The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-01 00:00:00

Antiquarian, Ethnological, and ether Researches in
New Granada, Tquador, Peru, and Chile, with
Observations on the Pre-incarial, Incarial, and
other Monuments of Peruvian Nations. By
Bollaert, F.R.G.S., Corr. Mem. of the
University of Chile, &e. London : Trubner and
Co.
We congratulate Mr. Bollaert on having in his
present work given a most important and valuable
contribution to ethnological and antiquarian science.
It is evident that in the volume before us the author
has studied more to compile a mass of curious and
interesting facts but little known to the general
reader, than to arrange those facts in a systematic
form, or with much attention to the mere graces of
composition. It is as a work of reference, as a
storehouse of information on the ethnology and
antiquities of South America, derived from many
years' residence and travels in all parts of that
country, that M. Bollaert's volume is especially
valuable to the student in geographical and anti-
quarian science.
After giving us a brief but interesting introduc-
tory account of New Granada, our author discusses
at some length the history of the aboriginal inha-
bitants of the Plateau of Bogotei, known by the
names of the Cliebchas or Miniscas. These tribes
are in all respects as distinct from the Mexicans on
'the one side as they are from the Peruvians on the
other. The religion, laws, and social customs of the
Cliebchas are discussed at some length, and many
singular instances are given of their state of scien-
tific knowledge, especially in astronomy. A curious
vocabulary of the language of the Cliebohas is also.
appended to this portion of the work.
The account which Mr. Bollaert gives of the
manufacture and importance of quinine, will be
read with equal interest by the medical prac-
titioner and the political economist. We learn.
that the British Government pays annually for
quinine no less a sum than £60,000. In the hope
of in some measure reducing this expenditure, it
appears that Mr. Markham, the author of " Cuzco
and Lima," has been sent by our Government to
Peru to collect young cinchona plants, and trans-
port them to our possessions in India. The well-
known botanist Spence is also at the present mo-
ment, arid with a similar object, engaged in collect-
ing cinchoua plants in Equador, and Mr. Pritchett.
in the forest of Huanaco, in Peru.
Quito is the next country examined by Mr. Bol-
laert, and here undoubtedly he opens up much new
ground, especially in the departments of ethnology
and mineralogy.
It is, however, in treating of the history and
antiquities of Peru that Mr. Bollaert writes most
eon amore, and this doubtless may be attributed to
his long residence in the coantry,:his affection for
its inhabitants, and his thorough acquaintance with
the ancient history of Peru, of which he gives us a
very interesting summary. It seems to us that if
some man like Mr. Bollaert were employed to
arrange the ethnological collection, particularly
that of South America, which is now existing in the
greatest state of confusion in the British Museum,
the scientific world would gain a considerable ad-
vantage.
A singular proof of the state of astronomical
learning among the Peruvians is afforded us by our
author's discovery of an ancient Peruvian Zodiac,
of which he gives us a fall description.
The mineral and mercantile treasures which
exist in the form of silver, nitrate of soda, loran
&c., in the province of Tarapaca, are well worthy
the attention of speculators, and the results of our
author's own personal examination in the nitrate
districts show what a rich harvest they promise to
the enterprising.
Perhaps to the general reader the account which
Mr. Bollaert gives of his trip to, and subsequent
ascent of, the great mountain Tata Jachma, and his
admirable observations thereon, will be more ac-
ceptable even than his more scientific disquisitions.
We next come to Chile and the various tribes of
Chango and other Indians which inhabit that
country. The descriptions which Mr. Bollaert
gives of Copiapo, Valparaiso, and Santiago are
well worth perusal, especially that of the last
named rich and beautiful city.
At Atacama we again find him actively analysing
the soil for the discovery of various mineral and
chemical productions, and we have also a full de-
scription of the manners and customs of the ex-
traordinary tribe of Indians which inhabit those
parts of the country.
It is the concluding portion of his volume which
our author devotes chiefly to the study of anti-
quarian remains, and much curious information is
given us of the Pre-incarial, Incarial, and other
monuments of ancient Peruvian nations, particu-
larly those of Tia-lluanaco, and around Lake Titi-
caca. We only regret lack of space obliges us to
content ourselves with the brief abstract we have
given of Mr. Bollaert's three principal divisions of
his work ; but we can assure the lover of ethno-
logical, geographical, and antiquarian science that
he will find in this new addition to the history of
South 'America a mass of information such as he
will scarcely meet with in any work recently pub-
lished on these portions of the nqw world.
The volume is illustrated with numerous litho-
graphs of scenery and antiquarian remains, which
add materially to its interest and value.