ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTES.

BY ALEXANDER F. CHAMBERLAIN.

MAYA ORIGINS. In a most interesting volume, "A Glimpse of Guatemala, and Some Notes on the Ancient Monuments of Central America" (London, 1899, pp. xvii-289), Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Maudslay give an account of their travels and researches in the Maya regions of Central America. Mr. Maudslay wisely concludes that hardly "more than a mere trace of phoneticism has as yet been established" in the Maya writing. The famous and rather doubtful "Toltecs," he inclines to think, were of Mayan stock and hesitates to decide whether or not the original Mayas came from Mexico or from Central America. As to the generel question of the origin of American civilizations, Mr. Maudslay does not lay any stress upon the driftacross-the-Pacific theories, and believes that Old World influences in America, if at all present are "few and far between," while, if America was populated from the Old World, the migration antedates all culture. In "Nature" (Vol. LXI., pp. 292-293), Prof. A. H. Keane reviews this book and comes to the conclusion that the Mayas were already civilized when they came into Yucatan, and that the pyramid of Papantla and the archaic Huastec language (of Maya stock) in Tamaulipas and Vera Cruz, indicate the place of their origin. Thence they were driven by invasion of the Nahuas from the Northwest. Thus, the "Toltecs" would seem to have really been the early Mavan cultured tribes. To use Professor Keane's words: "Safely entrenched on the Chiapas-Guatemalan plateau, the early Mayas continued to develop their 'Toltec' culture, partly assimilating the Quiches and other rude aborigines, all of whom now speak languages of Maya stock, and at last passing at the apogee of their civilization into the hitherto unoccupied limestone peninsula of Yucatan.'

RACIAL ASPECT OF VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT. In "Nature" (London) for December 28, 1899 (p. 200), Mr. R. C. T. Evans laments the fact that "the average opinion is growing more and more unwarlike, less brave, and more inclined for peace at any price." A selection has now been long in process, by means of which, "in the long run, the non-fighters, such as commercial classes, luxurious people, and any cowards, have more descendants proportionally than the brave and warlike." He emphasizes the fact that "of those soldiers killed during the last few weeks few have left two descendants." There is reason here for rejoicing rather than for regret -evolution is putting thus an end to war.

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ORIGIN OF THE AUSTRALIANS. Much literature of great value concerning the Australian aborigines, their languages, mythology, customs, etc., has been published during the last few years. One of the most interesting of recent contributions to the subject is Rev. John Mathew's "Eagle-hawk and Crow: a Study of the Australian Aborigines, including an Inquiry into their Origin and a Survey of Australian Languages" (LondonMelbourne, 1899, pp. xvi-288). According to Mr. Mathew, Australia has been successfully invaded by Papuans, Dravidians and Malays, for which he seeks confirmation in linguistic and other data. He even goes so far as to suggest (hence the title of his book) that the clan-names, so wide-spread in Australia, "Eagle-Hawk" and "Crow," represent respectively: "the latter, more powerful," and "the weaker, more scantily equipped sable" races in other words, the Dravidians and the Papuans. In "Nature" (Vol. LXI., pp. 193-195), Prof. A. C. Haddon reviews Mr. Mathew's book, pointing out the weakness of some of his arguments, taking exception especially to the statement made concerning certain rock-paintings in northwest Australia, that "it is obvious that there has been an attempt to present fragments of Hindu mythology in the form which had been developed by naturalization in Sumatra."

SONGS OF AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES. In the "Science of Man" (Vol. II., pp. 24-25), Mr. J. W. Fawcett gives an account of sixteen songs and chants collected by him in various parts of Queensland. The author furnishes the native texts without English versions. It is interesting to learn that "when a chant or song has been known for a long time it is generally discarded, and gives place to a new composition, which is either original (being composed by one of the more intellectual members of the tribe), or else borrowed from some other tribe." In this way some songs travel very far, and are sung by natives ignorant of the meaning of the words of which they are made up. One "fishing song," from the coast tribes between the Barron and Herbert rivers, is merely a string of names of the various fish, which are chiefly caught thereabouts," a very primitive lesson in economic geography. In another song we meet with evidences of European contact in kalli-koo (calico) and gan-gitta (handkerchief). Another song "refers to rocks and reefs and sand-banks." One song in "Aborigine-English," was sung by an educated aborigine employed on a ranch in north Queensland, but was not his own composition. The ending "white-pfellah plenty rich, black pfellah die" is suggestive.

MAORI GODs. In the "Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie" (Vol. XII., pp. 223-225), Mr. S. Percy Smith of Wel lington, New Zealand, publishes a "Note on Some Maori Gods," accompanied by a plate figuring some of these interesting

objects, now become so rare. The "gods" in question are tiki, which were usually stuck in the ground at the tu ahu or altar, a sacred place near each village. The figures are wound round with cord, beautiful and hand-made (from the native flax, harakeke, or Phormium tenax), and although they are between 50 and 200 (ca. 150) years old, the cord shows no signs of decay. The carving was done with obsidian knives, and the eyes of the god Tangaroa are of pearl-shell.

MATTY ORNAMENTATION. In his article on the "Ethnography of the Matty Islands," in the Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie (Vol. XII., pp. 218-223), Dr. Karutz of Lübeck discusses the weapons and implements of these people of the East Indies and their ornamentation, the expression of a rich and manifold artistic sense. Among other things Dr. Karutz points out that the Matty Islanders use plant motifs in their ornamentation, something rare among primitive peoples, to judge from the best authorities.

