TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS, 117 



civilizations. We have lieio, at all events, a strikiug example of the trausilion, 

 over au extensive country, from comparative civilization to comparative barbarism, 

 tbe former left to tradition and Laving hardly any trace of influence on the latter. 



As Mr. Mott well remarks : — Nothing can be more striking than the fact that 

 Easter Island and North America both gave the same testimony as to the origin of 

 the savage life found in them, although in all circumstances and surroimdings the 

 two cases are so different. If no stone monuments had been constructed in Easter 

 Island, or mounds, containing a few relics saved from tire, in the United States, 

 we might never have suspected the existence of these ancient people.«. He argues, 

 therefore, that it is very easy for the records of an ancient nation's life entirely to 

 perish or to be hidden from observation. Even the arts of Nineveh and Babylon 

 were unknown only a generation ago, and we have only just discovered the facts 

 about the mound-builders of North America. 



But other parts of the American continent exhibit parallel phenomena. Recent 

 investigations show that in Mexico, Central America, and Peru the existing race 

 of Indians has been preceded by a distinct and more civilized race. This is proved 

 by the sculptures of the ruined cities of Central America, by the more ancient 

 terra-cottas and paintings of Mexico, and by the oldest portrait-pottery of Peru. 

 All alike show markedly non-Indian features, while they often closel}' resemble 

 modern European types. Ancient crania, too, have been found in all these countries, 

 presenting very different characters from those of any of the modern indigenous 

 races of America *. 



There is one other striking example of a higher being succeeded by a lower 

 degree of knowledge, which is in danger of being forgotten because it has been 

 made the foundation of theories which seem wild and fantastic, and are probably 

 in great part erroneous. I allude to the CTreat Pyramid of Egypt, whose form, 

 dimensions, structure, and uses have recently been tlie subject of elaborate works 

 by Prof Piazzi Smyth. Now the admitted facts about this pyramid are so inter- 

 esting and so apposite to the subject we are considering, that I beg to recall them 

 to your attention. 3Iost of you are aware that this pyramid has been carefLiUy 

 explored and measured by successive Egyptologists, and that the dimensions have 

 lately become capable of more accurate determination, owing to the discovery of 

 some of the original casing-stones and the clearing away of the earth from the 

 corners of the foundation showing the sockets in which the corner-stones fitted. 

 Prof Smyth devoted many months of work with the best instruments in order to 

 fix the dimensions and angles of all accessible parts of the struetm-e ; and he has 

 carefully determined these by a comparison of his own and all previous measures, 

 the best of which agree pretty closely with each other. The results arrived at 

 are : — 



1. That the pyramid is truly square, the sides being equal and the angles right 

 angles. 



2. That the four sockets on which the four iirst stones cf the corners rested are 

 truly on the tame level. 



3. That the direction of the sides are accurately to the four cardinal points. 



4. That the vertical height of the pyramid bears the same proportion to its cir- 

 cumference at the base, as the radius of a circle does to its circumference. 



Now all these measures, angles, and levels are accurate, not as an ordinary sur- 

 veyor or builder could make them, but to such a degree as requires the very best 

 modern instruments and all the refinements of geodeticnl science to discover any 

 error at all. In addition to this we have the wonderful perfection of the workman- 

 ship in the interior of the pyramid, the passages and chambers being lined with 

 huge blocks of stones fitted with the utmost accuracy, while every part of the 

 building exhibits the highest structural science. 



In all these respects this largest pyramid surpasses every other in Egypt. Yet 

 it is universally admitted to be the oldest, and also the oldest historical building 

 in the world. 



Now these admitted facts about the Great Pyramid are surely remarkable, and 

 worthy of the deepest consideration. They are fiicts which, in the pregnant 



* Wilson's 'Prehistoric Man,' ord ed. vol. ii. pp. 125, 144. 

 1S76. 12 



