370 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
riety of theories projected for explaining the origin of American civilization. The 
idea of some grand emigration from the old world is contradicted by the fact that 
the primitive races of Central America had no domestic animals; knew but a 
single cereal and were wholly ignorant of alphabetical writing as well as the use 
of iron, although they lived where that mineral could be found in abundance. 
The conclusion to which each one comes depends on the objects which he has ex- 
clusively considered, and thus some persons have pronounced, without hesita- 
tion, for an indigenous civilization, while others have discerned the signs of an 
origin, Jewish, Egyptian, Chinese or Tartar, according as they have been im- 
pressed by different analogies. There exists but a single means for disentangling 
this difficulty, and that is direct exploration. The materials yet exist from which 
one can derive certain information, but the work done so far has been conducted 
with so little coherency that we do not know the totality of the materials. In 
directing, properly, the investigation of these places one can hope that it will be 
possible to determine the relations of the objects to each other, and to fix approx- 
imately so as finally to arrive at the essential points of similitude which may exist 
between the ancient monuments of Central America and those of the ancient 
world. The present scope of the expedition comprehends the greater part of 
Central America, so-called properly, or that part of the continent that extends 
from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the Isthmus of Darien. It is here that the 
ancient civilization attained its highest degree, and where it has left the most 
imposing monuments of its grandeur. 
Squier inclines to the belief that this is the vast center whence primitive civ- 
ilization radiated. He regards it as the permanent home of the Toltecs, from 
whom he derives descendants in the Mayas of Yucatan, the Quiches, the Kachi- 
quels and the Chiapas of Guatemala. 
Diego De Landa speaking of the prosperous condition of Guatemala, at the 
epoch of the conquest, tells us that the whole peninsula seemed to form a con- 
tinuous city, which expression does not seem to pass for a figure of rhetoric, when 
we take into account the extraordinary number of monuments scattered over the 
entire extent of the soil. The expedition, in directing its route by way of Ojaca, 
will examine the sculptures of Mount Alban and the rich mines of that region. 
Thence it will return to Milta and examine the ornate and massive constructions 
which were reproduced, with so much delicacy, in aseries of large photographs 
published by Mr. Charnay in 1863. After having passed some time in the moun- 
tainous and almost unexplored district that borders Tehuantepec, it will arrive at 
Palenque. It is expected that this celebrated religious centre will furnish a rich 
harvest of inscriptions and das-reliefs. Entering Yucatan the expedition will ex- 
plore some new regions and will penetrate, if possible, into the mountainous 
country of the warlike Lacandones. A great interest also attaches to its sojourn 
among the Mayas, who, but a few years ago, made themselves masters of Yuca- 
tan and have, it is pretended, reconstructed the ancient cities with their forts and 
their temples, and have revived many of the customs, laws and idolatrous rites of 
a 
