Manchester Memoirs, Vol. lix. (191 5), No. 10. 109 



he had postulated. Nor does my criticism affect his 

 hypothesis of a series of cultural waves into Oceania. 

 Here, again, I am prepared to go not only the whole way 

 with him, but even further, and to seek for additional 

 cultural influences which he has not yet defined. 



Most modern writers who refer in any way to the 

 preserved bodies which have been found in vast numbers 

 in Peru and in other parts of America assume that these 

 bodies have been preserved not by embalming or any 

 other artificial method or mode of treatment, but simply 

 as the result of desiccation by the unaided forces of 

 nature. Although in the great majority of cases there are 

 no obvious signs of any artificial means having been em- 

 ployed to preserve the bodies, yet a not inconsiderable 

 number of examples have come to light to demonstrate 

 the reality of the practice of mummification in America 

 (3 : 37 : 58: 63: and 106). Yarrow's classical mono- 

 graph (106) established the reality of the practice of 

 embalming in America quite conclusively. Moreover the 

 fact that practically every item of the multitude of 

 curiously distinctive practices found widespread in other 

 parts of the world, in the most intimate association with 

 methods of embalming certainly inspired by Egypt, puts 

 it beyond all reasonable doubt that the variety of American 

 practices for preserving the body is also to be attributed 

 to the same source. 



In his book on the "History of the Conquest of Peru," 

 Prescott makes the following statement : — " When an 

 Inca died (or, to use his own language, was called home 

 to the mansion of his father, the Sun) his obsequies were 

 celebrated with great pomp and solemnity. The bowels 

 were taken from the body and deposited in the Temple of 

 Tampu, about five leagues from the capital. A quantity 

 of his plate and jewels was buried with him, and a number 



