212 OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING 



in the tumulus. I have had, however, an opportunity 

 of examining a piece of the thigh-bone, and alfo a piece 

 of the tibia, or principal bone of the leg. They befpeak 

 a body of the common fize. I mention this laft circum- 

 ftance, becaufe it has often been aflerted, that gigantic 

 human bones have been found in America. Some of the 

 authors of thefe affertions are defervedly efteemed for 

 their writings.* There is, certainly, no phyfical impof- 

 fibility in the exiftence of a race of giants. On the con- 

 trary, the general fcheme of nature, with refpe£t to the 

 creation of the fpecies of animals and vegetables, would 

 lead us to expert a fpecies of giants belonging to the hu- 

 man kind. At any rate, the exiftence of giants is not a 

 more improbable circumftance than the exiftence of cer- 

 tain fmall races, fuch as the Laplanders, who are well 

 known to us. As far, however, as my inquiries have 

 extended, all the human bones that have been found in 

 our ancient tumuli, &c. are bones of the common fize. 



It is a mortifying circumftance, that in proportion as 

 we extend our acquaintance with the features or manners 

 of rude nations, we are colleding materials for an hif- 

 tory of human fuperftitions, and of mental miferies. If, 

 in the progrefs of our refearches, we difcover that in- 



* Such are Hernandez, Acofta, and Clavigero. The laft of thefe writers 

 roentions large bones being found in " tombs" in Mexico, and confiders this 

 circumftance as a proof that they were human bones. 7be Hijlory of Mexkc. 

 Vol. I. p. 84. But this cannot be confidered as a decided proof. Did not 

 the Egyptians carefully embalm and bury the bodies of the Ibis ? The ani- 

 mal to which the large bones mentioned by Clavigero belonged, may have 

 been (like the Ibis with the Egyptians) an objeft of veneration among 

 the ancient Americans; or tbey may have been entombed from the fuppo- 

 fition that they were human bones. It is known, that the bones of the 

 Hippopotamus were " fiiewn in feveral cities of Greece for the bones of 

 giants." &Z& xhdX curious hook, The Life of Sethos. Vol. I. p. 73. LondoH : 

 1732 



a ftind:, 



