The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22

,avcr NJ Garth was spread over IL and n
second der was constructed in the same
fashion These were evidently the resting
places OF the more important personages
OF the race, az could be judged both from
the mode Of burial and from the greater
wealth Of the materials which had been
inferred with the bodies. Perhaps the
disfinction was one OF social position, or
perhaps II was only one Of wealth; pos
sibly II was both. At any rate these
collins in the mound contained an almost
Infinite variety OF Implements and uten-
sls in stone. copper. earthenware and
woven materials. and even through the
earth OF which the mound was composed
these relics were frequently TO be discoV-
cred lying loose.
was increduious concerning the
"pygmy" story from the first, and the
measurements made confirmed me In the
belief that these remains were those OF
race not very different from the so called
Village Indians Of the Southwest In point
Of stature.
II was CHASTITY work TO unwrap these
stlffened bodies and work over the crumb-
ling fragments with tape-line and pencil
but il resulted in finding that the bones
were certainly those OF a race OF tall men.
Olher explorers have found isolated
groups Of graves containing the bodies
Of children only. as was shown by the
condition Of the teeth and other bones. II
was apparently their custom to bury
their children apart, and IL may be that
the Tennessee Tnountalneers have come
upon these segregations Of small bones
and mistaken them for the bones OF
pygmy race.
The race amnlties Of the so-called
pygmies are very doubtful. Several
writer's upon the question find close re-
somblances between their habits and
those OF the Peruvian Incas. and in many
ways ] know that they closely resembled
or perhaps were Identical with the Aztecs
and some OF the semi-civilized nations
OF ancient Mexico and Central America.
In the arts and the manufactures the
pygmies were somewhat behind the AZ
tees. for their pottery Is rough and
without glazing while that OF the Az
etcs was IA many cases finely enameled.
In their ceramic decorations, too, they
we're behind having made extensive
use Of a common iron oxide as a pig
ment, and this has not kept its color
well.
One OF the common designs upon the
pottery is in the form OF a well defined
cross. enclosed in a figure Of circular
outline. IL is a question whether this
has any particular significance. Many OF
the vases and pitchers and other yes
sells were designed after the human
figure and after some Of the common
birds and animals. many of the por-
traits being quite true 10 life.
They worshiped strange gods, these
"pygmies," the stone graves, the mounds
and the earth all around containing an
endless number OF images in stone and
baked earthware 1t would seem that
in order TO find a use for all these divin-
tiles, every act from the beginning to
the end Of their lives must have been
performed under the auspices Of sep
arate god To judge from the expressions
Of the faces-all ugly enough-there must
have been both angels and devils in the
pygmy religion. These gods came in
all sizes, apparently to suit the depth
Of religious conviction or the depth or
pocket of the would-be worshipers; they
are from a few inches to nearly or quite
three feet in length.
WILLIAM r. LEIGHTON.