224 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



metrical contour of certain skulls, but he asserted that this was natural, and if the 

 statement could be relied on, none could be made of more importance. The weight of 

 evidence is, however, overwhelmingly against him. 



De Armas also asserts that Oviedo was the originator of the idea that distortion of 

 the cranium was customary among the Iudians of San Domingo, etc., but Gomara, 

 Las Casas, De Leon, and Garcilasso de la Vega make like statements, and the evidence 

 includes West Indian, Peruvian, Floridian tribes. 



Walker (Colombia. London, 1822. 8vo) quotes Humboldt to the effect that among 

 the Caribs of Panapana " the women * * * carried their infants on their backs." 

 They also, for the sake of adornment, compress the thighs and legs by "broad strips 

 of cotton cloth, by which" the flesh * * * was swelled in the interstices. * * * 

 They attach great importance to certain forms of the body. (Vol. I, p. 545.) 



Heriot, G. (Travels through the Canadas. London, 1807. 4to.) " The natives of 

 South America generally make use of hammocks of cotton or of the interior bark of 

 trees. * * * This they suspend in their cabins and sometimes on the boughs of 

 trees" (p. 287). 



Senor Mutis Duran, of the Colombian legation at Washington, states that no tribe 

 of Indians known to him in New Granada or Colombia distorts the head, but that cra- 

 •nial compression may be practiced by other tribes of this area which he had not ob- 

 served. Bandaging infants with the idea of preserving the symmetry of their forms 

 is general among all classes. The cradles used by the wealthy are imported or made 

 after European models. Among the poorer classes there are two forms of cradle 

 in use — one a boat-shaped case of light wood or bamboo, which will rock on any 

 plane surface, and another constructed of similar materials and of like form, which is 

 suspended from the end of a crooked rod and swung in the air. 



Hilhouse, William. (Warow Land of British Guiana. Jour. Roy. Geo. Soc. Lon- 

 don, 1834. Vol. iv.) Dr. Hancock remarks (note, pp. 332, 333, on Hilhouse's account 

 of the Indians seen here) that "these tribes have also," i. e., like the coast tribes of 

 the Maranon, " the spread in the foot, or duck's foot. * * * Their feet and toes 

 are spread out in the manner most suitable for walking on the muddy shores and 

 marshes they inhabit." 



Im Thurn, E. F. (Among the Indians of Guiana (i e., British Guiana). London, 

 1883. 8vo.) Head-flattening customary among people of upper Essequibo River; 

 formerly prevalent among chief tribes throughout Guiana and among all "true 

 Caribs" (p. 191). Distortion of women's legs by Caribs (p. 192). 



Ploss, Dr. H. (Das Kind im Branch und Sitte der Volker. Leipzig, 1884. 2Aufl., 

 2 Band.) Description of the treatment of infants in Peru under the Incas (Idem, p. 

 57). The same with respect to children in Asiatic Turkey and Chinese Turkestan 

 (idem, p. 60). Remarks on the effects of position at rest (Idem, pp. 81, 82). State- 

 ments concerning the cradle-board and head-flattening in America (Idem, pp. 101 

 102). Description of the suckling-board and swaddling of infants among the Maron- 

 ites and Modern Germans (Idvm, p. 113, 114). 



Squier, E. G. (Peru, etc. New York, 1877. 8vo.) Distorted Ay mara skull from 

 Chulpas (p. 244). 



Appendix B. Extract from Fourth Annual Report of Peabody Museum. Cam- 

 bridge. Remarks of Professor Wyman " On crania. Two modes of distortion, their 

 effects," etc. (pp. 580, 581). Vide Padre Arriaga on this custom. 



Prichard, J. C. (Researches into the Physical History of Mankind. London, 1841. 

 4th ed. 8vo) quotes Spix and Martius on the separation of the great toe among the 

 Puris, Coropos, and Coroados, South America. 



Marcoy, P. (Travels in South America. London, 1875. 4to.) Head- flattening 

 formerly practiced by Peruvian Conibos. Obsolete within two generations. All 

 very old people seen by Marcoy had distorted crania ; no young persons. (Vol. II, p. 

 40, and note.) 



Acosta, Joaq. (p. 24). The Panches (Chibchas) compressed the skulls of infants be- 



