Page:Mexican Archæology.djvu/140

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104
MEXICAN ARCHÆOLOGY

where the Toltec culture flourished for a considerable period, unburned burials are found, and it is probable, from other evidence, that cremation is not typical of this civilization. The Acolhua practised cremation and buried the ashes. The Aztec practised both forms of disposal of the dead, but cremation, which, according to the early commentator on the MS. known as Vaticanus A,

Fig. 14.—A. Mummy of a warrior prepared for burial.
(Magliabecchiano MS., Florence)
B. Mummy supported in the jaws of the earth-monster.
(Fejérváry-Mayer MS., Liverpool)

they learnt from the Otomi, was the more common. The deceased was made up into a mummypack with quantities of paper, which was supposed to enable him to pass through the various dangers to be encountered on his journey to the underworld, and decked with appropriate ornaments (Fig. 14, a). Water was sprinkled over his head, and a supply for his journey provided in a small vessel; his red dog (shown in the illustration) was killed, and dog and master were