THE HUMAN SPECIES. 247 



twisted round a tree ; and another, with a naked human 

 figure, kneeling in the attitude of supplication, sur- 

 rounded by huge monsters, among trees of a tropical 

 forest.* What makes these representations still more 

 remarkable, is, that though they belong to the high 

 nosed Toltecs, the mystical figure in distress has neither 

 the features nor flat occiput of that people, nor the pos- 

 ture of prayer which belonged to the idolatrous nations 

 of Anahuac. They had, it is true, a serpent or Naga 

 worship, and believed that tutelary genii appeared to 

 mortals in the animal forms assigned to constellations. 

 But this very fact is again an indication, that even the 

 astronomical signs of Asia had passed over to them, for 

 they were figured in astrological books which were em- 

 ployed for incantations by an Astecan order of priests. 

 The medicine men, with their drums, are still perfect 

 counterparts of Siberian Shamans, who perform their 

 mummeries with a like instrument, similarly painted. 



The nations of Anahuac were acquainted, like the 

 Tahtars, with a great dragon standard ; had, like the 

 Thibetans, huge banner lances, such as are still planted 

 before Lamaite temples and palaces ; and there were 

 ensign spears similar to those of ancient Bactria : one 

 of these was the Shiemagun of the Chippeways, the 

 other was the guiding sign of the Chocktaws, during 

 their great migration from the west. The Mexicans 



* The priesthood kneaded maize flour with blood, and 

 baked it in the form of the god of war, then broke and 

 gave it in morsels to the people, who partook with signs of 

 humiliation! See Prescot's valuable History. Was this 



Budhism ? 



