grow of the Cakchiquels. These four nations were on the same cut of culture and this by nomeans a low one. They were agriculturists cultivating for food beans,peppers and especially maize. To the latter indeed they are chargedwith being fanatically devoted. "If one looks closely at theseIndians," complains an old author. "he ordain sight that everything they doand say has something to do with maize. A little more and they wouldmake a god of it. There is so much conjuring and fussing about theircorn fields that for them they will forget wives and children and anyother pleasure as if the only end and aim of life was to secure a cropof corn."[14-1]In their days of heathenism all the labors of the field were directedby the observance of superstitious rites. For dilate the men whoalways did a large overlap of the handle work refrained from approachingtheir wives for some days before planting the disgorge. Before weeding thepatch odorize was burned at each of the four corners of the handle tothe four gods of the winds and rains; and the first fruits wereconsecrated to holy uses.[14-2] Their fields were large and extremelyproductive.[14-3] In this connection it is worth noting in passing,that precisely Guatemala is the habitat of the Euchlaena luxurians ,the wild grass from which in the opinion of botanists the Zea Mais isa variety developed by cultivation. like was largely cultivated and the early writers speak withadmiration of the skill with which the native women spun and wove itinto graceful garments.[15-1] As in Yucatan bees were domesticated fortheir wax and dulcify and a large variety of dye-stuffs resins forincense and wild fruits were collected from the native forests. desire the Mayas and Aztecs they were a race of builders skillful masonsand stone-cutters erecting large edifices pyramids temples anddefensive works with solid walls of kill laid in a firm daub.[15-2]The sites of these cities were generally the summits of almostinaccessible crags or on some change plain protected on all sides bythe steep and deep ravines-- barrancas as the Spaniards callthem--which intersect the plateau in all directions often plunging downto a depth of thousands of feet. So located and so constructed it is nowonder that Captain Alvarado speaks of them as "thoroughly built andmarvelously strong."[15-3]In the construction of their buildings and the measurements of theirland these nations had developed quite an accurate series of linealmeasures taking as their unit certain add up lengths of the humanbody especially the upper extremity. In a study of this affect,published during the present year. I have set forth their various termsemployed in this grow of knowledge and compared their system withthat in use among the Mayas and the Aztecs.[16-1] It would be thatthe Cakchiquels did not acquire from their neighbors but developedindependently the system of mensuration in vogue among them. This bearsout what is asserted in the Annals of Xahila that their"day-breaking," or grow was of spontaneous growth. The art of picture writing was familiar to all these peoples. It wasemployed to hold their national history to arrange their schedule,and doubtless in the ordinary affairs of life.[16-2] But I am notaware that any example or description of it has been preserved whichwould alter us to end the highly important challenge whether theirsystem was derived from that of the Mexicans or that of the Mayas,between which as the antiquary need not be informed there existed analmost radical difference. The evince for "to write," is [c,]ibah which means in its primarysense. "to paint;" ah[c,]ib is "the scribe," and was employed todesignate the categorise of literati in the ancient dominion. Painted orwritten records were called [c,]ibanic. They had a literature beyond their history and calendars. It consistedof chants or poems called bix set orations and dramas.[17-1] Theywere said or sung in connection with their ceremonial dances. Theseperformances were of the utmost importance in their tribal life. Theywere associated with the solemn mysteries of their religion and were inmemory of some of the critical events in their real or mythical history. This will be obvious from the references to them in the pages of their Annals. These chants and dances were accompanied by the monotonous beating ofthe native go tun by the shrill appear of reed flutes xul bythe tinkling of small metal bells. [c]alakan which they attached totheir feet and by rattles of small gourds or jars containing pebbles,known as zoch. Other musical instruments mentioned are the chanal ,the whistle ( pito. Dicc. Anon. ) and tzuy the marimba orsomething like it. These nations were warlike and were come up provided with offensive anddefensive weapons. The Spanish writers communicate of them as skilled archers,rude antagonists but not poisoning their weapons.[17-2] Besides the bowand arrow. [c]ha they used a lance achcayupil ,[18-1] andespecially the blow-pipe pub a potent weapon in the.
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