c. But there is a still more serious objection to one of the above assertions. It is the somewhat stubborn fact that barley was never found upon either of these western continents until imported by the Europeans in modern times!

Of the ancient Peruvians Mr. Squier says, p. 452:

"We must remember that many domestic animals, a number of vegetables, and wheat and barley have all been introduced since the conquest, and contribute to the support of the present population.

Mr. Bancroft, in "Native Races," vol. 5, p. 97, in a foot note, says:

"Macgregory argues that the Americans could not have been Jews, for the latter people were acquainted with the use of iron as far back at the time of Tubal Cain: they also used milk and wheaten bread, which the Americans could and would have used if they had once known of them.

These are general testimonies from competent authorities, relative to the ancient inhabitants of both continents, and are positive that neither barley or wheat were found in this western world until introduced by Europeans in modern times.

d. But the most marvellous part of the above account is this: The evidence happens to be very clear and satisfactory, that no gold or silver coin of any denomination whatever, ever existed in Central America in the ancient times.

"Although no regular coined money was used, yet several more or less convenient substitutes furnished a medium of circulation. Chief among these were nibs or grains of the Cacao, of a species somewhat different from that employed in making the favored drink, chocolate. This money, known as patlachte, passed current anywhere, and payments of it would be made by count up to 8000, which constituted a xiquipilli. In large transactions sacks containing three xiquipilli were used to save labor in counting. Patolquachtili were small pieces of cotton cloth used as money in purchase of articles of immediate necessity or of little value. Another circulating medium was gold dust kept in translucent quills, that the quantity might be readily seen. Copper was also cut into small pieces shaped like a T, which constituted, perhaps, the nearest approach to coined money.—Banc., vol. 2, p. 381.