The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
Ruins of an
Ancient Mex
lean People
Discovered

clusion OF their saoriAcial ceremonies con-
sisted in casting the bodies OF the victims
into the hole which penetrated the tower
from top to bottom and connected with the
subterranean passageways. A great part
OF this hole Is still In perfect condition, and
the proximity Of It's mouth to the saorihcial
altar indicates what It's purpose was. At
the bottom OF the hole attendants OF the
priests disposed OF the remains OF the sac
rifoed.
The sculptures show that the Otomites
of antiquity pertained more nearly to the
white race than TO the Indian, or chocolate
colored. The faces have features q great
deal less Indian in type than those OF
statues found in the Maya ruins of Yucca
tan. All the figures show craniurns rounded
and full. indicating ample brain develop
ment.
While the foreheads do not manifest by
height any very lofty thinking, by breadth.
in conjunction with the width Of the tenn
pies, they impress one with the quickness
Of perception and the slowness Of judg.
ment OF the race. In shape the eyes re-
semble those OF Caucasians more than
Of the Hindoos, In this particular differing
radically from those OF the Aztecs and rel
atively from those OF the Mayas.
The cheekbones do not bulge promi-
nently. 1t is, however, the nose which pre-
claims, more than any other feature OF the
sculpt,red Otomite faces, the racial superb
GRITTY OF this people over contemporary
Aztecs and Mayas.
The Otomite nose was straight, like that
Of the Romans. to the point, from which
the nostrils, OF little less than ordinary
thickness, sloped upward eighty, but
plainly II the point had been brought
forward and upward little the nose would
have boon perfectly Roman.
The mouths Of the ancient otomites were
smaller and better formed than those OF
the Azteos and Mayas. 1t Is only in the
jaws, whose excessive development indi-
Gates that brutal determination which
/ characterized the two other dominant races
/ OF Mexico, that any trait OF inferiority is
to be noted, and II Is very much less re.
markable than that evidenced by the rulers
| of Anahuac and Yucatan.
There are many reasons for believing that
the Otomi,ss were ali i'd to the white race
Their descendants living to-day In Teayo
are among the fairest OF Mexican natives
i ne tCuib hIiu az vi hiO oNeep VI 1NAioto
alone are of lighter complexion. and the
Mayas Of Yucatan form no more than q
link betw zen the living Otomitee and the
Mexirans, being only few shades lighter
than the latter.
Ctomites az dark as Mexicans are very
exceptional, indeed. Moreover. it is almost
certain that the Otomites OF modern time!
have been losing their hghtnees Of skin
because OF contact with neighbor1ng Mexi-
cans.
Modern Otomites have many commend
able qualities. They are lovers OF work,
cultvating the land assiduously, working
at wood and making many useful articles
for the household and the person. Although
there are less than 200 OF them living In
Teayo, they keep the place In better sanitar!
condition than most Mexican towns OF ZOO
inhabitants.
On the other hand they have for centuries
carried on savage warfare with the Next
cans, which has CEASED now only on account
OF their approaching extinction. They hav'
beer guilty Of the worst atrocities.
In 1906 they swooped down upon towns
ct dead of night and murdered the inhabi.
tants Unfortunately. Such was the terTo
which they inspired that the Mexicanl
abandoned many villages near their settle
ments.
Captives taken by 0tomites to Teayo wer'
tortured to death. They vera burned. fayet
and mutilated No captives ever returned
to tell the tale Of their treatment.
The dwindling and disappearing Teayc
which now has scarcely enough inhabitant
to defend it against the Mexicans is bount
TO be the resort Of the archeologists ans
ethnologists OF Mexico In the next few years
As It Is said to have had a population OF 500,
900 In the days OF Its glory, being as large a
the City Of Mexico. II may yield up sculpt
ures and other relics o! the past in grea
numbers. The discovery OF 1reayo practt
cally opens up new world OF speculation