The Annals of the CakchiquelsArana Xajilá, Francisco Hernández
History
The Annals of the Cakchiquels
Arana Xajilá, Francisco Hernández
Cakchikel Indians; Cakchikel literature; Guatemala -- History -- To 1821
89. These kings, our ancestors, Oxlahuh tzii, and Lahuh ah, truly
they frightened by their bravery, they frightened by their
knowledge, for they had not forgotten the words of their fathers
and ancestors. The hearts of their subjects were calm when these
princes assumed the power, and they exerted authority and control.
They had made many and great wars when the king Lahuh ah died. Then
came the king named Cablahuh Tihax, oldest son of the king Lahuh
ah; but Oxlahuh tzii continued to reign, Cablahuh Tihax ruling
jointly with him. In truth, the glory of these rulers was not fully
established until after the death of Qikab, when the magician-ruler
of Quiche and the Quiches recommenced the war with the Cakchiquels.
At that time there ruled at Quiche Tepepul and Iztayul, and the
Quiches regarded with jealousy the city of Iximche. At that time
there occurred a great famine, brought about by great cold, which
had destroyed the harvests in the month Uchum, and the harvests
were lost through this cold. For this reason, say our ancestors,
the food was all consumed. A fugitive Cakchiquel informed the
Quiches of this, bringing to the Quiches the news of this famine:
and this man said: “Truly, it is a great famine, and the people
cannot suffer the pains of this hunger.” So he said on arriving
among the Quiches. Therefore the death of the Cakchiquels was
decided on by the Quiches, and destruction was in their hearts.
_Ru petebal vae._
_What Took Place._
90. Tok xpe [c]a xubok pe ri pa tinamit [t]umarcaah, x[c]iz pe ronohel
ahaua; xpe [c]a qui [c]abouil ri Tohohil; humah [c]a ronohel achiha
xpeul; maqui ahilam chi vinak, maqui xa hu chuvy, ca chuvy xpe, xul [c]a
chi ama[t], chiri [c]u[c]um ah vi ul xpopon vi ul chiri, ok xvikon [c]a
chi [c]ha, chi pocob, chi tooh, chi tunatiuh, [t]u[t], chi tunatiuh
[c]ubul, chi [c]alvach puak abah, ca utal ok xpeul chiri.
90. Then took place the defeat at the town of Gumarcaah and the
humiliation of all the princes. They brought out their god Tohohil
and the people came in crowds; the multitude was innumerable; it
was not merely in battalions of eight thousand and sixteen thousand
men, but they came by villages and districts. They came in battle
array, with their bows, their armor and their weapons, their
brilliant plumes, their shining circlets, their head decorated with
crowns of gold and precious stones; this was the manner of their
coming.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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