Chapter IV: Part 4

A good account of interesting explorations, printed in the
luxurious style of this museum upon fine paper with wide
margins, and admirably illustrated.

=Thompson, Edward H.: Cave of Loltun, Yucatan. Report of explorations by the Museum, 1888-89 and 1890-91.= (Under caption: “Memoirs of the Peabody museum of American archæology and ethnology, Harvard university, Vol. I, No. 2.”). Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Museum, 1897. 24 pp. folio. 8 plts. 16 illus. in the text.

See comment on the preceding.

=Thompson, Edward H.: The Chultunes of Labná, Yucatan. Report of the explorations by the Museum, 1888-89 and 1890-91.= (Under caption: “Memoirs of the Peabody museum of American archæology and ethnology, Harvard university. Vol. I, No. 3.”) Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Museum, 1897. 20 pp. folio. 13 plts. 13 illus. in the text.

See comment above.

=Thompson, George: The war in Paraguay with an historical sketch of the country and its people and notes upon the military engineering of the war.= By George Thompson, C.E., lieutenant-colonel of engineers in the Paraguayan army, aide-de-camp to president Lopez, knight of the order of merit of Paraguay, etc. With maps, plans and a portrait of Lopez. London, Longmans, Green & co., 1869. 347 pp. 12mo. front. 5 maps. 3 illus.

An interesting account of persons and events by one who was
in a position to make observations, with few references to
authorities; the occasional efforts at etymology are not
felicitous.

=Torres Caicedo, J[osé] M[aría]: Union latino-americana. Pensamiento de Bolivar para formar una liga americana; su origen y sus desarrollos y estudio sobre la gran cuestion que tanto interesa a los estados débiles, a saber: ¿un gobierna légitimo es responsable por los daños y perjuicios ocasionados a los extranjeros por las facciones?= Por J[osé] M[aría] Torres Caicedo, antiguo encargado de negocios de Venezuela, miembro de la socie[dad] de Economía Política de Paris, de la sociedad de Literatos de Francia, de la sociedad de Geografía de Paris y de várias otras sociedades científicas y literarias de Europa y de América, etc. Paris, libreria de Rosa y Bouret, 1865. 385 pp. 12mo.

An undocumented work by an experienced and distinguished
diplomat and historian; of great value to the serious student
who may be interested in the course of the relations between
the American republics; the following are the main subjects
discussed; confederacy and federation, and explanation of
the early convulsions of Latin America, the union of the
struggling colonies achieved in advance of a theoretical basis,
the congress at Panamá in 1826, later efforts at union, the
American congress at Lima in 1847, continental treaty between
Chile, Perú and Ecuador, plans for uniting the five republics
of Central America, an interpretation of the true Monroe
doctrine, a discussion of British and North American diplomacy
with reference to Latin America, documents.

=Uhle, _Dr._ Max: Pachacamac. Report of the William Pepper, M.D., LL.D., Peruvian expedition of 1896.= By _Dr._ Max Uhle. Plan of the city and twenty-one plates in phototype. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, published by the department of archæology of the university of Pennsylvania, 1903. xi, 103 pp. large folio. 21 plates. 122 illus.

A comprehensive and valuable account of the work of the
expedition sent under the auspices of the department to explore
the site of the ancient city of Pachacamac in Perú, with ample
documentation.

=Unstead, J. F., and Taylor, E. G. R.: Philips’ comparative wall atlas of South America.= Edited by J. F. Unstead, M.A., D.Sc., and E. G. R. Taylor, B.Sc. London, George Philip & son, ltd., the London geographical institute; New York, C. S. Hammond & co. 8 maps, 36 × 40 inches, approximately 150 miles to the inch.

It supplies a complete outline of the geography of South
America, each map exhibiting a different aspect, as follows:
relief and communications, political divisions, temperature,
climate, November to April, climate, May to October, density of
population, natural vegetation, economic products; excellent in
every way; of rare educational value.

=Uruguay: General descriptive data prepared in June, 1909.= By the International bureau of American republics. Washington, D.C., Government printing office, 1909. 15 pp. 8ᵒ. pamph. 1 chart. 2 illus.

