A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



247 



place. This nation, which preceded the Toltecs and Aztecs 

 in Mexico, were in the habit of depositing their dead in 

 caverns." 



Sumichrast examined a skull which he had picked up ; its 

 white and perfect teeth showed that it must have belonged 

 to a man who died young. A few paces farther on five or 

 .six more skulls lay on the surface of the ground; they were 

 inclosed in by line stalactites, and appeared as if they were 

 grinning at us through the bars of a dungeon. 



For more than a thousand years, perhaps, these skulls had 

 reposed in the niches which had evidently been hollowed 

 out on purpose for them. The soil of the grotto had ap- 

 parently risen at a subsequent period. What revelations as 

 to the ancient history of Mexico might be contained in this 

 cave ! Without much difficulty, l'Encuerado broke through 

 the upper calcareous layer, and brought to light some loamy 

 earth, out of which he procured a small cup of baked clay. 

 I then began digging ; my fingers soon touched some hard 

 object ; it was a small stone statuette. I had scarcely loosen- 

 ed my discovery from the earth, before Lucien also plunged 

 his arm into the hole and brought out a little fancifully- 

 shaped tortoise, the tail of which had been used as a whistle. 

 Enticed on by these successes, we knelt down so as to break 

 through a wider extent of the calcareous stratum ; but our 

 torches began to burn palely, and the close chamber, now 

 filled with a thick smoke, was no longer bearable. Sumi- 

 chrast complained of humming in his ears, and I also felt 

 uncomfortable ; so, much against our inclination, I gave the 

 signal of departure. The lamp was dying out, and was fill- 

 ing the outer chamber with a nasty smell, which gave the 

 finishing-stroke to our unpleasant feelings. L'Encuerado 

 and Lucien were the first to leave the cave ; from it I after- 

 wards emerged with Sumichrast, both being quite blinded, 

 when we reached the open air, by the overpowering rays of 

 the sun. 



