The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-23
Ethn illogical Society.

The January meeting of this Society held Tues
day evening, the 18th INST The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year
President, Edward Robinson, DID,; Vice Presidents,
Rev. Francis Hawks, j. W. Francis, Md. Foreign Cor
responding Secretary, George Folsom, Esq; Recording
Secretary, Theodore Dwight, ESQ Treasurer, Alex J.
Cotheal, ESQ; Librarian, G. II. Moore, Esq.
Messrs T. G. Squier, A. J. Cotheal and Chas Wexford
were appointed Standing Committee on Publications.
Mr. DWIGHT read brief paper Portuguese E1plora
tons In Africa, going TO show that certain Portuguese
travellers had crossed the African continent very nearly
no, exactly, the route pursued Ivy DR. Livingstone
early as ISL Colonel ID Aoosts promoted by the
Portuguese government the OF Brigader OF Mill.
tia with considerable annual pension fop having per.
formed this journey Application bad been made Lis.
bon for further information on the matter. II will be
membered that Dr Livingstone Of opinion that he Is the
only white who crossed Africa this point
Mr.. SorIER called attention 10 early copy OF a new
piehographca wors Just published IN london entitled,
1.-The Literature Of American Aboriginal Languages" by
Hermann Ludeyg Mr. Ludewg, up 10 the time Of his
death, active member Of the society with which
be had made deposit OF the manuscript OF the work
question. had, however, been Withdrawn the OFFER
OF publishing IT, made by Mr. Nicholas Trubner Of Lon.
don, Who aided by Prof. Turner, Of Washington had
made large additions greatly enhancing lis value. Il
contains 2s closely printed octave pages OF titles books
manuscripts and notices Of American aboriginal languages,
and embraces references % nearly all that has been
published oecting them. whether In special
works incidentally In books OF travels periodicals or
proceedings Of learned societies. Mr. Sqgier paid high
compliment Mr. Trubner for his real and lberaty and
then proceeded TO critical on matters
contained m the book, quite independently however Of
the work ITSELF the which its editors had
accomplished their task
lie showed that the language denominated Popu.
luca kAchikel" on the authority Of Dr. Scherzer OF
Vienna Is the Kachquel proper, disguised by
having the poesessive pronoun your prehxe 70
Of the words r tan (your nose very natural blum
the part Of the uneducated Indian from whom Dr.
Scherzer procured his vocabulary, but rather mex
plcable the part Of the Mr. Squer showed
that while the term "popuuca kschkel" was uncrtca
and misnomer language did exist toe province OF
Guascspan Central America at the time OF the conquest
called by the Nericans, "Popouca word ssnying bar
barous which however bad affinity with the KacbIaueI
but probably Identical with OF the dialects
spoken by the rude mountain ri Of Honduras vaguely
called by the Mexican name ''Chontals y strangers
foreigners, outsde barbarisnsn The suppostion that
the Bishop Toral wrote grammar. &C the Popoluca
language originated In photographed printing
the Of the language which he really did write
He carte vocabuario de la Leugua Totolaca
Totonaes," and not Popoluca
Mr.. Squer also pronounced the designation "Tlas
caheks,' applied by Dr. Scherzer 10 the language
| spoken by the Indians Of lzalco, san salvador
equally incorrect and uncrtcal. lie had himself OBJ
contained vocabuares Of these Indians who all agreed in
pronouncing their language to be Nahuatl or Mexican
There were 20 Tsscalan Indians in Central America
Lert those who went there auxaros Of Avarado from
kexico Mr. Squer also showed that the identity Of the
luiche and Utlateca languages a matter Of sup
position, but supported by direct and positive testimo.
ny and read number Of extracts from the old chronicles
Of Guatemala 10 that effect the socalled Tzepdai
Vocabulary published oy hahnesque Nr squier said that
from the Spanish historians, chiefly however from Her.
that some Of the words Mexican others Maya
|
pure Spanish and that the whole was pathological i'm.
posture" As 70 the designation "Cbontal" Mr. 8 ex.
presses bis doub, If given specifically 10 auy
aborgn language but, on the contrary was applied in
various places, from Mexico southwark in tho sense OF
foreigners barbarans and savages the ruder Indian
populations or aboriginal tribes and that when
used in reference TO language, wa, under
stood only az designating the rude, vulgar
tongue or pdots OF the inferior classes OF different Indian
nations According 10 Oviedo the called Chontas Of
Nicaragua, "dfered amongst themselves 10 language 40
widely the Basques and Italians Mr. Squier also
pointed ont the errors in which Hervas had fallen in re-
~sFect 20 the "Chona language from misapprehenson
VI the testimony OF the historian Herrara
Mr. Squer, on behalf OF Mr. J. 9 Thrasher lad before
the society short memoir the indians Of the Ands
qu in New Granada, published in 1858 AT Popayan The
secretary instructed 10 inform Mr. rasher that the
Society would have great satisfaction In obtaining the
translation Of the memoir, which, was understood Mr.
T. was ready 10 make.
The Society then adjourned.