See comment on the similar pamphlet: “Argentine republic, the:
General descriptive data,” etc.

=Usher, Roland G.: Pan-Americanism. A forecast of the inevitable clash between the United States and Europe’s victor.= By Roland G. Usher, Ph.D., professor of history, Washington university, St. Louis, author of “Pan-Germanism,” “The rise of the American people,” etc. New York, The Century co., 1915. xix, 416 [1] pp. 8ᵒ.

“The major part of the volume has been devoted to the present
condition of the United States and Latin America, with especial
attention to Pan-Americanism as a possible solution of American
problems.”—_Preface._ A sensational attempt at prophecy;
while the right to prophesy may not be denied to any, the
present effort is interesting rather as an exhibition of the
author’s peculiar mentality than as a sane and authenticated
discussion of the subject; the author displays somewhat of the
prestidigitator’s ability to produce a number of dissimilar
things from what was apparently only one thing, as he passes
with baffling agility from shadowy suggestion to elaborate
hypothesis, and thence to the assumption of a completely
demonstrated conclusion; seldom have more varied and glaring
errors and inconsistencies been brought together in one work;
at any rate those who may fear “the inevitable clash between
the United States and Europe’s victor,” to quote the subtitle,
need not be seriously disturbed by this work, for if there is
anything that is not proven in it, it is the inevitableness of
the supposititious “clash.”

=Van Dyke, Harry Weston: Through South America.= By Harry Weston Van Dyke. With introduction by John Barrett, director general of the Pan-American union. New York, Thomas Y. Crowell co., [1912]. xxiv, 446 pp. front. 12mo. 41 illus.

The title suggests that this is a book of travel; it is not,
however, in the ordinary sense of the word, as there is no
indication of the author’s route nor of the countries he
visited; it is a concise description of the ten republics of
South America, and of British, Dutch and French Guayana, with
an outline of the history of the conquest and of the struggle
for independence; it has little value as a history, owing to
its superficial and fragmentary character, or as a book of
travel, owing to its peculiar form; the frequent introduction
of inaccurate Spanish and Portuguese is irritating; the
bibliography at the back is too meager to be of much use.

=Vega, Garcilasso de la: First part of the royal commentaries of the Yncas.= By the Inca Garcilasso de la Vega. Translated and edited, with notes and an introduction by Clements R. Markham. (In 2 vols. 8ᵒ.) London, printed for the Hakluyt society. Vol. I, MDCCCLXIX (containing books I, II, III, IV). xi, 359 pp. Vol. II, MDCCCLXXI (containing books V, VI, VII, VIII, IX). v, 553 pp. 1 map.

Of unquestionable value for students who desire to go deeply
into the study of early opinion regarding primitive Peruvian
history; the translation is good.

=Venezuela: General descriptive data prepared in June, 1909.= By the International bureau of American republics. Washington, D.C., Government printing office, 1909. 16 pp. 8ᵒ. pamph. 5 illus.

See comment on the similar pamphlet: “Argentine republic, the:
General descriptive data,” etc.

=Vincent, Frank: Around and about South America. Twelve months of quest and query.= New York, D. Appleton & co., 1890. xxiv, 473 pp. 8ᵒ. 2 maps. 4 plans. 54 illus.

A readable, popular story of travel: New York to Panamá,
thence through Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia, Chile, the straits of
Magallanes, skirting Falkland islands, Uruguay, Argentina,
Paraguay, Brazil, the Guayanas, Venezuela and Colombia.

=Waleffe, Maurice de: The fair land of Central America.= By Maurice de Waleffe. Translated by Violette M. Montagu, author of “Sophie Dawes, queen of Chantilly,” and translator of “Gambetta’s life and letters.” Preface by Sir A. Conan Doyle. With twenty-four illustrations from photographs. London, John Long, ltd., MCMXI. 288 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 24 illus.

