NOTES 233 
Totonac city revealed, near the ancient Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, 
an important cluster of earth mounds of considerable size. These 
were also photographed and their relics studied. 
Dr. Fewkes visited several large ruins in the neighborhood of 
Xalapa, one of which, near Xicochimalco, he has identified as the 
remains of the pueblo of Sochimatl, mentioned by Bernal Diaz del 
Castillo, historian of the Conquest. By this identification new light 
is shed on the hitherto obscurely known route of the conquerors 
from Cempoalan over the mountains to the Plateau of Mexico. 
The extensive group of large earth mounds, some of which are 
remains of pyramidal temples, situated at Texolo, near Xico, were 
also visited, and important material was gathered from them, bear- 
ing on their prehistoric inhabitants. Some time was very profitably 
employed at Xalapa in studying and photographing the remarkable 
Dehesa collection, many objects in which are unique and undescribed. 
These are of high artistic merit and of priceless value for the study 
of Totonac culture. The numerous ruins in the vicinity of Tampico 
were found to be extensive, and objects from them revealed evi- 
dences of a high development of culture. 
Of the large Huaxtec pueblo called Chila, subdued by Cortez, 
nothing now remains but a group of mounds in an almost im- 
penetrable forest a few miles from Tamos. Many sites of prehistoric 
pueblos were found on the banks of the Panuco; some of these were 
once temples, others mortuary hillocks containing pottery offerings 
and bones of the dead. Numerous shell heaps occur in this region, 
some of which were visited and examined. About a mile from 
Tampico, Dr. Fewkes reports, he found a cluster of large earth 
mounds of considerable extent, up to within a few years concealed 
by a dense jungle. 
The most notable ruins in this region lie on the banks of the 
Champayan lagoon at the Rancho de San Francisco and Cebadella. 
In the Sierra de Palma there is a pyramid having a cut stone facing 
and stairways similar to those in the Totonac region. 
Photographs were obtained of typical ruins and mounds near 
Tampico, and studies were made of local collections from them of 
idols, pottery and other artifacts. 
A report on the reconnoissance is in preparation and will be pub- 
lished later. 
SMITHSONIAN EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF ALASKAN MAMMOTH 
There has recently been published in Miscellaneous Collections 
an account of the expedition to Alaska and adjacent territory made 
