WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 325 



that things went well with him when in life. Some 

 gentlemen of great skiU and talent, on inspecting his 

 head, were convinced that the whole series of its features 

 has been changed. Others again have hesitated, and 

 betrayed doubts, not being able to make up their minds, 

 whether it be possible, that the brute features of the 

 monkey can be changed into the noble countenance of 

 man. — " Scinditur vulgus." One might argue at consider- 

 able length on this novel subject ; and perhaps, after all, 

 produce little more than prolix pedantry. "Vox et 

 prseterea nihil." 



Let us suppose for an instant, that it is a new species. 

 Well ; " Una golondrina no hace verano ; " one swallow 

 does not make summer, as Sancho Panza says. Still, for 

 all that, it would be well Avorth while going out to search 

 for it ; and these times of Pasco-Peruvian enterprise are 

 favourable to the undertaking. Perhaps, gentle readers, 

 you would wish me to go in quest of another. I would 

 beg leave respectfully to answer, that the way is dubious, 

 long, and dreary; and though, unfortunately, I cannot 

 allege the excuse of " me pia conjux detinet," still I 

 would fain crave a little repose. I have already been 

 a long while errant :— 



" Longa mihi exilia, et vastum majis aequor aravi, 

 Ne mandate mihi, nam ego sum defessus agendo." 



Should anybody be induced to go, great and innumerable 

 are the discoveries yet to be made in those remote wilds'; 

 and should he succeed in bringing home, even a head alone, 

 with features as perfect as those of that which I have 

 brought, far from being envious of him, I should consider 

 him a modern Alcides, fully entitled to register a thir^ 

 teenth labour. Now if, on the other hand, we argue, that 

 this head in question has had all its original features 



