For a person tall in stature he gives the expression _togam rakan_: for large in body, the Cakchiqùel is _naht rakan_, and for gigantic, or a giant, _hu rakan_. This idea of strength and might is of course very appropriate to the deity who presides over the appalling forces of the tropical thunderstorm, who flashes the lightning and hurls the thunderbolt. It is also germane to the conception of the earthquake god. The first syllable, _cab_, means twice, or two, or second; and apparently has reference to _hun_, one or first, in _hurakan_. As the thunderstorm was the most terrifying display of power, so next in order came the earthquake. The name _Chirakan_ as applied to Xmucane may have many meanings; _chi_ in all these dialects means primarily _mouth_; but it has a vast number of secondary meanings, as in all languages. Thus, according to Coto, it is currently used to designate the mouth of a jar, the crater of a volcano, the eye of a needle, the door of a house, a window, a gate to a field, in fact, almost any opening whatever. I suspect that as here used as part of the name of the mythical mother of the race and the representation of the female principle, it is to be understood as referring to the _ostium vaginæ_, from which, as from an immeasurable _vagina gentium_, all animate life was believed to have drawn its existence. If the derivation of Hurakan here presented is correct, we can hardly refuse to explain the word as it occurs elsewhere with the same meaning as an evidence of the early influence of the Maya race on other tribes. It would appear to have been through the Caribs that it was carried to the West India islands, where it was first heard by the European navigators. Thus the _Dictionaire Galibi_ (Paris, 1743,) gives for “diable,” _iroucan_, _jeroucan_, _hyorokan_, precisely as Coto gives the Cakchiquel equivalent of “diablo” as _hurakan_. This god was said by the Caribs to have torn the islands of the West Indian archipelago from the mainland, and to have heaped up the sand hills and bluffs along the shores.[151] As an associate or “captain” of the hurricane, they spoke of a huge bird who makes the winds, by name _Savacon_, in the middle syllable of which it is possible we may recognize the bird _vaku_, which the Quiches spoke of as the messenger of Hurakan. * * * * * I now pass to the myth of the descent of the hero-god, Xbalanque, into the underworld, Xibalba, his victory over the inhabitants, and triumphant return to the realm of light. The exploits of this demigod are the principal theme of the earlier portion of the _Popol Vuh_.