The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-02-10
THE MISUNDERSTANDING.
Char nay and lie Plonxeon seeking
Permission to Export Their DtscOV-
ies...The History Of Chac- Mol.

Permission to Export Tnelr DAscOs
ies--.The History OF Chac-Mol.
The correspondent of the New York
World saws: As the discoveries Of "the
rival antiquarians" New York has sent
to Mexico must interest your fellow cltl-
zens, 1 desire to say that at this mo-
ment Charnay and LIE Plongecn are
both awaiting the decision of congress
as to the removal of antiquities from
the country, both being confident they
will be permitted to export two-thirds
of whatever they may discover or ex-
cavate. NJ. Charnay has brought from
the buried capital Of Toltects some fos-
sis over which naturalists are prlzzling
their brains, and recently a curious
statute which he unearthed reached
this city. Senores Mendoza and Jesus
Sanchez, directors of the Museo Ma
cional, have to-day commenced the
study of the latter. DR.. LIE Plongeon
does not propose making further exca
vations Just now. He and his accom-
plished wife intend devoting their
lives to the study of the hieroglyphs of
the Yucatan monuments. lgave up
several recently to the examination Of
mural drawing which Mrs. LIE Plongeon
has copied from the ruins of the tenn
Piles and palaces in Chichen-Itza, Pal
enque and Uxmai | need not attempt
any description Of them, because the
copies sent to the Smithsonian insti-
tute of Washington and the Archaolo-
gical society of Worcester, Mass, will
soon be published.
DR.. and Mrs. lie Plongeon affirm that
they have already deciphered a suffi-
cient number of the Yucatan hero
glyphs to enable them to read perfect
" the entire history of Chac-Mol, the
warrior king of the Chichen-Itzans
They pointed out to me in these copies
of the mural designs the mother of
Chac-Mol, the warrior king of the Chi
chen-Itzans. They pointed out to me
in these copies of mural designs the
mother of Chac-Mol, noble looking
dame, and his sister, who became his
wife. In word, his history from
youth to the grave was, according to
DR.. and Mrs. LIE Plongeon's theory,
chronicled on the walls of the palace of
Chichen-Itza and in the bas-reliefs on
the tomb, or, mausoleum erected in bis
honor by his widow and his three sons.
DR.. LIE Plongeon; who has devoted
nine years of his life to the study of
Yucatecan antiquities and expended
over 5000, feels deeply aggrievcd by
the manner in which the Mexican gov
eminent took possession of the statue
of Chac-Mol, refusing him the slight
est remuneration for his labor. He re-
marked your correspondent in a
serious comic manner: 'sThis govern
ment has graciously permitted me to
make cast of Chac- Mol, provided l
do not injure or mutilate the statue!
Think of the years toiled in Yucatan
of the dangers we incurred from In
dams and wild beasts; fancy, if you
can, what we suffered from heat, hum
ger and fatigue, and you con but adj
NIT that the privilege granted me is
bitter irony As Dr. LIE Plongeon wish
es to be guaranteed against further
spoliation, and also generously desires
| to pave the way for other scientists, he
has presented the following petition to
congress:
II ask. First-That the government
of the Mexican republic will allow me
/, the scientific investigation of monu-
ments in the peninsula Of Yucatan,
provided my investigation be made
without injury to those monuments.
"Second-ThatI may be permitted
to search for inscriptions relative to
the history of the people who inhabit-
ed Yucatan, and take paper or plaster
moulds Of them, or make photographs
and export said moulds, impressions
and photographs to the U. S., or other
countries where they may be studied
"Third-That if during said investi-
cations there should be found, separat-
ed from the monuments, interesting
objects whose preservation is considered
necessary for the better study of his
tory, they may be disposed ofaccording
to the laws existing on the subject in
the Mexican republic and the civil
code of Yucatan
| "Fourth-That all these concessions
made to me shall be considered also
made toany others archeologist commits
stoned by scientific societies that are
recognized by the United States.
"Fifth-That if the explorations, in
vestigations and studies have to be
made in districts inhabited by the In
dams of Chan Santa Cruz or visited by
them, and where, consequently, the
lives Of investigators will be endanger-
ed, the commanders of the nearest
military posts shall receive orders to
protect as far as possible the live of said
explorers