The author, an airy anti-American Frenchman, gifted with a
trick of clever and mordant expression, while wholly oblivious
to facts, devotes just one chapter (that upon Costa Rica) to
Central America; the rest of the book deals with Trinidad,
Jamaica, Cuba, Panamá and México; not often has so much
nonsense been assembled in one publication; possibly some
readers may be amused, but none will be convinced by this
fantastic book.

=Wallace, Alfred R.: A narrative of travels on the Amazon and rio Negro, with an account of the native tribes, and observations on the climate, geology and natural history of the Amazon valley.= By Alfred R. Wallace, with a map and illustrations. London, Reeve & co., 1853. viii, 541 pp. front. 2 maps. 7 illus.

An interesting account of travel about the middle of the last
century, with such observations as so alert and discriminating
a writer would make, even in his youth, particularly regarding
the weapons, utensils, etc., and the languages of the Indians.

=Wallace, Dillon: Beyond the Mexican sierras.= By Dillon Wallace, author of “The Long Labrador trail,” “Ungava Bob,” etc. With 75 illustrations from photographs by the author, and a map. Chicago, A. C. McClurg & co., 1910. xxix, 301 pp. 12mo. front. 1 map. 72 illus.

While the author is too much given to generalities, and is
often mistaken about facts and words, the book is interesting
as an account of travel, because it deals with localities
regarding which little has been written.

=Washburn, Charles A[mes]: The history of Paraguay, with notes of personal observations, and reminiscences of diplomacy under difficulties.= By Charles A[mes] Washburn, commissioner and minister resident of the United States at Asuncion from 1861 to 1868. In two volumes. Boston, Lee & Shepard; New York, Lee, Shepard, & Dillingham, 1871. Vol. I. xii, 571 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 1 map. [6 illus.] Vol. II. xiv, 627 pp. 8ᵒ. front. [2 maps. 12 illus.]

Passing lightly over the part that is devoted to history,
which is as satisfactory as could be expected under the
circumstances, the main body of this work, which consists of
personal observations and reminiscences, is an interesting
human document that must be taken into account by students of
the subject.

=Watson, Robert Grant: Spanish and Portuguese South America during the colonial period.= By Robert Grant Watson, editor of “Murray’s handbook of Greece.” (In 2 vols. 12mo.) London, Trübner & co., 1884. Vol. I. xvi, 308 pp. 3 maps. Vol. II. viii, 319 pp.

One of the earlier modern histories; not of great present
value, in view of more thorough later publications; the
author misspells many Spanish words, after the manner of his
countrymen generally.

=Wells, William V.: Explorations and adventures in Honduras, comprising sketches of travel in the gold regions of Olancho, and a review of the history and general resources of Central America. With original maps, and numerous illustrations.= By William V. Wells. New York, Harper & bros., 1857. xxiv, 588 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 2 maps. 61 illus.

Of serious explorations there were none; this is but a book of
travel, not lacking in interest, with occasional references to
history, and to persons who were then making it.

=Whitney, Caspar: The flowing road. Adventures on the great rivers of South America.= By Caspar Whitney, author of “A Sporting pilgrimage,” “On snowshoes on the barren grounds,” “Hawaiian America,” “Jungle trails and jungle people,” etc. With maps and photographs by the author. Philadelphia and London, J. B. Lippincott & co., 1912. 319 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 53 illus.

A work by one who took keen interest in exploration and
hunting, and in studying the forests and plants of the wilds;
it contains fresh and accurate descriptions of conditions and
incidents of travel, and of nature, with particular attention
to parasitic growths.

=[Willis, Bailey]: Northern Patagonia, character and resources. Volume I. A study of the elements of development in the region tributary to the national railway from port San Antonio to lago Nahuel Huapí and the extension to Valdivia, Chile; including the Andean lake district. (Under caption: “Ministry of public works, bureau of railways, Argentine republic.”)= [By Bailey Willis]. Text and maps by the Comisión de estudios hidrológicos, Bailey Willis, director. [Buenos Aires], 1911-1914. [Scribner’s press, New York.] xix, 464 pp. 8ᵒ. 20 maps in text, 13 in separate case. 37 illus.

