315 



structed of enormous masses of masonry, the stones arranged 

 in a manner similar to the Cyclopean architecture of Greece 

 and Italy. In all the sepulchres whic^t have been yet dis- 

 covered, there are remains of food, cooking utensils, and 

 different articles emblematical of their calling, which was 

 generally that of fishermen. There is no artificial process 

 of embalming used, nor were any of the cavities of the body 

 opened, so that all the interior of this mummy is in a per- 

 fect state. The nature of the earth, and the peculiar dry- 

 ness of both it and the atmosphere, are such as to prevent 

 the putrefactive process ; and animals thrown loosely in the 

 earth are likewise preserved. 



The question of the race of mankind to which this mummy 

 belonged is one of great interest. From the pyramidal form 

 of the head, and other circumstances, Dr. Wilde conceived it 

 should be classed among the great Turanian nations, charac- 

 terized by great breadth of cheek bones, lozenge-shaped faces, 

 formed by the bases of two triangles meeting on the cheek- 

 bones, long straight hair, thin scanty beard, olive com- 

 plexion, confluent features, depth of orbits, eyes wide apart, 

 and more or less retreating foreheads ; peculiarities, several 

 of which he noticed as exhibited in the head of the mummy, 

 which he did not think had been altered by artificial pres- 

 sure, like the head of the modern Peruvian. Humboldt, 

 Tiedemann, Dr. Pritchard, and Mr. Pentland, agree in giving 

 this race an Asiatic origin ; the last gentleman believing 

 that the heads were not altered by pressure, and that the 

 skulls of those ancient Peruvians belonged to a race of 

 mankind now extinct. 



