The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-07-26
from the Philadelphia Times

Few exhibits on the grounds possess q
greater and ut the same time more dismal
interest than the chronological display in the
Peruvian section, near the southwest cor
ners OF the main building. 1t is said to be
the most complete exhibition OF the kind
pertaining to South America in the world.
So numerous are the specimens that they
might pass for the entire mortal remains
from an extensive graveyard.
The collection embraces two divisions
skeletons Of Auracanian Indians, who are
said to have roamed through Western South
America fifteen hundred years ago, and
mummies OF the Inca tribes, which, accord
ing to the most reliable information, became
extinct three thousand five hundred years
ago.
These relics are the result OF century's
research, and were obtained from more than
fifty mounds throughout the territory now
comprised in Peru. Scientists have con-
Guided, after long study, that the mounds
from which the Auracanian relics were OBJ
tanned have brayed the wear and tear OF fif-
teen centuries. These bones are bleached
and bare, but in the long and hideous array
OF grinning skulls there is hardly one with
out wel-prescrvcd scalp, although it is as
brittle as charred paper, and upon being
touched drops off the Uranium like dam
druff. The hair is perfectly preserved
on most OF the skulls, and by its progress
sive changes from the original color to Il
silvery white the ages may be approNlma-
ted. Although the art by which the lncas
preserved their dead thirty-fre centuries
ago died with the extinction OF that race. 1t
appears that the Auracanians, living about
three hundred years after the time OF Christ,
still tried, in their own rude way, to make
mummies. This is evident from the de-
cayed cotton filling the mouths and ears
and adhering to the bones OF the Auraca-
MAN specimens, just as it does IN the case OF
the mummies Of the Incas. It is supposed
that this cotton was saturated with pre-
serving liquid and was used to swathe the
body, some being stuffed into the mouth,
ears, and eyes OF the corpse.
The Auracanian skulls have narrow, re-
ceding foreheads, very high chcek-bones,
and projecting chins. Concerning the num-
niles OF the Incas, DR.. Safllny, an historian
; and antiquarian OF prominence in South
America, asserts that they cannot be less
than three thousand five hundred years Old,
because the mounds from which they were
cxhumed are surrounded by geological evil
dence that their age is even greater than
that. The skin is preserved, but in
blackish, lcathery state, and shriveiied close
to the bone. This, however, is not the only
difference between the mummies and the
skeletons Of the Auracanians, for While the
skulls Of the latter betokcn small compass
OF brain, with angular and repulslVe fea-
lures, the forehcads OF the Incas were broad
and high, and their countenances evidently
regular and full Of intellectually. The
brittle skin on the wrists Of many OF them
still retains the tattooed limitations OF brace
lets, apparently in as perfect condition rs II
it was only yesterday that the blue ink min
gled with the flesh. The tendons OF the
limbs yet remain, and in places break
are repulsivc enough to the sight, but hob
COLLINS like thcse-literal skin and bone,
with heads of luXuriant hair and long, yell
low teeth-are still more horrible.
There is in the collection n female mum
nv with iron-gray hair, wrapped in Il
shroud OF canvas wrought with feathers-a
garment made so fragile by age that il taken
from within its glass case it could be blown
into dust by a strong puff from the mouth.
A copper spoon, for use Oh the journey to
the happy regions Of the sun, the godo the
Peruvians. lies crosswisc in her mouth, ana
the latter is eternally shut by an ivory disc
cling the head. Tied around her body,
like rods on the axe OF Il Roman lie
tor, are knitting-sticks and needles
of hard wood, rolls OF cotton yarn
which the least pressure would reduce to
powder, little bell of pure gold, with
stone tongue, and several jars which con-
tanned food and water to enable her soul to
make the trip to heaven. Like most OF the
other mummies, this was found in stone
Jar in mound 1t is inferred from obser-
vations that the very poor Of this race con-
signed their dead to the grave with no
other coffin than q cotton STROUD and the
wealthy INDUCED in stone jars.