A lucid and wholly admirable account of the thorough and
extensive investigations made by a trained scientist possessed
of every facility for gathering, recording, illustrating and
publishing interesting and useful information regarding the
material potentialities of highly important, but hitherto
only slightly known and charted regions; the maps, pictures,
tables and make-up are of rare excellence; only occasional
inconsistencies in the spelling of Spanish names are to be
noted.

=Wilson, Robert Anderson: A new history of the conquest of Mexico, in which Las Casas’ denunciations of the popular historians of that war are fully vindicated.= By Robert Anderson Wilson, counsellor at law; author of “Mexico and its religion,” etc. Philadelphia, James Challen & son, etc., 1859. 539 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 19 maps. 20 illus.

An interesting and profusely documented restatement of the
conquest by an aggressive and doughty iconoclast, whose vigor
and bias are as perceptible as his conclusions are illogical
and indefensible.

=Winsor, Justin: Narrative and critical history of America.= Edited by Justin Winsor, librarian of Harvard university, corresponding secretary Massachusetts historical society. (In 8 vols. 8ᵒ.) Boston and New York, Houghton Mifflin co., 1889. Vol. I. Aboriginal America. xxxvii, 470 pp. front. 54 maps. 54 illus. Vol. II. Spanish explorations and settlements in America from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. ix, 640 pp. 113 maps. 135 illus. Vol. III. English explorations and settlements in North America, 1497-1689. xi, 578 pp. 57 maps. 50 illus. Vol. IV. French explorations and settlements in North America, and those of the Portuguese, Dutch and Swedes, 1500-1700. xxx, 516 pp. 140 maps. 35 illus. Vol. V. The English and French in North America, 1689-1763. vii, 649 pp. 106 maps. 93 illus. Vol. VI. The United States of North America: part 1. vii, 777 pp. 118 maps. 116 illus. Vol. VII. The United States of North America: part 2. vii, 610 pp. 32 maps. 129 illus. Vol. VIII. The later history of British, Spanish and Portuguese America. vii, 604 pp. 123 maps. 122 illus.

A vast storehouse of historical and bibliographical
information; of great value to students, although all will
recognize that the articles upon the different subjects and
periods are naturally of unequal merit, owing to the diversity
of authorship, which formed a part of the editor’s plan; while
the illustrations, which are reproductions, are numerous, they
are crude, and in many cases are too far removed from the first
originals from which they were remotely derived.

=Winter, Nevin O.: Argentine and her people of to-day. An account of the customs, characteristics, amusements, history and advancement of the Argentinians, and the development and resources of their country.= By Nevin O. Winter, author of “Mexico and her people of to-day,” “Brazil and her people of to-day,” etc. Boston, L. C. Page & co., MDCCCCXI. xiv, 421 pp. 8ᵒ. front. 1 map. 49 illus.

Compare comment on “Brazil and her people of to-day” by this
author.

=Winter, Nevin O.: Brazil and her people of to-day. An account of the customs, characteristics, amusements, history and advancement of the Brazilians, and the development and resources of their country.= By Nevin O. Winter, author of “Mexico and her people of to-day,” “Guatemala and her people of to-day,” etc. Illustrated from original and selected photographs by the author. Boston, L. C. Page & co., MDCCCCX. x, 388 pp. 12mo. front. 1 map. 48 illus.

See comment on “Guatemala and her people of to-day” by this
author; a book of the same general character as that, with
less excuse for being, inasmuch as there exists an excellent
literature regarding Brazil.

=Winter, Nevin O.: Guatemala and her people of to-day. Being an account of the land, its history and development; the people, their customs and characteristics; to which are added chapters on British Honduras and the republic of Honduras, with references to the other countries of Central America, Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.= By Nevin O. Winter, author of “Mexico and her people of to-day.” Boston, L. C. Page & co., MDCCCCIX. xii, 307 pp. 12mo. front. 1 map. 48 illus.

An insignificant mesquite is esteemed in a desert; in the same
way this book, the product of a syndicated mind, superficial,
inaccurate in matter and form, and none too proper in spirit,
has a certain value, as a weak portrayal of things as they are,
in want of really good books upon this subject.

