MAY, SIR THOMAS ERSKINE, BARON FARNBOROUGH. an English historian; born in London, England, Feb. 8, 1815. He was educated at Bedford School, became assistant librarian of the House of Commons in 1831. He was called to the bar in 1838, and shortly after his retirement from office in 1886 was raised to the peerage as Baron Farnborough. His most important works are "A Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings, and Usage of Parliament" (1844) ; "Constitutional History of Eng land since the Accession of George III., 1760-1860" (1861-1863; 3d ed., with sup plementary chapter, 3 vols. 1871) ; "De mocracy in Europe: a History" (2 vols. 1877). He died in Westminster Palace, May 18, 1886.
MAYA (ma'yg) INDIANS, a race of aborigines of Yucatan, supposed to be the builders of Uxmal, Palenque, Chichen Itza, etc. Their history is important as throwing light on the civilization of the Central and South American races. The Mayas were the most advanced of the North American aboriginal races, but to day they are sadly degraded on account of contact with the Spaniards. Old Spanish records, a very few Maya books with old picture-writing, several MSS. written by Mayas in Maya, but with Spanish letters, very soon after the Con quest, and ruined towns and cities, grave-mounds, and relics attest their former condition. The Mayas and Aztecs were a good deal alike. Their religions were related; both adored many of the same deities—especially, perhaps, the sun. Both worshiped idols carved from stone, and both sometimes sacrificed hu man victims. In methods of warfare the two people were much alike, but the Mayas, though brave, were not so war like as the Aztecs and paid more atten tion to agriculture and the arts. The people lived well. They dressed in cot ton of their own raising and weaving.
They made many ornaments of gold and green stone, and were expert feather workers. They paid a great deal of at tention to bees and gathered much honey, raised poultry, and though not roving hunters, like some tribes, they were skilled in trapping and snaring game. They surpass all American tribes in their architecture and in their carving in stone. Though without iron tools, these people were able to erect fine buildings of stone, carved with remarkable and beautiful designs. In the wild forests of Yuca tan and Central America, in the midst of dense tropical woods, overgrown with trees and tangled vines, are the deserted ruins of upward of 40 ancient towns. These different towns were connected by paved roads of stone, over which cou riers ran, carrying letters, along which traders bartered and dickered, and on which the forces of one town would often march out to capture and sack some other town. The buildings are very long, flat topped, one story high, and contain many rooms. These buildings were sometimes constructed around the sides of a square court, the doors all opening into the court. There are also temples for pur poses of worship. In such there is usu ally found a tablet in the wall and an altar for sacrifice. The interior decora tion of rooms was often elaborate, the walls being covered with stucco, on which were painted in brilliant colors paintings which furnish us much information of the dress, manners, gods, and worship of the people. Often these designs are in low relief. One of the most famous Mayan works of art is in the temple at Palenque, where is a remarkable tablet on which is represented a sacrificial scene.