86 INVESTIGATIONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. 



In rctjard to the signs for numerals, it is evident that the radix of their system, 

 wliatever may liavc been its value, was represented by a circle, the same sign indi- 

 cating zero in our system. A single horizontal line may be taken for a unit, two 

 lines intersecting as in a Roman X, some other value, and lines shorter than the 

 unit may be taken for fractional parts. This system of recording numbers throws 

 some light on the question wliether the ancient inhabitants of Middle America had 

 any intercourse with the civilized nations of Europe. Evidently, if by accident or 

 design, Egyptians, Phccnicians, Jews, or any other race had imported their civiliza- 

 tion into America, some traces of it would be exhibited here. 



A far more interesting and important inquiry is whether the sculptors of the 

 monoliths of Santa Lucia were identical with the nations occupying the northern 

 portion of Central America and Mexico at the time of the discovery of those 

 countries. By comparing the two peoples in respect to the characters previously 

 mentioned avc shall approximate to the truth. In mechanical skill there was, per- 

 haps, little difference between them, for the Mexicans Avere skilful mechanics. A 

 wider difference is observable in the art executions of the two nations. The sculp- 

 tors of Santa Lucia excelled those of Mexico in their designs. The Mexican artists 

 had not advanced to the representation of the human form unassociated with 

 grotesque additions, while those of Santa Lucia Avere quite well versed therein. 



A similar difference is observable in the scientific attainments of the two nations. 

 The ]\Iexicaus observed the heavens, but astronomy is the youngest of tlie sciences; 

 the Santa Lucians were well versed in a knowledge of the human form, which was 

 quite neglected by the Mexicans. They differ still more in tlieir religion. The 

 Mexicans had not come to regard their gods as ennobled human nature. It was 

 the fierce passions of man, the destructive principle which they feared in their 

 gods, and their images were made up of all that is ugly and repulsive. 



Both nations had the cruel custom of immolating human beings, but they differed 

 in tlie manner of executing the victim. The Mexicans laid him upon an oblong 

 sacrificial stone, the top of which was rounded so as to cause the protrusion of his 

 breast. After opening tlie cavity, the palpitating heart was torn out and thrown 

 at the feet of the idol. The Santa Lucians severed the head of the victim, which 

 was done probably upon a cylindrical altar, the top of which was excavated to the 

 depth of two inches and a half, undoubtedly to receive the blood. This sacrificial 

 stone resembles one found on the island of Santorin and formerly used by the 

 Greeks.^ The severed head was placed on a small altar as an offering to the deity. 



The most striking proof that these were not one and the same people is their 

 Avriting. The Mexicans knew no other mode of writing than the figurative, which 

 they employed in the rudest manner. They represented actually the object of 

 thought to be communicated. The methods of communicating ideas employed by 

 the Santa Lucians have been already described, and differed sufficiently from those 

 of the Mexicans to prove their want of identity. 



^ II Costume antico c nioderno, &c. Dr. Giulio Ferraris, Firenze, 1826, VII, Tav. 9. 



