128 Distinctive characteristics of the 



I have elsewhere ventured to designate these demi-civilized nations 

 by the collective name of the Toltecan Family ; for although the 

 Mexican annals date their civilization from a period long antecedent 

 to the appearance of the Toltecas, yet the latter seem to have culti- 

 vated the arts and sciences to a degree unknown to their predeces- 

 sors. Besides, the various nations which at different times invaded 

 and possessed themselves of Mexico, were characterized by the same 

 fundamental language and the same physical traits, together with a 

 strong analogy in their social institutions : and as the appearance of 

 the Incas in Peru was nearly simultaneous with the dispersion of 

 the Toltecas, in the year 1050 of our era, there is reasonable ground 

 for the conjecture that the Mexicans and Peruvians were branches 

 of the genuine Toltecan stock. We have alluded to a civilization 

 antecedent to the appearance of the Incas, and which had already 

 passed away when they assumed the government of the country. 

 There are traditional and monumental evidences of this fact which 

 can leave no doubt on the mind, although of its date we can form no 

 just conception. It may have even preceded the Christian era, 

 nor do we know of any positive reasons to the contrary. Chronolo- 

 gy may be called the crutch of history ; but with all its imperfec- 

 tions it would be invaluable here, where no clue remains to unravel 

 those mysterious records which excite our research but constantly 

 elude our scrutiny. We may be permitted however, to repeat what 

 is all-important to the present inquiry, that these Ancient Peruvians 

 were the progenitors of the existing Aymara tribes of Peru, while 

 these last are identified in every particular with the people of the 

 great Inca race. All the monuments which these various nations 

 have left behind them, over a space of three thousand miles, go also 

 to prove a common origin, because, notwithstanding some minor dif- 

 ferences, certain leading features pervade and characterize them all. 



Whether the hive of the civilized nations was, as some suppose, in 

 the fabled region of Aztlan in the north, or whether, as the learned 



the labors of any other person to unravel the mysteries of American Archaeo- 

 logy. Similar in design to these are the researches of my distinguished friend 

 the Chevalier Freidrichthal, the results of whose labors, though not yet given 

 to the world, are replete with facts of the utmost importance to the present 

 inquiry. 



