McGill-Queen’s University Press
Bernard de Colmont’s contributions to society are many. Although he’s better known as the founder of Club 55, a famous beach resort in Saint-Tropez, this worldly gentleman had other interests. Back in the early part of the 20th century, he explored the Yucatán Peninsula. What’s recounted in the graphic novel In The Land of the Lacandón is the search for the last survivors of the Mayan empire! Just how he survived is not as exciting as Indiana Jones but in what he makes fascinating is in how he paved the way for future explorers to learn about the culture hesitant in greeting him.
Without this amateur archaeologist’s film footage, this world may have disappeared. When he presented his findings at home, the people who attended his lectures responded with applause. Although the result afterwards had the attitude of traditional colonials wanting to take over, without this “discovery,” these people might disappear altogether. Thankfully, because of him and later on, historians Richard Ivan Jobs and Steven Van Wolputte put together an informative work that budding anthropologists can read to witness this world like it is new.
What’s presented scratches the surface when compared to aspects of this civilization that I’m aware of. After reading this work, I wanted to compare the books I have concerning the rituals to what’s recounted. De Colmont’s inability to witness the rites is telling. Although this individual was denied entry to witness them in their entirety, it’s easy to tell these people are highly spiritual. I can’t blame past and present authors for not including more information because the information would be conjecture.
And when given Popol Vuh‘s limited renown, just how closely related the Lacandón are with the K’iche’ people sounds like a title for an academic thesis. There are some differences. For example, the creator God K’akoch is known as Xpiyacoc or Hunab Ku in a broader context.
When de Colmont’s expedition took place during the eve of the Second World War, I’m sure there were problems. Although I have not found mention of the social-political climate in the sections I’ve read, they may be there or not. In order to be not too late in giving this review, what I’ve done is to be like this anthropologist and offer my impressions before saying I have to go back and dive deeper. Presented at the end is a video recounting their creation myth.
The illustrative moments are quicker to process than the text. What these moments present looks at initial reactions to when this individual and his partner met their first Lacandón. To find a complete discourse really means travelling to this region and living with them. Even today, they may be a dying nationality and that’s sad. I hope there’s a way for this culture to survive.
What this original author wrote gets to the heart, and even this person admitted to having some hurdles to deal with. There’s not only the language barrier but also gaining the trust. Although the original presentation doesn’t dive too deep into how important religious rites play into the everyday lives of the Lacandon people, a good sense of who they worship is clear. These days, some of them embrace Christianity. The book’s publication also stems from the importance of storytelling for all involved. Josh Gates is not the first to cash in on creating public interest for lost worlds, when Bernard is an early explorer who helped paved the way!
4 Stars out of 5
How The Land of the Lacandón Was Born
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