Ferguson — On Links between Asia and Central America. 137 



XIX. — On some Links in the Chain op Connexion between the 

 eaely Populations of Asia and Central America. — By Samuel 

 Ferguson, LL.D., Yice-President. 



[Read May 13, 1872.] 



In early Hindoo architecture, the trunk of the elephant is introduced 

 as an ornamental feature in the form of a pendent, sometimes issuing 

 from the cornice over a capital, sometimes descending from the quoins 

 of quadrangular buildings. 



The head and trunk of the elephant, distorted and conventionalized 

 in the Mexican taste (I use the words Hindoo and Mexican conven- 

 tionally), may be traced in the sculptured ornamentation of many of 

 the Central American structures. Numerous examples maybe seen in 

 Gailhabaut's "Recueil d'Architecture," as well as in the larger works 

 specially devoted to Central American Antiquities. Among these 

 examples may be seen several instances of pendent carved members 

 issuing from the quoins of quadrangular edifices, plainly in the taste, and, 

 making allowance for time and distance, after the pattern of the Hindoo 

 elephant ornament. I do not attempt to fix the distance in time; but 

 desire to remark that no forms are found more persistent than those 

 which are transmitted through the traditions of architecture : witness 

 the short-horned bull's skull perpetuated in the metopes of our Doric 

 faQades. 



A general similarity is also discernible between the florid Hindoo 

 decoration and the characteristic Mexican modes of sculptural ornament. 

 The latter are, indeed, to our eyes, wild and extravagantly grotesque; 

 but the resemblance exists both in features and mode of treatment, 

 although apparently separated by intermediate stages, at each of which 

 some new element of bizarrerie has been superadded to the Hindoo 

 model. 



Looking back from Hindostan to Egypt, the same observation will 

 apply to the pyramids, as compared with theTeocallis of Central America. 

 A generic likeness strikes the eye; but a likeness implying a variety 

 of intermediate departures from the original model. 



The attention of French men of learning, excited by events of national 

 importance in Mexico, has recently been turned to the island of Java, 

 as affording some illustrative evidences of the progress of Mexican 

 civilization in its passage eastward to the New "World. In the 

 "Revue Archseologique" for July, 1864 (p. 70), is an interesting 

 memoir on this subject, in which the learned work of Sir Stamford 

 Raffles, "The History of Java" (1817), is used as a repertory of facts 

 illustrative of the Mexican progresses. 



There are two editions of this excellent work; one plain, the other 

 illustrated. M. Eicthal, I infer, has only had access to the plain 

 edition ; for in the illustrated copies of the work are found some 



