Fossil Human Bones found in South America. 279 



that among the bones of extinct animals, there are also those of 

 races still living. The condition of the latter, too, of which 

 some appear to differ little from fresh bones, leads to this view, 

 while others have reached the half metallic state spoken of, and 

 between the two sorts a third and more numerous variety is dis- 

 tinguishable, which has reached a middle state in decomposition. 

 A similar difference was observed also in the human bones, by 

 which their varying gradations of age are clearly manifested. Yet 

 all are so altered, as well in their constituent parts as in the join- 

 ing, that one cannot deny them a high antiquity; and even 

 should they not have come there cotemporaneously with the 

 bones of extinct animal races, still they have a sufficient interest 

 in this respect. From the investigations of European students 

 of nature, it results, that no land animal, of which the bones 

 appear in a truly fossil state, has lived within our historical pe- 

 riod, and that they consequently mount up over three thousand 

 years. If this conclusion is applied also to human bones existing 

 in a like state, they too are of a like antiquity. Since, however, 

 the process of fossilization is as yet little known, especially if 

 the time necessary to this transformation comes into question, 

 and if it is true that this time varies according to circumstances, 

 we can attain only to a very indefinite approximation. Be it 

 nevertheless as it may, in any case these bones must have a 

 high antiquity, not only far outreaching the discovery of Amer- 

 ica, but even surpassing all historical documents of our race, 

 since up to this time no fossilized human bones have been be- 

 fore met with. But hence it results, that Brazil was peopled at 

 a very remote period, and probably before our historical era, 

 and the inquiries which, therefore, urge themselves upon us, are 

 these : who were these oldest inhabitants? from what race were 

 they descended ? and what was their manner of life, and their 

 natural quality of mind ? Happily, these questions may be easily 

 solved. Being in possession of several more or less perfect 

 skulls, I was able to define the position which they have oc- 

 cupied in the anthropological system. And in fact, the narrow 

 head, the prominent cheek-bones, the angle of the face, the 

 formation of the jaw, and of the cavities of the eyes^ show 

 that these skulls belong to the American race. The Mongolian 

 . tribes come, as is well known, the nearest to it, and the most 

 striking difference between the two is the greater flattening 



