July, 1841.] 51 



great lateral diameter and broad faces, characteristic of the 

 American race. The Ottomies preceded the Tolticas, and were 

 the least cultivated of the demi-civilized nations of Anahuac. 

 The lam-est of these heads gives 92 cubic inches of internal 

 capacity ; the smallest, that of a female, only 67. 



2. Chechemecan. A single skull, of 83 cubic inches of internal 

 capacity. This nation followed the Toltecas in the possession of 

 Mexico in the 11th century of our era. They were nomades 

 and hunters, but rapidly acquired the arts and civilization of their 

 predecessors. 



3. Tlascalan. A single cranium. These people formed one of 

 the seven tribes who established themselves in Mexico during the 

 Chechemecan monarchy, and are renowned in history for their 

 warlike exploits. They are well known to have rendered Cortez 

 essential aid in taking the city of Mexico. This skull gives an 

 internal capacity of 84 cubic inches, and like the others of this 

 series, is remarkable for its diameter between the parietal bones. 



It is worthy of remark that the average internal capacity of these 

 six authentic Mexican skulls, is precisely what I have accorded to 

 these people in my Crania Americana, viz. seventy-nine cubic 

 inches. The mean of the facial angle also accords with my previous 

 measurements, and gives 75. 



All these heads were obtained from tumuli or mounds, within the 

 territories of the nations whose names they bear, so as to leave no 

 doubt in the mind of the distinguished gentleman from whom I 

 received them, of their having pertained to individuals of those 

 nations. 



The two remaining crania are supposed to be those of Aztecks, 

 who also belonged to the confederacy of the seven tribes, but were 

 the last to take possession. These were the people who subse- 

 quently obtained the supreme power, and under the name of Aztecs 

 or Mexicans, governed the country at the epoch of the Spanish inva- 

 sion, a. d. 1521. The Aztecks were a brave and intelligent people, 

 but remarkable for bloody rites, both in their warlike and religious 

 observances. They were less cultivated than the Toltecas, but 



