The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13
PREHISTORIC BRAzIL.


will not overlook Brazil. Hitherto almost moth.
ing has been accomplished In that vast field OF
exploration. Its treasures being merely limited
at by Humboldt and ARassiz, whose work lay In
other directions. There Is now, however, q
reasonable prospect that pathological investlRa-
ton will be vigorously prosecuted by native
hands and under national patronage. The visit
OF Aglssiz seems to have given notable impc-
tus to all branches OF scientific research. and
one tangible result Is the creation Of an institu-
ton modelled In some respects upon the Mu-
scum OF Natural History at Cambridge, in Mas
sachusetts, but recognizing as one Of Its prime
objects the collation. and analysis Of the mate
rails for the primitive history of man which lie
broadcast throughout the Brazilian Empire. II
is true that the Museo Nacional Of Rio Janeiro
has aneushed In a nominal existence for up
ward OF half century, but by decree OF Feb
ruary, 1873, II was completely reorganized, and
for the first time qualified to enter on an active
and fruitful career. Among its corresponding
members we notice the well-Known names OF
Reichardt, Eichler, Quatrefages. aurepaire,
Darwin and J. ID. Hooker, and among it's on
GERS an American, Charles +. Hart, formerly
professor of geology at Cornell University. The
new establishment appears to combine the
functions Of a scientific school and learned so
cicty and It's transactions Ia the latter capacity
are to be printed in quarterly review. We
have received the lrst hunter Of this pubica-
ton, and Ind 1t mainly devoted to an interest
ing CONGRATULATIONS sobrc os Sdnbdqits do
sui do Brazil pelo Professor Carlos Wiener
which throws considerable light on certain ex-
tinct races Of that country.
The attention of travellers had often been
directed in the provinces Of Sac Paulo and Santa
Catharina to the sdmbdqus or huge heaps OF
oyster and other marine shells. not seldom stu
ated at a distance OF some miles from the pres-
ent coast line, and to which the natives had
long resorted for their supplies Of lime. As
these were known to contain human remains,
pottery. &c. II was conjectured by Agassiz and
Captain Richard Burton-who, however. made
no personal researches-that they were identical
in origin aud purport with the so-calied kjock-
kenmoddings of Denmark-semi-fortuit
accunulatiOns of shells flung aside by the
aboriginal Inhabitants after the consum ption Of
the mollusks. That this, however was but a
fragment OF the truth Is sufficiently plain from
the careful scrutiny bestowed on them by Dr.
Wiener. Toe latters discoveries and conclu.
sions are set forth with the caution and sim.
plicty which mark a trustworthy explorer, but
they seem to be decisive, and are fertile In suR-
gestion.
The fret thing which strikes the observer Is
the Size and location Of these anomalous tumuh.
Few OF the suInbdquis, for instance. those OF
Porto iello, are only some rods distant from the
ocean, but those near the mouths Of the Iavares
and Cachoeira rivers are two miles inland. those
edjacent to the Bahu river seven. and those OF
Luiz Alves not less than ten miles. There Is no
doubt that this whole section OF the BriziH an
coast has for centuries been undergoing a grad
ual expansion and elevation, owing partly TO "A
retrsating Of the sea. but manly to the immense
Accommodations OF alluvial deposits from the nu-
merous iiyers. Moreover, 1t is certain that with
In atty years the volume Of these streams has
greatly diminished, and that wide area, which
was formerly marsh, aud covered by fresh wa
ter during the wet season, has been converted
into solid ground. 1t Ia safe to infer therefore.
that the sdmbdQtts were once contiguous to tho
beach, aud, We may add, that for a considerable
period, pending, aud subsequent to, their form
alton. they must have been submerged during
portion OF the year. since most OF them are
sheathed with a calcareous crust-a transforma-
ton Of shells easily accounted for by the car
bonic acid which is found to be present in the
water OF these rivers. Upon these data may he
grounded an estimate OF the probable ago as
signable to these she'll mountains.
Exclusive Of other considerations, the mere
dimensions Of the sdnLdqut would render AN
o'eration Of natural causes, altogether untena-
bic. One shell heap, for example, measured by
Wiener, was ninety yards long and thirty-nve
broad, with mean height Of twenty five feet.
Another was eighteen feet high and three hun
dred and sixty feet Ia circumference. a third
had AN altitude Of fifty feet and a diameter Of
sixty wards. while similar mounds. several
leagues III length. are said to exist In the
province Of Sac Paulo. TIE accumulation OF
such deposits by whole tribes addicted to the
consumption OF shell Ash during successive gem
erations does not appear Incredible when we
learn that all the lime required for building and
repairing by a considerable seaport OF this re-
zion Is at the present day furnished 10y one man
from shells collected with his own hands. 1t
cannot be affirmed that any Of these tumMi ex-
hibit regular contours, but 1t must be remem.
tered that the nature OF the soil aud climate,
and the character Of the mAterinl which was I'M
supplemented with cement, and therefore des-
titute Of cohesion would scarcely admit Of
exact geometrical lines, much less allow hill Of
shells 10 keep for centuries its primitive shape.
Finally, the fact that human bones and imple-
ments Of mans workmanship are found In
almost all OF the mounds at various depths,
likewise points to an artificial origin, and the
very different conditions under which these yes
tiges are encountered attest signal discrepancy
IN grades OF CIVILIZATION. The osseous remains
in iaJority Of cases are in minute fragments,
mixed with ashes, pieces Of charred wood and
the bones OF edible fowls, lying moreover In
sheet Of mud, the product doubtless OF a fuyial
and Overlaid by subsequent shell
strata. In many instances, however, large, un-
fractured human bones, and even entire skele.
tons, are presented. and these are invariably
placed In regular oblonR cavities. a species of
rude sarcophagus. followed In the concholdal
bed and lined with clay. Before stating the
conclusions which DIR. Wiener has based upon
these disclosures We may indicate certain pecu-
larities remarked in the implements discovered.
These include vases Of clay stone axe-heads
tolerably well shaped and poised, cylindrical
stone pesiles, mortars formed Of FIAT, circular
stones with deep concaylly Ia the upper sur
face. aud long, three-edged instrument posst-
by avallable as a knife or Ole. 1t Is significant
that spear and arrow he DIS Of flint, quartzito
aud rock crystal, numerous specimens of which
are encountered elsewhere in this district, and
referred TO tribes stil cxtdnt in the Interior are
never found In the SdmbaQiis. All the articles
before named are nude Of coarse-grained
granite, or other stones. relatively soft to which
IA rlety Of contours. and even a dull edge,
might be communicated 10y attrtion.
What deductions are drawn from this testi-
mony of the shes2 That durln2a period which.
roughly calculated 10y the interval between tho