230 CRANIA AMERICANA. 



in the mode of their construction that points to a higher civilisation. In fact, a 

 careful review of all the circumstances will lead almost unavoidably to the 

 conclusion, that the ancient mounds of America owe their origin to the various 

 branches of the great Toltecan family, which was spread, as we have seen, from 

 the confines of Chili to the shores of Lake Superior. Wherever that people made 

 their sojourn we find their monumental traces, presenting, it is true, different 

 degrees of contrivance and ingenuity, but for the most part far exceeding those 

 faculties as possessed by the barbarous tribes. Some of the latter, it is true, have 

 occasionally formed sepulchral mounds, but the instances are rare ; and it will 

 probably be hereafter established that all the tribes which erected mounds as a 

 national usage, belonged to the Toltecan stock.* That they once occupied Florida 

 and the valley of the Mississippi, there can be no doubt, but whether it was before 

 or after their dispersion from Mexico is not yet ascertained. It seems more than 

 probable, however, that the Mligewi who, according to Indian tradition, were 

 driven southward by the Iroquois and Lanape, were Toltecan communities — the 

 people who constructed the mounds for their sepulchres, and erected the fortified 

 towns to defend themselves from the barbarous tribes by whom they were 

 surrounded. 



SKULLS FROM ANCIENT TOMBS IN MEXICO. 



Through the kindness of Mr. Joseph Smith, late of this city, and now resident 

 in Mexico, I have received a series of Mexican skulls, among which are six from 

 the ancient tombs of Tacuba and Otumba. One of these has been already 

 represented in outline,t and three others are lithographed on the annexed plates. 

 They came too late for insertion in their proper place in the series, but possess too 

 much interest to be omitted. 



- It is not unusual for the modem Indians to bury their dead in the ancient mounds, which they 

 accomplish by sHght excavation of the surface. They very rarely construct mounds of their own; 

 they merely recognise the old ones as sepulchres. 



tSee page 153, 154. 



