Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-21
RUINS OF CHIAPAS
Taste and Skill of the Builders
Indicated.
PROF. HOLMES IMPRESSION
Tells Of the Wonders to Be Seen at
Palenque.
NATIVES ARE INDIFFERENT
Interested Only In the Fact That
Of Great People.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM K. CURTIS
written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
When asked Prof Holmes, chief Of the
bureau Of ethnology. why he did not send
an expedition to the Isthmus Of Tehuan-
tepec to explore the great ruined city which
has been recently discovered In the jungles
of the state of Chiapas, he replied that he
had neither the men nor the money.
1.-The entire force of the bureau" he said,
'is occupied within the limits OF this coun-
try and we are able to do only a small
portion of what we would like to do in the
line of our work. We cannot spare any
men or money to carry on explorations In
foreign countries. particularly In countries
that will not permit US to bring away any
of the archaeological treasures that we may
find. Mexico has law, which is very
strictly enforced. prohibiting the export OF
relics from the ruins in that republic and
all other objects of archaeological interest.
OF course. we have no right to complain.
because the Mexicans have museums OF
their own, and they naturally prefer to keep
all evidences of their prehistoric arts and
industries. We would do that ourselves II
we were in their place: but, at the same
time. such a law is rather discouraging to
foreign explorers.
You made an exploration OF the ruins at
PalenQue, In Yucatan?"
Yes. I went down in 1895 on Allison
Armour's yacht in the interest OF the Field
Museum of Chicago and spent three months
around Palenque. 1 would like very much
to go again and explore the newly discoy-
cred cities, for there Is no field more fasci-
mating to the archaeologist, but as have
said this bureau has all 1t can attend to
at home. The Smithsonian Institution
could send a party II 1t has the funds, or
the Carnegie Institution. Doubtless the
Mexican government would be very glad
to have them do So"
Prof Holmes has never heard OF the
ruins reported to have recently been dis
covered by party of tiecutters from the
about recently in letter from the 1sthmus
of Tehuantepec. but he says that they are
located in a part of Mexico which is known
to contain many ruins similar to those de-
scrfbed but has never been explored.
who built those ctties?" l asked
Builders Have Vanished.
"The people who built them have van
ished." replied Prof. Holmes. Although
their descendants undoubtedly still occupy
the country the particular tribe or tribes
cannot be identified. They have lost the
arts and the Industries of their progenitors
and their traditions go back only few
generations. While that section of Mexico
was undoubtedly more densely populated at
that time than now, do not believe the
popularity supposed. The early estimates
were based upon visits to centers of popu-
lation, without considering that the vast
expanse of Chiapas was very thinly settled.
There are now about 10000 inhabitants in
what is known among archaeologtsts as the
Maya area-that Is, the state of Yucatan
and Chiapas, which were originally occu-
pied by the Maya race. OF the present In
ton to speak the aboriginal language and
that only. This proves that very little out
side influence has ever been exerted upon
them They have been very generally con-
verted to the Catholic religion by mission
AIRY priests. but they still practice their
ancient pagan rites and undoubtedly retain
something of their anciant beliefs. much
more than would be suspected by casual
travellers in that region.
Mr.. Tozzer of Harvard, under the direc
tion Of Mr.. Charles P. Bowditch, the we'll
known authority on the glyphic writings of
the ancients, has spent several years in
the Maya country with view to learning
whether there are left any traces of the
ancient customs and beliefs and especially
IL the present inhabitants have any knowl
edge of the system of writing used by their
forefathers. Although no report has been
published, 1t Is understood that his re-
searches have not been rewarded with any
great measure of success. Among the Ivy
ing Inhabitants of the region the past is
blank. They can remember their grand
fathers, but they know of nothing back OF
them. Their traditions are exceedingly
limited and unsatisfactory. Formerly the
records OF the nation were kept by the
priesthood. They alone had knowledge
of the history of their people. They alone
were familiar with the past. and. unfortu-
nately, they were the first objects OF the
wrath Of the Spaniards Their heathenish
rites Immediately excited the indignation Of
the monks and priests who accompanied
the Conquistadores, and they were not only
massacred, but every yestige OF their re-
ligion was wiped out, and the records were
destroyed Their temples and affairs were
the first points of attack. The invasion
of America by the Spaniards had many Of
the features of religious crusade
This is the chief reason why we know
so little about the prehistoric people of
Spanish-America and their customs. their
industries, their religion and other features
of their civilization. The only evidence Is
found In the reports made by the priests
who accompanied the Conquistadores to
their superiors at home but they are ex-
ceedingly unsatisfactory and were naturally
tainted with prejudice.
Wonderful Skill and Taste Shown.
ruins are numerous all over that region
batwaop the T~thppna ofT oh1taptopoc and