Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/489

 Record of A merican Folk-L ore. 141

particularly as evidenced by the recent discoveries of Mr. J. T. Goodman and Dr. Forstemann. All the recent evidence seems to indicate that "when the inscriptions were chiseled, the Mayan group was much more homogeneous, and the tribal distinctions far less marked than when the Spaniards arrived on the scene," a view pre- viously advanced, on linguistic grounds, by Dr. D. G. Brinton. If this be true, " the inscriptions and codices will form a fixed basis for further research into the history of the Mayan tribes."

SOUTH AMERICA.

Araucanian. In the " Anales de la Universidad de Chile" for November, 1899 (pp. 1009-1030), Guevara continues his studies of the "Historia de la Civilizacion de la Araucani'a," bringing the first part of his work to a close with chapter x. on " Military Art, — war preparations, implements of war, battle, war and battle customs, war-songs, treatment of prisoners, peace customs, physical constitu- tion of the Indians, etc. According to the author, the Araucanians, in contrast to the partially industrial tribes, were essentially warlike. Arrows, lances, slings, clubs, etc., were used, and they built certain primitive forts. Soon after their early encounters with the Span- iards they seem to have modified their battle array in imitation of the Europeans, and from the latter (captives, fugitives, etc.) they early learned much concerning the use of firearms and the like. Their military art, indeed, seems to have undergone a second evolution, aided by the introduction of the horse. In honor of victory the dance called pruloncon, " head dance," was danced around a newly planted tree — on the branches of which the heads of the dead ene- mies were hung. Peace treaties were celebrated with certain for- malities : orations on behalf of both parties, dances, etc., — a drinking- bout generally following. — In the December issue (pp. 1265-1289), the author begins his second part with chapter i., " Descubrimiento de Arauco," treating of the pre-Columbian invasions of Chile by the Incas, the discovery of Chile by Almagro, Pedro de Valdivia and his exploits (a sketch of his life and a portrait is given), etc. The first Inca invasion of Chile is said to have taken place somewhere be- tween 1430 and 1470 a. d., under the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, in an expedition lasting some six years. The various Peruvian invasions of Chile seem not to have been mere destructive forces, but, as was so often the case with Inca rule, helped to establish and improve the growing civilization of the country. Traces of this Peruvian influ- ence are still discernible in the country of the Araucanians.

Guaicuru. To the "Mem. Soc. Geograf. Ital." (Roma), G. Bog- giani contributes (vol. viii. 1899, pp. 244-294) a lengthy article on the Guaycurii or Guaicuru of the Chaco region of South America.

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