TO RELATIVE CAPACITY OF RACES. 219 



Morton subdivides the American races into the Toltecan Race, em- 

 bracing the semi-civilized communities of Mexico, Bogota, and Peru, 

 and the barbarous tribes scattered over the continent from the Arctic 

 Circle to Tierra del Fuego. His latest views are embodied in a con- 

 tribution to Schoolcraft's " History of the Indian Tribes of the United 

 States," entitled " The Physical Type of the American Indians." In 

 treating of the volume of brain, he draws special attention to the 

 Peruvian skulls, 201 in number, obtained for him from the ceme- 

 teries of Pisco, Pachacamac, and Arica. " Herera informs us that 

 Pachacamac was sacred to priests, nobles, and other persons of dis- 

 tinction ; and there is ample evidence that Arica and Pisco, though 

 free to all classes, were among the most favoured cemeteries of Peru." 

 Dr. Morton accordingly adds: "It is of some importance to the 

 present inquiry, that nearly one-half of this series of Peruvian 

 crania was obtained at Pachacamac ; whence the inference that they 

 belonged to the most intellectual and cultivated portion of the Peru- 

 vian nation ; for in Peru learning of every kind was an exclusive 

 privilege of the ruling caste." In reality, however, the latest addi- 

 tions to our knowledge of the physical characteristics of the ancient 

 Peruvians tend to confirm the idea of the existence of two distinct 

 races : a patrician order occupying a position analogous to the Franks 

 of Gaul or the ISTormans of England, though more aptly to be com- 

 pared to the Brahmins of India ; and a more numerous class, constitut- 

 ing the labouring and industrial orders of the community, abundantly 

 represented in the Pacific Coast tribes of Peru, the cemeteries of 

 which have furnished the larger number of crania to European and 

 American collections. 



To such a patrician order or cast the intellectual superiority and 

 privileges of the governing race pertained. But whatever may have 

 been the exclusive prerogatives of the patrician and sacerdotal orders, 

 there is no doubt that the Peruvians as a people had carried metal- 

 lurgy to as high a development as has been attained by any race 

 ignorant of working in iron. They had acquired great skill in the 

 arts of the goldsmith, the engraver, chaser, and modeller. Pottery 

 was fashioned into many artistic and fanciful forms, showing inge- 

 nuity and great versatility of fancy. They excelled as engineers, 

 architects, sculptors, weavers, and agriculturists. Their public works 

 display great skill, combined with comprehensive aims of practical 

 utility; and alone, among all the nations of the New World, they 



