No. 5
4¼ in High, 4 in Diameter.
2½ in High, 3 in Diameter.
3¼ in High, 5¼ in Diameter.
No. 6.
5 in Long, 3 in Wide.
9 in in diameter, 3 in in height.
6 in in diameter, 7 in height,
“Such is the extremely disintegrated state of some of these bones, and so little animal matter remains in their composition, that I should suppose them to belong to an ancient period in the history of our aboriginal nations; a conjecture which is sustained by the circumstances under which they were found. One of these skeletons is that of a man perhaps twenty-five years of age, with large bones and no trace of epiphyses. A few fragments of cranial bones are also large and massive; which remark is also applicable to both the upper and lower jaws and the teeth, which latter are singularly perfect. The os calcis, (heel bone,) and other parts of the foot, are of delicate proportions; thus presenting that contrast between the broad head and small hands and feet, which has long been observed as one of the characteristics of our native tribes. Parts of a second skeleton, from the same mound, have belonged to a smaller person; but they are so much broken as to preclude any certain indications of age or sex.
“Of the two remaining skeletons, only a few fragments of the long bones, and others of the hands and feet, remain. They are much larger than those already mentioned, and have no doubt pertained to individuals above the ordinary stature.
“I am extremely indebted to you for the opportunity you have thus afforded me of examining and comparing these ancient relics of our native Indian race; for, dilapidated as they are, their characters, as far as I can ascertain them, correspond with all the osteological remains of that people which have hitherto come under my observation; and go to confirm the position, that all the American tribes (excepting the Esquimaux, who are obviously of Asiatic origin) are of the same unmixed race. I have examined the sculls (now in my possession) of four hundred individuals, belonging to tribes which have inhabited almost every region of North and South America, including the civilized as well as the savage communities, and I find the same type of organization to pervade and characterize them all.
“I much regret that we have in this country so few sculls of the Mongolian or Polar tribes of northern Asia. These are all-important in deciding the question whether the aboriginal American race is peculiar, and distinct from all others; a position which I have always maintained, and which I think will be verified when the requisite means of comparison are procured.”
At Cape Catoche is an entire city buried beneath the luxurious vegetation, which has not yet attracted much attention from visitors. From this circumstance, probably, some singular results might be the reward of those who have the enterprise to examine these ruins. Near the river Lagartos, and upon its banks, stand two lonely pyramids. Upon the eastern shore of the main land, opposite to the island of Cozumel, there appears a long line of ruined edifices, occupying an extent of ground nearly equal to that over which are spread the ruins of Uxmal.
At point Soliman are other ruins of great interest and little known. On the south side of Espiritu Santo Bay are also very extensive ruins. In following the route leading to Bacalar, one may discover towers, whose summits overtop the surrounding trees.