The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-11
SOME NEW BOORS.
AntlqullIes Of lhe Paelac s.ate-.

HOWE BANCROF1's woik, entitled Ihe NutN
Races Of TIC Pdctfc states ~ North Am fic1,
treuts u the antiquities OF tine 81 region which
extends from the lsthmus TO BehrIng Straits,
including ON the casi New Mexico and Colorado.
One NJ two supplemented chapters conti
condensed DESCRIPTION Of the works OF the
mound builders in tbs Eastern and southern
States. In the other supplemental chapter Pc
ruyian antiquities are briefly reviewed.
The author has drawn bis facts from the re-
ports Of about five hundred travellers; and
though the book Is chiefly compilation from
these sources, yet II Is none the less ri in that
he has applied to II great deal OF hard, patient,
and continued study.
Beginning with the provinces Of Chiriqul and
veragua, on the Isthmus, and proceeding north
ward he ex imines he relics In each geoRra hical
division, describes them minutely, so far as they
are known, pointing out resemblances and con-
trasts In architecture and sculpture. indicating
the national Identity or relations OF the nhabit-
ants OF neghboring countries, or the independent
character OF their civilizations; rcserving for
the next and last volume Of his work the con-
sideraton Of traditions aud speculation con-
corning the origin of these monuments OF an
ancient culture, and Of the people whose handl-
work they are. Thus this book presents clearly
ALL or very nearly all, the material evidences OF
defined that have IA yet been discovered, to-
Rether with brief comments upon the anita lity
of the remains and the nationality of the build
ers. In regard to the age CT Pllenquc, in many
respects the finest and most interesting ruin yet
brought to light, the author SAYS;
1t has already been shown that the Yucatan siruc.
lures were Jul by the direct ancestors % The Nnya
pucst thai thev were not abandoned wholly unti mo
coming u the splniud-, although partially 50 during
~
SOUS llucsi Tor and as Inst We great antiQu. Of tnc
the .ae OF their abandonment. rather than Of ucir
can De- shown OF IT, depends chehY On Traditional ny
tory which Indicate tat tle cucs we're bult at dii.
chiefly by comparison with the ruined citi's
ba deerni since mere IL no tr ttona h. or, ts'
relates denn,ey 70 ths ciyi aud II wa. doubtless
pu sihle that great inhabited city could have rcuair
60 ul ti uhNnvNh nuiihE We VYhpu's OF ~ pTl OF
ed within thiri miles Of It's site. In favor ~ great
y,rts ani t .s Snse ~ All trsca. - "G
nave hscn c"nscr,d strong srgunrnts. mi bey ali
bear ON hc gate OF a1an ounen ra,h.r thIn VI bua-
dis tciy tue Iemans q orisnt coorod pant the Dc;
the comparison with some kuropean ruins Of known
ge me ~ Of trees ana sccnmglsto9 81 Garth are
ndoed the cleAtnss .ni excavations Of ne earlier ca
oicrs s,en 10 hsA lei ieT ssu. visible To- those =" 20
wooden lntcl- Is however, very stronE argument
ih,n ne cc. Of thc rcnifsui, where ne ncls we're
|
employed. When We add 10 this the more advanced
silence all tridti6ns respecting any great city
or n're W WE a"si,h ~ s.Sls 81. o tvn
paIrs cary as he twelfth or thirteenth century.
possibly earlier resrectne the date Shen the city
was quit, we have the reseMbaAces 20 nc4an runs
built under dirrtn' conditions, such a. religion and
| government pos,l.N.N people vt me same race
so- ,,ss W, ~ 10, ~
stiI fII
believing in on extinct race but the ivfef has been
WORK 10 have weight. anu thc ptouhlr cranis
form tlon may ne much more simply ara as -ausiac.
nod,rn times the forehead aruncally Gatteued.
| rxnal ana PAleuque, wach lead US to conclude
mat tnese. ctles must nave Detu usNt oih-r
which had long been separated, or by branches,
S5dcr ssreS moGlnca niituplof, Il csnn" be- ae
curlicy determined to what exlcnt the ast two con
tory and the uniformity oi Maya iustituucns. am
scupiufal diicences noted 10 Tie Sp'e Of Inc and
| 20 allow dnetcuce OF few centuries between the
pcninu a ruins aud tbose u Paenquc winch are the
fcs-iural mood confess To a SHADE u ssepucisn
respecting the ability Of other writers 70 form we'll
fOunde IN gncnt N the matter. Authors are. nov.
foundcd before any Of the cues Of opinion
which Is ,9pp9ftsd to esftiin eAsn. ey ,TAdi,iona
ana labarO A. ple,eaihs chr1.oiys!es,ty tue alle
noi.hci as have conjrciured between ne tfird and
tenth centuue,, Palcuque may oe conJerturaly re-.
n regard tie theory that Pllchqac - built by
tonth centur, as who'll, VII out fouu ilon ana be.
love nat % would DE equally imps-ble a. prove or
c aTl', 'u-' Tue ' "-' ''--1Is Al Tue 0'''A O'
As TO the artistic excellence shown by the
ruins Of Paenqde, authors differ In Judgment.
Poster. In Prehistoric Races" says that these
sculpturei figures are not caricature1. but dis
play ability on the part Of the artists 10 rep
resent the human form I'm every posture an
with Anatomical FIDELITY Nor are the people in
humble lifc here delincated. The figures are
royal or priestly; some are engaged In Offering
10 sacriG ,es, are In an attitude ~ devotion (;
many hold sceptre, or other baton OF author
ity; their apparel is gorgeous their headdresses
are deliberately arrayed, aud decorated with long
| feathers" Klcmm, IN his Cutur-Gcschichtc,
asserts that "many OF the reliefs exhibit the
| finest and most beautiful outlines and the neat
est combinations, which remind one OF the best
| Indian works Of art" On the other hand, More
| let, In his Voyage remarks that the RUNS OF
Palenque have been, perhaps. oyerrated these
remains are 1ne, doubtiess. in their antique
| rudeness they bgea he out in the midst of their
solitude certain imposing grandeur; but II
must be affirmed, without disputng their archi-
| tcctura importance, that they do not Justify in
their details the enthusiasm OF archmoogists.
The lines which make up the ornamentltion are
faulty In recttude, the designs IN symmetry, the
sculpture in finish except however, the SYM
hollis tablets, the sculpture OF which seemed to
me very correct. | admire tile has rehef- OF Pa
lenque on the facades Of her old palaces: they
interest me, move me, and mn my i'm .giuhton
| but let them bee ken To the Louvre, and | see
nothing but rude sketches, which leave me cold
aud Indifferent"
Judging, however, by the Illustrations IN this
| 100, Il, which appear to have boon prepared with
| clreful reference To authenticity, the remains OF
sculpture IN tho ruined city OF Palenque must
be pronounced more than Egyptian, almost
Greek, IN fact, rs regards artistic qualities.
an HITEN IN THE SOUTH.
! The Southern Mcihodists nespise Him, nut