=Winter, Nevin O.: Mexico and her people of to-day. An account of the customs, characteristics, amusements, history and advancement of the Mexicans, and the development and resources of their country.= By Nevin O. Winter. Illustrated from original photographs by the author and C. R. Birt. Boston, L. C. Page & co., [1907]. vi, 395 pp. 12mo. front. 2 maps. 47 illus.

In view of the existence of really good works on this subject,
there is no reason why so slovenly a book as this should
achieve publication.

=Wolf, Teodoro: Geografía y geología del Ecuador. Publicada por órden del supremo gobierno de la república.= Por Teodoro Wolf, Dr. Phil., antiguo professor de la escuela Politécnica de Quito y geólogo del estado. Con 12 láminas autotípicas, 47 illustraciones en el texto y 2 cartas. Leipzig, F. A. Brockhaus, 1892. 671 pp. small 4ᵒ. front. 2 maps. 59 illus.

A fundamentally important work that treats of the topography,
geology and meteorology of continental Ecuador and the
Galápagos archipelago, with a brief account of botany and
zoölogy, enriched by an abundance of supplementary notes; the
maps are good.

=Wright, Mary Robinson: The new Brazil, its resources and attractions, historical, descriptive, and industrial.= By Mary Robinson Wright, member of the Geographical society of America, etc., author of “Picturesque Mexico,” “The republic of Chile,” “Bolivia,” “The history of Peru,” etc. Philadelphia, George Barrie & sons; London and Paris, C. D. Cazenove & son, [1907]. 494 pp. 4ᵒ. front. 416 illus.

For comment, compare her work: “The old and new Peru.”

=[Wright, Marie Robinson]: The republic of Chile. The growth, resources, and industrial conditions of a great nation.= [By Marie Robinson Wright.] Philadelphia, George Barrie & sons; London and Paris, C. D. Cazenove & son, [1914]. 450 pp. 4ᵒ. front. 352 illus.

See comment upon her work on Perú.

=Wright, Mary Robinson: The old and the new Peru. A story of the ancient inheritance and the modern growth and entrance of a great nation.= By Mary Robinson Wright, member of the Geographical society of America, Geographical society of Brazil, Historical and Scientific institute of São Paulo, Geographical society of la Paz; author of “Picturesque Mexico,” “A new Brazil,” “The republic of Chile,” “Bolivia,” etc. Philadelphia, George Barrie & sons, 1908; London and Paris, C. D. Cazenove & son. 456 pp. 4ᵒ. front. 1 map. 346 illus.

A book in a florid style, which thoughtful people can not take
seriously, although it contains fragments of information and
records of impressions that are not without interest.

=Zayas Enríquez, Rafael de: Porfirio Díaz.= By Rafael de Zayas Enríquez. New York, D. Appleton & co., 1908. v[i], 281 [1] pp. 12mo. front. 3 illus.

Worthy of consideration as an appreciative but not too
laudatory study of General Díaz, with unavailing suggestions
as to what might have led his country into ways of peace and
prosperity.

=Zayas Enríquez, Rafael de: The case of Mexico and the policy of president Wilson.= By Rafael de Zayas Enríquez, author of “The rise and fall of president Díaz.” Translated from the Spanish by Andre Tridon. New York, Albert and Charles Boni, 1914. 209 pp. 12mo.

Making due allowance for the literary faults of this book which
are evident, and for the lack of good taste that characterizes
it, and entirely ignoring the last chapter, which is an absurd
misinterpretation of president Wilson’s attitude, and bearing
in mind that it was a frank plea for the recognition of Huerta,
it is an interesting statement of the case.

=Zeballos, Estanislao S.: Argument for the Argentine republic upon the question with Brazil in regard to the territory of Missions, submitted to the arbitration of the president of the United States, in accordance with the treaty of September 7, 1889.= Presented by Estanislao S. Zeballos, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the Argentine republic. Accompanied by documents and maps under the title of “Argentine evidence.” Washington, D.C., 1894. 4ᵒ. 20 maps.

An important collection of documents and maps.

Printed in the United States of America.