National Geographic December 1978/January-December 1979 I-II. [antikvár]

The one certainty of any map is that it will be outdated. These days there is another certainty: Someone will complain about it. The planet is papered with regions claimed by two or more nations, left in limbo by treaty or stalemate, acknowledged by one power but not by others. Solid old geographic names become political lightning rods. For 30 years Society maps have carried the notation "Palestine"—in type reserved for regions—in that ancient area of such intense interest to three of the world's major faiths. At the same time we have clearly delineated the modern State of Israel in a typeface that always indicates political entities. The tradition was continued on our newly issued Middle East map, which appeared at the time of the Camp David meetings. To our surprise, it was charged that the map gave subtle support to the Palestinian cause. Political Palestine, having been partitioned in 1948, no longer exists. But we think it of interest to denote a region with such profound historical connotations, and have since added a map note so the purpose of the name cannot be misinterpreted. On the same map we indicated a divided Cyprus, while using a single color to show the island as a political entity. We noted a "Turkish Cypriot State" in that area occupied by Turks, north of the United Nations-patrolled cease-fire line. Obviously we explained too much and too little. The map was thought by some critics to legitimize an administrative unit as a government. The point was well taken. Subsequently we amended the map and added a note to clarify the Cyprus situation. In Asia, the People's Republic of China has never been pleased with our depiction of Taiwan, and India has not liked how we show her borders with China or with Pakistan. India claims all of Kashmir, as Ecuador claims part of Peru and both Britain and Argentina claim the Falkland Islands. In all, there are more than a dozen areas of claim and counterclaim on our maps. In the face of this, our policy is to show the de facto situation and note changes as they occur. Thus we now show Viet Nam as one country. We show Korea divided, with two capital cities. We show Transkei, but note that it is recognized only by South Africa. Our purpose is to convey the maximum amount of information, not to make political commentary. NATflONA [Ll L GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE VOL. 154. NO. S COPYRIGHT © 1978 BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY WASHINGTON, 0. C. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED December 1978 Splendor of an Unknown Empire 730 Excavators in northwestern Syria unearth a great city called Ebla, seat of a realm that rivaled the mightiest early civilizations, writes Howard La Fay. Photographs by James L. Stanfleld, paintings by Louis S. Glanzman. Ontario: Canada's Keystone 760 David S. Bayer and Sam Abell travel from metropolis to muskeg across the province that pulses as the heartland of Canadian unity. Epitaph for a Killer? 796 After an all-out global war, smallpox threatens no more, reports Dr. Donald A. Henderson, who led the successful campaign. The only live smallpox virus left now is held in laboratories. Photographer Marion Kaplan records the final victory in Africa. Tigris Sails Into the Past 806 In a ship of reeds based on craft of5,000 years ago, explorer Thor Heyerdahl follows the wake of forgotten Sumerian mariners. Carlo Mauri and other crewmen photograph the voyage. Winterkeeping in Yellowstone 829 When tourist throngs leave and the snows come, R. Steven Fuller and his family slay behind to guard shuttered cabins and lodges above the Yellowstone River. It's a lonely life, but full of beauty and special reward. Crossing the Atlantic by Balloon 858 Three enterprising Americans, Ben L. Abruzzo, Maxie L. Anderson, and Larry Newman, describe their pioneer flight to Europe, a feat that eluded aeronauts for more than a century. With photographs by the Double Eagle II crew and others. COVER: Double Eagle ll floats toward touchdown in France after its historic flight. Photograph by Alain Dejean, Sygma. 729 ON JANUARY 7, National Geographic Specials will begin a fourth season over television stations of the Public Broadcasting Service—an event that has become a happening. Last year, "The Great Whales" and "The Living Sands of Namib" drew the largest audiences of all PBS programs rated during the season, and "The Great Whales" went on to win a coveted Emmy award. We rejoice in such success, not only for the men and women who work so hard to make good programs possible, but also because it means significant numbers of television viewers appreciate informative and interesting programming. We believe that the same standards we seek to maintain in our magazine and other publications can be maintained on television, and not only survive but be welcomed. Our new season opens with "Gold!"—a report on the lure and beauty ofthe precious metal. A mine in South Africa, a treasure hunters' excavation of an ancient Colombian grave, a gold-bedecked wedding in India, and the vault at Fort Knox are among the settings for the story. On January 28, "Hong Kong: A Family Portrait" will show you the Crown Colony from a view seldom shared by the tourist. We come to know the members of a Chinese family and see through their eyes that remarkable Far Eastern economic machine. The scene shifts to East Africa on March 4 and a drama of utmost importance to all those who revere the wildlife threatened by poachers and changing land use. "Last Stand in Eden" tells the story of elephants forced into a farm area, and the complexity of rights and wrongs that results. The season concludes on April 1 with "The Tigris Expedition." With Norwegian mariner-adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, we sail aboard the reed boat Tigris through waters traveled by the ancient Sumerians, along sea routes by which man's earliest civilizations may have spread. As in previous seasons, the Society and station WQED in Pittsburgh, our PBS associate, are indebted to Gulf Oil Corporation, whose generous grants make these programs possible. We are indebted most, however, to the millions of viewers who continue to approve of good programming. NATDONA DM THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE VOL, 155, NO. I COPYRIGHT © 1978 BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY WASHINGTON, D.C. INTERN ATION AL COPYRIG HT SECURED January 1979 HUMPBACK WHALES I-The Gentle Giants 2 Marine biologist Sylvia A. Earle and photographer Al Giddings swim confidently among those benign behemoths off Hawaii and Alaska. ii-Their Mysterious Songs 18 A 12-year study by zoologist Roger Payne and his wife of the complex, ever changing sounds made by humpbacks suggests that the "songs" may relate to social behavior and possibly even intelligence. An accompanying sound sheet reproduces some of these haunting sequences, as yet unfathomed. Los Angeles: City in Search of Itself 26 The era offreewheeling sprawl, smog, and show biz runs into a space problem, and a flood of Spanish-speaking newcomers brings a new flavor. William S. Ellis and Jodi Cobb explore what's happening in our third largest metropolis. Stone Age Past and Present Meet in Brazil 60 Primitive Amazonian Indians help unearth a shelter where their forebears may have worshiped the sun at least 9,000 years ago. W. Jesco von Puttkamer documents one of the oldest human sites yet found in South America. The Incredible World of Diamonds 85 Why is the hardest of substances ever more precious to man? Fred Ward visits mines, cutting rooms, dealers, and buyers on four continents to assess that fabulous crystal. Bison Kill by Ice Age Hunters 114 Bones and spearpoints found in Colorado reveal how Paleo-lndians slaughtered huge buffalo by the hundreds. Anthropologist Dennis Stanford visualizes the ritual, and actually butchers a dead zoo elephant using stone tools. Time of Testing for Sri Lanka 123 The Resplendent Land, long known as Ceylon, pushes ambitious plans for critically needed new jobs and farmlands. Story by Robert Paul Jordan, with photographs by Raghubir Singh. COVER: Symbols of life's frailty, flowers are laid at the feet of a colossal Buddha in Sri Lanka. Photograph by Raghubir Singh. I . (