16 On the Ethnography and Archeology 
replaces that suture by extending from the root of the nose to the 
coronal suture. ‘Tio keep these compresses in place, a bandage 
was carried over them from the. base of the occiput obliquely for- 
wards; and then, in order to confine the lateral portions of the 
skull, the same bandage was continued by another turn over the 
top of the head, immediately behind the coronal suture, and prob- 
ably with an intervening compress; and the bandaging was re- 
peated over these parts until they were searncersiies confined in 
the desired position. 
Every one who is acquainted with the pliable —suiitian of the 
cranial bones at birth, will readily conceive how effectually this ap- 
paratus would mould the head in the elongated or cylindrical form ; 
for, while it prevents the forehead from rising, and the sides of the 
head from expanding, it allows the occipital region an entire free- 
dom of growth; and thus without sensibly diminishing the vol- 
ume of the brain, merely ferces it into a new though unnatural 
direction, while it Pantha at ne same eas a momarleable tm: 
metry of the whole structure. | 
The following outline of one - 
of these skulls, will further il- 
lustrate my meaning ; mere- 
ly premising that the course 
of the bandages is in every ¢ 
instance distinetly marked — 
by a corresponding cavity , 
of the bony structure, ex- 
cepting on the forehead; ‘where the action of a firtt re aie’ 
has left a plane surface. | 
'Fhis conformation, as we have atreaity Seinied; was ak evel 
among the old Aymara tribes which inhabited the shores and isl- 
ands of the Lake of Titicaca, and whose civilization seems evi- 
dently to antedate that of the Inca Peruvians. 1 was in fact at 
one time led to consider this form of head as pectliar to; and 
characteristic of, the former people; but Mr. Foster’s extensive 
ions conclusively prove that it was as common among 
some tribes of the sea coast, as among those of the mountainous 
region of Bolivia ; that it belonged to no particular nation or tribe ; 
ted at it asin every instance, the result of mechanical com 
pression. 
—T POS Set eae 
