Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish AmericaJoyce, Thomas Athol
History
Mexican archæology : $b an introduction to the archæology of the Mexican and Mayan civilizations of pre-Spanish America
Joyce, Thomas Athol
Mayas -- Antiquities; Mexico -- Antiquities
included the Quiché, adopted tribal names, and they then retraced their
footsteps over the route by which they had come, fighting with various
tribes by the way, until apparently they turned south and arrived in
Guatemala. During the journey Zactecauh fell into a ravine and was
killed, but Gagavitz, whose influence hitherto seems to have been
purely priestly, like that of other leaders of migration, was invested
with the _insignia_ of temporal power and became chief of the
Xahila and Zotzil divisions. At this time the tribes were evidently in
a neighbourhood which was the scene of considerable volcanic activity,
and in one of their wars they captured the ruler of a hostile tribe,
by name Tolgom (“Son of the Mud-that-Quivers”), and executed him
with arrows. In commemoration of this episode an annual festival was
instituted at which children were offered up in an arrow-sacrifice.
The tribes then settled, dividing the land amongst themselves, and
since Gagavitz remained with the Tzutuhil, the Kakchiquel were left
without a chief, and a man named Baquahol succeeded in obtaining the
power, apparently by purchase or bribery. Here again the Kakchiquel
account is brought into relation with other migration legends, since it
is stated that the “dawn” appeared. The actual words used are rather
interesting, and they are quoted in full later on. Though Baquahol had
obtained the power, yet Gagavitz was not without descendants, and his
two sons Cay Noh and Cay Batz took service with a chief named Tepeuh,
“king of Kauke, to whom all paid tribute.” It has been conjectured with
some reason that this ruler is to be identified with the Quiché chief
Iztayul, but in any case he appears to have been an overlord of the
whole district, and sufficiently powerful to place Cay Noh and Cay Batz
as rulers over the Kakchiquel. Cay Noh was succeeded by his son Citan
Quatu, but the son of the latter did not rule; in fact for the time the
power appears to have been divided among a number of petty chieftains.
However, the tribes were again united by Huntoh and Vukubatz, the
former being the grandson of Citan Quatu, though the Kakchiquel had not
yet attained complete independence, since they recognized the Quiché
ruler, now Quicab, as their overlord. But freedom was in sight, and an
opportunity was offered by the troubles which marred the final years of
Quicab’s reign. The actual excuse of the Kakchiquel revolt was slender
enough, a woman selling bread had her wares seized by certain Quiché
soldiers, and the Kakchiquel espoused her cause. Quicab appears to have
failed to recognize the real nature of the movement, and neglected
to take immediate steps to suppress it, with the result that the
Kakchiquel were able to declare their independence and now appear as a
rival power. Hostilities between the peoples continue, and finally the
Kakchiquel under Cablahuh Tihax and Oxlahuh Tzii defeat the Quiché in a
pitched battle, capturing their joint rulers Tepepul and Iztayul, who
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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