Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-30
AIDS STUDY OF
MAYA WRITINGS
Smithsonian institution Issues
Textbook on Ancient Indian
Hieroglyphs.
IS WELCOMED BY STUDENTS


How Indians Reckoned Time and
How They Performed Their
Processes Of Mathematics.
Washington.-The bureau of Ameri-
can ethnology of the Smithsonian In
stitution has recently issued q 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
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-
heves 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
glyphs are and how they are made,
how these people recxoned time, per-
formed their processes of mathemat-
les. their method of Enumeration and in
scription, and 50 on; all we'll Illus
trated with numerous plates and fig
ures which graphically show the read
er many things.
A DwindlIng Race.
In 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 &C.
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 a
dwindling 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 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 its 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 9. toward the end of our
sixth century, have been found in their
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. 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
implanted. The women were chaste
and modest: when passing men on the
road they stepped aside. turned their
backs, and hid their faces in a retiring
manner. On marriage the young hus-
band was obliged to work for his board
at the home of his wifes parents for
i've or six years, but the mother-in-law
saw to It that her daughter fed him
well. The Maya were of a Jealous ma
ture, and divorces were frequent and
easily effected. Polygamy was un-
known. Men suffered death for adul-
terry, but the woman's infamy was con-
sidered Sufficient punishment for her.
Widows or widowers might marry
without other ceremony than partak-
ing of q meal in the house of the es-
poused. It was considered improper
for a Maya to marry his mother-in-
law, sister-in-law, or aunt by marriage.
although he could marry a 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 q triple alliance. but fur
Their Capitalization of government
failed, and the Spanish invaders found
the country in q chaotic state with
number of independent petty chief
tains.
How to Read Maya.
In taking up the introduction for