Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-05
The AnthropoIogical Society.

The AnthropOlOgical Society met Tuesday
night, the president, Maj. j. W. Powell, in the
chair, and Prof. Elmer r. Reynolds, secretary.
Prof. Mason laid before the society an illustra-
ted paper on the ''Shell Mounds of omori," by
Prof. Edward s. Morse, of the University of
Toxic, Japan; also, paper published in Massa-
chuSetts, containing an interesting article
ON THE UTE INDIANS,
by Prof White, who addressed the society a few
weeks since upon the same subject. The chair
remarked that he lived for several years among
the Ute Indians, Of the White River Country,
and could bear testimony to their honesty and
peaceable inclinations. They were prOverbially
honorable In their dealings, and were never
known to steal.
Mr. Miles Rock, who was announced to read
paper on ''The Relation OF Forests and Geo.
logical Changes to Ancient Remains in the
Tropics" not being present, Prof. John c. Lang
read very interesting paper on
"ANClENT MAPS"
several copies of which he laid before the meet
ing. He said that the historical map bears the
same relation to the written history that the
portrait of an individual does to his biography
it tells the story more clearly, and often more
completely, than any descriptive text can do.
Historians are just beginning to appreciate the
value OF old maps; they find In the charts and
tcal documents easily interpreted and needing
no translation. The old writer who has given
us map Of his ground, has furnished check
with which we may curb the racy fancy of his
ever skillful he may be, can never hide from us
the sources of Information upon which he has
drawn. We see In each point or line that which
indicates previously known authority, as we
recognize in hall of statuary the casts from
antique marbles, or among paintings the copy
from well-known origtnal-so upon the map,
we can identify and separate, If need be, the
work of many hands. That this is seldom or
never the case with written or printed docu-
ments, writer's and readers have found to their
confusion. Unfortunately, however, but very
few of the previous geographical representa-
lions Of the early discoveries in the New
World now exist. 1t would require less
time to describe the historical maps to
which we can now refer than to name,
simply, those which we know to have persisted.
Columbus came OF a family of map-makers; he,
himself, was an experienced coSmOgrapher and
expert map-maker. He for years carried on the
business OF constructing charts for sale. We
cannot doubt that he was generous enthusiast
from every source, previous to his memorable
voyage. In February, 1867, he visited Iceland
there to examine into the facts touching the
discoveries Of the Mortimer. While there he
documents necessary to his subject. In 1857 he
should have found those who might remember
the visit of the Italian merchantS-the Zeni
brOtherS-whO three-fOurthS of a century before
had compiled from the Morse records complete
map of the coasts discovered and coloniZed by
the Mortimer 300 years before.
OTHER SUBJECTS.
MI. Miles Rock read paper on the relations
OF tropical forests and geological changes, con-
fDing his remarks to his own observations at
the Island OF Trinidad. Some discussion fol-
lowed. Prof. Mason read a letter from Lieut..
OF Prehistoric Remains" DR.. Riley read a let
ter from friend at San Antonio Texas, de-
scribing remarkable burial case discovered in
Mexico, containing thousand mummies.