Current Literature [pp. 482-488]

CURRENT LITERATURE.
ions. Its surface is planted with picturesque
brown -barked junipers, mats and fringes of
chaparral, and minute garden - like patches
, of the various flowers characteristic of the
region. The middle and back grounds are
the main upper Merced Caion, and a cluster
of snowy alps, flushed and inspired with pure
mountain light. From its lofty fountains
the young Merced is seen foaming down between its grandly sculptured canion rocks,
curving gracefully through meadow and
grove, and finally entering a dark narrow
gorge leading on dow-n to Yosemite Valley.
The painted rocks are so truly rocky, we
would expect to hear them clank and ring to
the blows of a hammer; and notwithstanding they are so full of plain truth in form,
sculpture, and combination, as to be fit for
scientific illustrations, the whole picture
glows with the very genius and poetry of the
Sierra. I believe the canvas is said to be ten
feet long; but paint, pictures, art, and artist
are alike forgotten when we gaze into this
glorious landscape. There are living alps,
blue shadows on the snow; rocks, meadows,
groves, and the crystal river, radiating beauty that absorbs and carries us away. Keith
is patiently following the leadings of his own
genius, painting better than he knows, observing a devout truthfulness to nature, yet
removing veils of detail, and laying bare the
very hearts and souls of the landscapes; and
the truth of this is attested more and more
fully by every picture that he paints."
CURRENT LITERATURE.
THE NATIVE RACES OF THE PACIFIC
STATES. VOL. II.-CIVILIZED NATIONS.
By H. H. Bancroft. San Francisco; A.
L. Bancroft & Co.
This is the second volume in Mr. Hubert
H. Bancroft's series of five volumes devoted
to The Native Races of the Pacific States,
the first of which we have already noticed.*
The systematic arrangement, the acute analysis, the solid and symmetrical synthetic reconstructions, the concentrated and epigrammatic style, and the sound judgment which
characterized the first volume are equally
conspicuous in this, and probably even more
so, as having the additional quality of that
ease which comes from use only. The tone
of the volume is livelier and sprightlier than
that of the first, but this is the result of many
causes. The theme is higher-that of civilized races; the materials are more abundant
and more exact; the interest of controversy
is sometimes added to that of narration; and
speculative discussions often throw a rosy
halo around the subject.
Mr. Bancroft restricts Anahuac to the celebrated plateaus of the valley of Mexicothe "country by the waters," as the name
* OVERLAND MONTHLY, December, I874.
signifies, taken from the lakes abounding
there, and formerly occupying more of its
surface than at present. (Page 87.) The re.
gion occupied by the civilized races extends
along the continent, bounded by the sea on
both sides, between latitudes I I0 and 22~
north. (Page 86.)
The term Aztec as a general designation
Mr. Bancroft rejects, for the reason that it is
not sufficiently descriptive nor comprehensive
to include either of the two great civilized
families of Central America. (Pages 8I, 9193, 95, I04, 114-I125). The Mayas, or MayaQuich6s, include all the ancient races lying
south of the Isthmus of Tethuantepec (pages
63o-63I), and to those lying north of this
isthmus he gives the generic names of Nahuas. (Pages 9I, 103, I24.) He thinks, however, that some authors will not accept this
term. (Page 772.) We do not share this fear.
He shows clearly that "Nahua" is a Maya.
Quiche word used by the Mayas themselves
to indicate these very native civilized races
which were not of the Maya stock. (Page 129.)
The word is thus not only completely descriptive, and of an ancient and honorable
lineage, but is restored to its original and
specific application. The people of the
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[MAY,