Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-05-19
AIDS STUDY OF
MAYA WRITINGS
Smithsonian institution Issues
Textbook on Ancient Indian
HierOgIyphs.
IS WELCOMED BY STUDENTS
Explains How Writings Were Made,
How indiana Reekoned Time and
How They Performed Their
Processes Of Mathematics.

Washington.-The bureau OF Amert-
can ethnology of the Smithsonian In
stitution las 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
took is entitled AN Introduction TO
.he Study Of the Maya Hleroglyphs,
and is a 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
han 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 hierO-
glyphs are and how they are made,
how these people rec5oned time. per
formed their processes of mathemat-
les. their method Of enumeration and in
scription, and so on; all we'll Illus
trated with numerous plates and fig
ures which graphically show the read
err many things.
A D%windllna Race.
In the first chapter Mr.. Morley
writes briefly on the habitat, history.
and manner 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 a million people in all, living In
the general region their ancestors &C.
cupied. Yucatan. Campeche. Tabasco.
Chiapas, Guatemala. and Honduras
we're 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 a
dwindling race, their ono remarkable
civilization being a thing OF the past,
their manners and customs practically
forgotten
Emerging from baTbarity. 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 we're driven from their
homes by a stronger people At any
event. no dates later than those Of
, their Cycle 8. toward the end of ouI
sixth century, have been found In theiI
old southern cities.
Customs Of the Mayas.
Mr.. 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. anC
the youths had their faces scalded Il
prevent the growth Of boards TIL,
men decorated their whole bodies will
red paint. and the women all excep'
their faces. for in that day modest,
I decreed that the face should be lief
: implanted. The women we're chastl
l.. and modest; VIXEN passing men on thu
road they stepped aside turned thei
' backs, and hid their faces in a retiring
manner. On marriage the young hus
] band was Obliged to work for his boarl
0 at the home Of his wifc's parents TO
Eve or six years. but the mother-in-lav
a saw to II that her daughter fed hin
we'll The Maya were of a Jealous ne
ture, and divorces were frequent ant
d easily effected Polygamy was an
Q known. Men suffered death for aduI
terry. but the woman's infamy was cor
o sidered sufficient punishment for bel
. Widows or widowers might MARI.
a without other ceremony than partial
e ing OF a meal In the house Of the es
z poused. Il was considered imprOpe
for a Maya to marry his mother-iT
8 law. s~ister-in-law. or aun by marriage
II although he could marry a first cousin
Their. hospitality knew no bounds. an
the upper classes entertained one an
q other regally. Drinking was so IL
. dulged in at their %banquets that tn
wives OF the guests were often oblige
TO come for their husbands and dra
them home. The military efficiency q
the Maya vas OF a high degree. eac
city had chosen soldiers. supported b
Il the community. who organized an
drilled all the %able-hodied men in tim
Of war. During the eleventh an
l. twelfth centuries three Of the embr!
onie Maya nations are supposed (
have formed a triple alliance. but fu
Their Capitalization of governmaT
D. failed. and the Spanish invaders foun
the country In a chaotic state with
d number of independent petty che
4 tains.
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