The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-15
Smithsonian Institution Issues Textbook on Ancient Indian
 Hieroglyphs.
IS WELCOMED BY STUDENTS
Explains How Writings Were Made, How Indians Reckoned Time and How They Performed Their
 Processes of Mathematics.

stitution has recent issued a text book, an archaeological primer so to speak, for the study of the ancient writings of the Maya Indians who have inhabited the Atlantic coast plains of southern Mexico and northern Central America from time immemorial. The book is entitled An Introduction to the Study of the Maya Hieroglyphs," and is a new form for the diffusion of of American archaeology.
 The author of this new book, MT. Sylvanus Griswold Morley of the Car nege Institution of Washington, be- lieves that his work will be welcomed by students; the writings of many previous investigators, designed to meet the needs of the specialist rather than the beginner, are in the main too advanced and technical for general comprehension. Consequently MT. Morley begins his work at the begin ming, explaining what Maya hiero- glyphs are and how they are made, how these people reckoned time, per formed their processes of mathemat- ics, their method of numeration and in- scription, and so on all well illus trated with numerous plates and fig ures which graphically show the read CT many things.
 A Dwindling Race.
 In the first chapter MT. Morley writes briefly on the habitat, history, and manners and customs of the Maya, in order that the student may gain a general idea of the remarkable people whose glyphic and calendar systems are presented for study. There are dialects of the Maya language, perhaps half million people in all, living in the general region their ancestors oc- cupied. Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, Guatemala, and Honduras were all inhabited by the forbears of this race, who were actually the van of civilization in the New World but today there is only the remnant of dwindllng race, their once remarkable civilization being a thing of the past, their manners and customs practically forgotten.
 Emerging from barbarity, probably during the first or second century of the Christian era, with excellent sculp- ture and a system of elaborate and in- volved hieroglyphs. bespeaking both skill and high mentality which must have taken at least two centuries to evolve, they began to develop. For four hundred years they expanded and grew until, in the sixth century, the Golden Age of the Maya was reached. But after that their civilization either collapsed, having run it's natural course, or they were driven from their homes by stronger people. At any event, no dates later than those of their Cycle 9, toward the end of our sixth century, have been found in their old southern cities.
 Customs of the Mayas.
 Mir Morley mentions many of the Maya customs which are of interest. They disfigured and tattoed their faces in accordance with their religious be- liefs; squint-eye was striven for, and the youths had their faces scalded to prevent the growth of boards. The men decorated their whole bodies with red paint, and the women all except their faces, for in that day modesty decreed that the face should be left unpainted. The women were chaste aud modest; when passing men on the road they stepped aside. turned their backs, and hid their faces in retiring manner. On marriage the young hus band was obliged to work for his board five or six years. but the mother-n-law saw to 1t that her daughter fed him we'll. The Maya were of jealous na- ture, and divorces were frequent and easily effected Polygamy was un- known. Men suffered death for adul- tery. but the womans infamy was con sidered sufficient punishment for her. Widows or widowers might marry without other ceremony than partak ing of meal in the house of the es- poused. It was considered improper for Maya to marry his mother-in- law, sister-in-law, or aunt by marriage. although he could marry first cousin. Their hospitality knew no bounds, and the upper classes entertained one an other regally. Drinking was so in- dulged in at their banquets that the wives of the guests were often obliged to come for their husbands and drag them home. The military efficiency of the Maya was of high degree; each city had chosen soldiers. supported by the community, who organized and drilled all the able-bodied men in time of war. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries three of the embry- onic Maya nations are supposed to have formed triple alliance, but fur ther standardization of government failed. and the Spanish invaders found the country in a chaotic state with a number of independent petty chief tains.
 How to Read Maya.