THE MUSEUM. 



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have transpired since objects of an- 

 tiquity were considered of no more 

 value than the same quantity of stone. 

 Indeed, in some cases, precious relics 

 of the Aztecs have been found doing 

 service in the walls of their adobe 

 • huts as common building stones. 

 With them an Aztec idol was on a 

 parity with an adobe brick. The peo- 

 ple of this country made absolutely no 

 use of any of the excellent and valu- 

 able ArchcEologian material, distribut- 

 ed at large over the entire land, until 

 it gradually dawned upon their minds 

 that foreign scientists were making 

 the matter a study and forming collec- 

 tions of the relics of the ancient Aztecs 

 andTaltecs. Upon recognition of this 

 fact, the Mexican government was im- 

 mediately transformed into a scientific 

 assembly and began the formation of 

 a most magnificent collection of these 

 relics, but at the expense of the labor, 

 in many instances, of foreign scien- 

 tists. For example we refer you to 

 that precious object Chaacmol the 

 Tiger King, one of the chief attrac- 

 tions of their much boasted National 

 Museum situated in the City of Mex- 

 ico, the capital and metropolis of the 

 republic. How did it come into their 

 possession.' 



To many the incident is well known. 

 Dr. LePlongeon, an enthusiatic and 

 enterprising Archaeologist, after spend- 

 ing seven years in the studying and 

 decyphering of the hireoglyphics found 

 in Yucatan, gained sufficient knowl- 

 edge of their significance to locate in a 

 wilderness in Chichen the wonderful 

 relic, buried about six feet below the 

 surface of the earth. It required great 

 hardship of the doctor to exhume it 

 but he was indefatigable and at length 

 had the Chaacmol ready for transpor- 

 tation to the United States where he 

 intended that it should remain. Be- 

 fore shipping his discovery, however, 

 he made another trip of exploration 

 and in his absence the relic was con- 

 fiscated by the Mexican government 

 and removed to the National Museum 

 where it continues to remain. 



This is not a solitary instance but 

 has many parallels. Aztec remains 

 are now considered valuable in this 

 country, not for their scientific value, 

 for they have no knowledge of the sci- 

 ence, but for their intrinsic worth. 

 There is not sufficient talent in this 

 country to bring to light and develop 

 the \ast Archaeological deposits within 

 its confines and yet it is not desirable 

 to them that anyone else should do 

 so. It reminds one very forcibly of 

 the fable of the "dog in the manger." 

 Objects that a few years ago would 

 not have received a passing notice are 

 now guarded with the utmost zeal and 

 simply for the frustration of the de- 

 sires of foreign Archaeologists. A law 

 has been inacted prohibiting Aztec 

 relics of any nature to be exported 

 from the country. Not satisfied with 

 this they have recently passed another 

 law prohibiting all further excavation. 

 It seems that the government has de- 

 creed that it is better for them to rest 

 forever concealed in the earth than 

 for some one to make use of them. 

 But will this law be respected .•" Tliat 

 remains to be proven. It should cer- 

 tainly enhances the value of these 

 relics already in the United States 

 and they will now become quite scarce. 



A fair idea of their appreciation of 

 such things may be gained from this 

 fact. Some time since the Museum 

 of the State of Mexico located here in 

 the city of Toluca, came in possession 

 of some very fine stone idols. But 

 the features presented by these idols 

 failed to satisfiy their delicate tastes 

 so with mallet and chisel in hand they 

 proceeded straightway to remodel and 

 alter them to accord with their more 

 refined fancy, thinking of course their 

 work would be a great improvement 

 over those of the ignorant "Indians" 

 as they term the Aztecs. Of course, 

 however, they thereby destroyed their 

 true value. How can atiy science 

 make any progress or advancement in 

 a country where such fanatical selfish- 

 ness and ignorance universally prevail. 

 James J. Cakuoll, 

 Toluca, Mexico. 



