TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 



775 



Ihe clangers of the wind carrying such knives on its blast. The Mexican pictures 

 of these four scenes were compared with more or less closely corresponding pictures 

 representing scenes from the Buddhist hells or purgatories as depicted on Japanese 

 temple scrolls. Here, first, the river of death is shown, where the souls wade 

 across ; second, the souls have to pass between two huge iron mountains, which 

 are pushed together by two demons ; third, the guilty souls climb the mountain of 

 knives, whose blades cut their hands and feet ; fourth, fierce blasts of wind drive 

 against their lacerated forms, the blades of knives flying through the air. It was 

 argued that the appearance of analogues so close and complex of Buddhist ideas in 

 Mexico constituted a correspondence of so high an order as to preclude any expla- 

 nation except direct transmission from one religion to another. The writer, 

 referring also to Humboldt's argument from the calendars and mythic catastrophes 

 in Mexico and Asia, and to the correspondence in Bronze Age work and in games 

 in both region,?, expressed the opinion that on tbese cumulative proofs anthro- 

 pologists might well feel justified in treating the nations of America as having 

 reached their level of culture under Asiatic influence. 



5. On Complexional Differences between Natives of Ireland with In- 

 digenous and Exotic Surnames respectively. By John Beddoe, 

 M.D., LL.D., F.R.S. 



Taking his data chiefly from the military reports, the author shows that while 

 the former class of Irishmen are largely characterised by the prevalence of light 

 eyes and dark hair, in the latter dark hair is much less frequent. He suggests 

 that a simple mixture of Englishmen, Scotchmen, &c., with the natives should 

 have also decidedly increased the proportion of dark eyes, which has not been the 

 case to any considerable extent ; and that the influence of climate, which, if operative 

 at all, should tell in favour of the blonde complexion, may have had some efiect 

 upon an unstable cross-breed. 



FRIDAY, AUGUST 10. 



The following Reports and Papers were read: — 



1. The Report of the Committee on Prehistoric and Ancient Remains 

 in Glam,organshire. — See Reports, p. 418. 



2. The Report of the Committee on the Exploration of Elholton Cave. 



See Reports, p. 270. 



3. The Report of the Committee on the Explorations at Oldhury Hill. 



