Anthropology at the British Association

Abstract

THURSDAV, August 9.—Dr. E. B. Tylor read a paper on the distribution of mythical beliefs as evidence in the history of culture. The author showed that the wide distribution of several mythical beliefs, such as the idea of souls being weighed in a spiritual balance, and that of the Bridge of the Dead, gave evidence of connecting links between the great religions of the world. The theory that the pre-Columbian culture of America took shape under Asiatic influence was supported by evidence of a similar nature. Thus, in the religion of ancient Mexico four great scenes in the journey of the soul in the land of spirits are depicted in a group in the Aztec picture-writing known as the Vatican Codex: first, the crossing of the river of death; second, the pissage of the soul between two mountains that clash together; third, the soul climbing up a mountain set with sharp obsidian knives; fourth, the dangers resulting from these knives being carried about by the wind. There is a close resemblance between these Mexican pictures and certain scenes from the Buddhist purgatory depicted on Japanese temple scrolls. Here are seen, first, souls wading across the river of death; second, souls passing between two huge iron mountains, which are pushed together by demons; third, souls climbing the mountain of knives, whose sharp blades cut their hands and feet; fourth, knile-blades flying through the air. Dr. Tylor also referred to Humboldt's argument from the calendars and mythic catastrophes in Mexico and Asia, and to the correspondence in Bronze-Age work and in games in both regions, and expressed the opinion that the evidence was sufficient to justify anthropologists in considering that ancient American culture was due to a great extent to Asiatic influence.