MALAY PENINSULA. From the Correspondenzblatt der deutschen Gesellschaft für Anthropologie (Vol. XXX., pp. 125-127), Dr. Rudolf Martin of Zürich reprints (München, 1899, p. 10) his paper on "The Primitive Inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula," and from the Mitteilungen de Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft in Winterthur for 1900, his popular address on a "Journey through the Malay Peninsula." In these papers the author gives an interesting account of his travels and investigations during the spring and summer of 1897 in various regions of Malacca. The so-called Malays are not the autochthones of the peninsula that bears their name, but only immigrants from Sumatra, etc. These Malay intruders have driven the original inhabitants further and further into the forests and mountains. Of pre-Malayan date are certain remains of an archæological sort. Among these are the skeletons, stone-implements, etc., of the rock-shelters (very common about Ipoh), the kitchen-middens and shell-heaps (very common in the north of Wellesley Province and in southern Kedah), which consist almost entirely of the edible Cardium, and are probably the refuse of lake-dwellings of former times. Stone hatchets (called by the Malays batu lintar or “thunder stones") of several types, besides chisels, have also been discovered. Dr. Martin gives some valuable anthropogical data concerning the Sakei (or Senoi as they call themselves), who, with the Semang (their own name is Mendi) form the most aboriginal part of the population of the peninsula. The Semang, who chiefly inhabit the north, partly in the Siamese Provinces, are, according to Dr. Martin, related to the Negritos of the Philippines, while the Sakei or Sakai (in eastern Perak, Selangor and western Pahang) are of a different stock, being related to some

of the little known races of the interior regions of the great East Indian Islands. The author thinks they are not genetically related to the Malays, and ought not, therefore, to be styled "primitive Malays," or "pra-Malayan," which terms. have been used by some authorities. Dr. Martin thinks that the Sakai contradict the theory of Peschel that, by reason of the feebleness of their thinking primitive peoples must believe more than civilized peoples, since, wherever such beliefs (e. g. in spirits, etc.) are present with the Sakai they are to be traced to Malay influence, and are not original with these tribes. The religious ideas of the Sakai are very few and very nebulous. Nevertheless the Sakai are monogamous, love their children, are generous and benevolent, honest and faithful to the end. If we believe the author, the fate of many other primitive peoples awaits them disappearance to make room for the clamoring press of "higher races," and soon the forests that now know them will know them no more.

RICE CULTIVATION IN CAMBODIA. In the Revue Scientifique for January 27, 1900, M. Adhémard Leclère continues (pp. 109-114) from the issue of January 6, his account of "La culture du riz au Cambodge." The rice-threshing of the Cambodians has not a little in common with the old-fashioned American corn-husking. It is a "bee" and Cupid overhears many words of love during these threshing-nights. Besides these rural customs there is a more serious religious ceremony of Brahmanic origin connected with the threshing of the rice. bodia, no less than France or England, illustrates the close relationship between harvesting and primitive religion.

COREAN HEAD-DRESSES. In the Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie (Vol. XII., pp. 225-232), M. Henri Chevalier, of Paris, publishes a study of "Corean Head-Dresses," based upon the Steenackers-Varat collections in the Musee Guimet. The various classes of bonnets, caps, hats, religious head-dresses, etc., are described and their Corean names indicated, together with an account of the Chinese influence upon these articles of clothing, ornament, and symbolism, and a notice of the new influence of the Japanese. The illustrations accompanying the article are excellent.

BURYATS OF IRKUTSK. In the Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie (Vol. XII., pp. 193-218), Dr. Nikolaus Melnikow publishes an interesting account of the Buryats of the Irkutsk Government, the first historical knowledge of whom dates from 1190 A. D. These Buryats do not belong to the clans of disappearing peoples, the last census showing them to have increased 4.3 per cent., between 1857 and 1889, in spite of their unclean

liness and lack of hygienic conditions. Besides physical ills they have to contend with the peculiar psychic affection which the Russians term durjet (" to become foolish ") and the Buryats naigur. Another evil of Buryat life is alcoholism, the effects. of the national drink taraszun (derived from milk chiefly) is very notable. The author discusses the effect of the contact of Buryat and Russian culture. Among the benefits derived from this contact are the spread of agriculture, the baking of bread, and the general improvement of alimentary conditions, clothing, desire for knowledge, etc. Among the evils are sexual degeneration, lying and deceit, loss of eloquence to a marked extent, etc. Dr. Melnikoff takes on the whole an optimistic view of the situation, holding that all reforms operating to the benefit of the Russians have also their good effect upon the Buryats and the other primitive people of the Empire. Not the extinction of these peoples, but their assimilation with the Russian population of Siberia is the aim of the government, and to that end the Russians themselves need to be lifted to a higher stage of culture and enlightenment.

THE PROBLEM OF THE HITTITES.

BY J. N. FRADENBURGH.

The problem of the Hittites still remains unsolved, yet great progress has been made. Save from brief mention in the Bible, and a few uncertain references in the classics, this old race was not known till monumental pictures, heiroglyphic texts, and cuneiform records revealed it to our astonished gaze. We look with reverence and awe upon these venerable forms. Once among the mightiest of the mighty, they have been dead and buried more than thirtyfive hundred years; but now, having risen from their forgotten graves, they stand before us, yet still covered with the dust of millenniums. Scripture texts, covering a period of more than a thousand years, represent them as a strong nation.

The age in which they asserted their power, and their geographical position on the map of the world, together with their influence on surrounding nations and their peculiar genius mark them as an important factor in the providence of God in the preparation of Canaan and the final establishment of the Israelites in this land, foretold by the prophets. Egypt was checked in her conquests. and the East delayed in their ambitious schemes. Their influence may be traced in the geographical names of Egyptian and Assyrian inscriptions, stone monuments, tumuli, and bas-reliefs of Hittite origin, and inscriptions in strange hieroglyphics.