jtand. aceordinglyfevery child of a
bondsman, who i’sppt; adopted;by. the.tribey inherits not only
his father’s degradation, but his parentaJ^rotundity of era-'
nium^,#
I hay&.faken‘Jhcse highly int.©restj®.gteehservationsf'irefativ6,
to-the skulls., ;o£,Titicaca, from Pije^se^Cak^yeSlsSexcellent
Meinpir on. that subject, inserted in .the Dublin Journal of
Science for July, 1834. -
* Cox’s Travels on the Colombia River.
Y