The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-05-12
AIDS STUDY OF
MAYA WRITINGS
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.

TOW iney performed Their
Processes of Mathematics.
Washington.-Th bureau of Amerf
can ethnology Of the Smithsonian In
stitution has recently 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 new form for the diffusion OF
knowledge in relation to one branch
OF American archaeology.
The author of this new book, Mr..
Sylvanus Griswold Morley of the Car
negie 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 Mr..
Morley begins his work at the begin
ming. explaining what Maya hero
giyphs are and how they are made,
how these people reckoned time, per-
formed their processes OF mathemat.
les. their method of Enumeration and In
scription. and so on; all we'll illus
trafed with numerous plates and fig
ures which graphically show the read
81 many things.
A pwlndllna Race.
lr the first chapter Mr.. 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
now about 20 tribes speaking various
dialects OF the Maya language, perhaps
half q million people In all, living In
the general region their ancestors oc.
cupied. Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco,
Chiapas. Guatemala, and Honduras
we're all inhabited by the forbears oil
this race, who were actually the van
OF civilization in the New World. but
today there is only the remnant Of a
dwindling race, their once remarkable
civilization being 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 system OF elaborate and In.
voived hieroglyphs, bespeaking both
SAIL 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 its natural
course, or they were driven from their
homes by stronger people. AT any
event. no dates later than those of
their Cycle 3, toward the end of our {
sixth century, have been found in theii I
old southern cities. :
Customs Of the Mayas.
Mr.. Morley mentions many OF the o
Maya customs which are OF interest. o
They disfgured and tattoed their faces
in accordance with their religious be- q
liefs: squint-eye was striven for, and
the youths had their faces scalded to T
the growth OF boards. The
men decorated their whole bodies with
red paint, and the women all except
heir faces, for in that day modesty
iecreed that the face should be left pi
Imprinted. The women were chaste OF
md modest; when passing men on the Ia
Dad they stepped aside, turned their N
racks. and bid their faces IN retiring AZ
manner. On marriage the young hus- Pi
and was obliged to work for his board
{ the home Of his wifes parents for ja
I've or six years, but the motherin.law nj
aw to 1t that her daughter fed him fri
TeIl. The Maya we're OF a Jealous ma. tic
ure. and divorces were frequent and tt
asiiy effected, Polygamy was un-
nown. Men suffered death for adul. TIL
FRY, but the woman's infamy was con. II
dered sufficient punishment for her pc
1idows or widowers might marry ge
ithout other ceremony than partak. re.
lg OF meal In the house OF the es. br,
oused. II was considered Improper
r a Maya to marry his mother-in- Sc
W, sister-inlaw, or aunt by marriage, I
though he could marry a first cousin Jol
heir hospitality knew no bounds, and we
o upper classes entertained one an VIII
her regally, Drinking was so In to
Ilged in at their banquets that the ris
ives of the guests were often obliged 1856
come for their husbands and drag Ing
EN- home, The military efficiency Of era
Q Maya was Of high degree; each ent
y had chosen soldiers, supported by
g community, who organized and
He'd all the able-bodiej men in time
war During the eleventh and
elfth centuries three of the embry.
&c Maya nations are sur~nsed to u
We formed triple alliance. but fur ~,
IT centralization OF government a s
led, and the Spanish invaders feund ~ ~,
J country in a chaotic state with s4ao
mber Of independent petty chief usu'
MS. was
How 10 Read Maya. ~ ~
2 taking I'D the intradaefion 70 &C. 9.
dying the hieroglyphs the author r.. /
iains that in Maya inscriptions the from
phs are usually arranged in paral. east,
columns and read two columns at a Low
e from left to right at the top. Mas.
ne inscriptions. however. occur in
lzontal bands, in which case they
read from left to right. taking
glyphs at time. Unlike the Egyp- Troo
s, the Maya complicated their
ing by varying and augmenting Ma
! elemental forms until com Rusa
e symmetrical picture, filling the Med,