288 



AJf ANALYSIS OF TllK 



(d.) Ethnic significance of the Fantastic^ Selections of objects for their beauty, 

 or for their power of effecting fanciful combinations indicate an elevated position of 

 the people so employing them. Their appearance in the record is evidence of im- 

 proved facility in execution (hereby implying an advance in the use of implements), 

 since a primitive people are too much occupied with the vulgar necessities of living 

 to perpetuate a design for its shape alone. 



What is vaguely called "grotesque" and "fanciful" are often the "reading of our 

 own ideas into the labors of others." We may, without violence, assume that a peo- 

 ple who, while portraying animal and vegetable forms with a conscientious regard to 

 detail, occasionally produce a beautiful shape of a more or less whimsical character, are 

 rapidly attaining perfection in design. Were all other evidence wanting to prove the 

 culture of the Peruvians under the Incas, the single figure of a deer, whose body 

 furnished with wings terminates in the tail of the dolphin'" (Fig. 7), would in our 

 judgment do much toward re-establishing the claim. The representation of Quet- 

 zacoatl of AztecJ (Fig. 9), in its boldness and grace illustrates the same idea. We 

 have found the Incarians prone to realisms ; and it is worth while in passing to insti- 

 tute a comparison between this " half-civilized " race, and the Chinese and J apanese. 

 Both the realistic and the fantastic tendencies of the Incarian is found in the Chinese 

 art. We find here, copied with slavish fidelity, figures of fishes, birds and mammals, 

 side by side with monstrous "grotesques." 



We may say, in conclusion, that, should the above proposition be received, its 

 application to the study of pre-historic i-emains may ultimately prove useful. 



Fig. 7. 



Composite of Incarian Design. 



* Kingsbqrongh, Coll. II, Coilex Vaticensif, pi. 44. 



f Kiiigsborough. Dupaix, 



:j: Kingsborougli, IV. Dupaix. 



