526 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IV. No. 93. 



pamphlets on ' The State Map as an aid to 

 the study of Geography in Grammar and 

 High Schools,' published for distribution to 

 all public school teachers by the Boards of 

 Education of Connecticut and Rhode 

 Island. W. M. Davis. 



Habvakd University. 



CURRENT NOTES ON ANTHROPOLOGY. 

 ORIGIN OF THE ANCIENT INDIAN ALPHABETS. 



In the ' Melanges Charles de Harlez', 

 Prof. Friedrich Miiller has an instructive 

 article on the origin of the alphabets of 

 ancient India. These may be traced to 

 two early forms, one known as the Brahmi, 

 the other as the Kharosthi writing. The 

 latter is limited in area to a portion of 

 northwest India, while the former extended 

 in remote times over a much larger terri- 

 tory. 



The paper makes it clear that the Ka- 

 rosthi alphabet was introduced under the 

 Achsemenides from Ariana, and hence is 

 comparatively modern; while the Brahmi at 

 some very remote age was derived from the 

 southern Semitic alphabets, and adapted to 

 the needs of the Aryan tongue by the ad- 

 dition of characters for the vowels. 



These views are confirmed by the pres- 

 entation of a comparative table of the In- 

 dian with two north Semitic and two south 

 Semitic alphabets. The analogies are well 

 marked, and render it probable that the 

 route of extension was by way of southern 

 Arabia. The early connection of the re- 

 gion with India is also proved by the close 

 relationship of the arts in photo-historic 

 times. 



EXPLORATIONS IN YUCATAN. 



In number 10 of the current volume of 

 ' Globus,' the experienced traveler Theobert 

 Maler describes briefly the explorations he 

 has made this year in southern Yucatan and 

 along the upper Usumacinta river. They 

 have been unusually productive in bringing 



to light ruined cities hitherto unknown.. 

 He crossed the boundary of Guatemala at 

 Chuntuki, and reached Lake Peten at San 

 Andres. Thence he made an expedition to 

 Tikal, near which he discovered an impor- 

 tant site, Motul de San Jose. Near Sai- 

 yanche, he came upon a series of ruins with 

 enormous carved pillars. After visiting 

 several less conspicuous localities he passed 

 a few days in ' Lorillard city,' where he 

 made some interesting finds. 



In going by land from there to Tenosique 

 he reached a massive series of pyramids and 

 walls hidden in the forest, known to the 

 hunters as Piedras Negras, but wholly un- 

 visited by Europeans. This site presents an 

 ' acropolis ' of stately proportions with many 

 surrounding lesser structures. In front of 

 the temple were seven beautifully carved 

 steles in good preservation. They were 

 carefully cleaned and photographed. The 

 inscriptions were numerous, showing close- 

 analogies to those at Palenque. On some 

 the colors were yet distinct. There is a 

 marked difference between the architectural 

 details of this and the ruins on the river 

 above, probably indicating contrast of sec- 

 ondary culture centers. Maler expects to 

 spend the present autumn and winter in 

 continuing these researches. 



D. G. Brinton. 



University of Pennsylvania. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. 

 The report of Dr. David Gill, Director of 

 the Cape of Good Hope Observatory, upon 

 the Geodetic Survey of South Africa, has 

 been presented to the Cape Parliament. 

 The Survey was executed by Colonel Mor- 

 ris, under the general direction of Dr. Gill. 

 The volume contains about 450 pages, folio, 

 and it will be of the greatest interest to as- 

 tronomers and geodesists. Especially note- 

 worthy is the great amount of work which 

 has been accomplished in a comparatively 

 short time. Such a record of speed, com- 



