New-York tribune., 1898-10-23
PORTO RICAN ANTIQUITIES.
THE INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT
WORK BEFORE THE BitITTON
EXPEDITION

The expedition to Porto Rico which is to b
led by Professor r. l.. Britton. OF the New York
Botanical Gardens, promises to be productive
OF the most interesting results 1t has for
primary object the collection Of rare plants for
the Botanical Gardens here, but 1t also has
secondary object Of great interest. and that Is
the gathering of data concerning the lie ana
customs Of the vanished people who occupied
the island centuries ago, before the time OF Co
lumbus. The Spaniards when they came into
possession Of the island. following out their
fierce policy Of colonial rule. within a few years
completely extermnated the aborsnes, the
number of whom was about one million They
were known to be a quiet race possessing many
arts and Industries OF a semi civilized people.
yet history has recorded but little about their
character and culture. Recently many strange
relics have been found on the island the ike
OF which has not been seen anywhere else In
the world. They are supposed To be o. religious
significance and mainly in the nature OK
animal and human figures carved out or stone
In its day Porto Rico was the centre Of all re-
Iigious ceremonies and festivals held - the ma
tves living on the widely scattered Islands OK
tho Antilles In rude canoes sailing-b0ats and
other craft Of the time the savages Of that wido
watery region made yearly pilgrimages to forto
Rico TO engage in a sort of Indian camp-m
ing There the civilization and culture OF that
section and that time focused.
Up to the present time only one noteworthy
collection OF relics from that section has been
made. George Latimer. formerly a United
States Consul to Porto Rico. who was Of scien-
tifc turn of mind. put in the greater part of his
time collecting specimens there. ana wheh no
died at his post left everything he had collected
to the Smithsonian Institution.
Most Of the relies found indicate that the
natives Of this country OF an intensely
religious character. The great religious amphi-
theatre Of ancient Porto Rico. according to facts
cleaned. was large nclosure surrounded by
stone walls. and avenues of palm trees led up to
it from all sides. In the centre of the inciosure
was the holy Of holies" where the sacred OBJ
jects were kept. This incosure was covered by
a paim-leaf thatch as a protection against rain.
Every tribal chief had a similar place OF wor-
ship and this was the great gathering place or
conference building. There was a wel-estaD-
lshed priesthood and a well-regulated system
OF shrines. Each house. also in one OF its an
gles had shrine. These houses were OF great
size and sheltered under one roof hundreds ana
sometimes as many a thousand persona
Those in the house were all more or less re-
motely related.
The Latimer collection includes many quaint
pieces. some Of which are almost impossible OF
explanation. presenting many problems for the
scientists Of the outgoing expedition TO solve.
There are some stone pieces. which for want OF
a better name have been termed collars. They
look much like horse collars. They are orna-
mented with carving. 1t is believed that they
were worn by the priests during certain religious
ceremonies There are many conventional axes
carved and polished. There are also stone
masks that represent grotesque human races
Curious also are many stools made from poth
wood and stone. These stools are ornamented
with pearls and precious stones and are sup
posed to have been thrones. Stone tables. sup
ported by four short legs. are also in the collec-
ton They supposed to have been used to
grind corn with stone rollers The ahOrigines
also made some beautiful pottery. a few relics
Of which remain All Of these things open
delightful vista to the scientists. and those who
make up the proposed expedition look forward
with keen interest to the work they have before
them