SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY BULLETIN 64 THE MAYA INDIANS OF SOUTHERN YUCATAN AND NORTHERN BRITISH HONDURAS BY THOMAS W. F. GANN [Illustration: decoration] WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1918 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WASHINGTON, D. C., _November 4, 1916_. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript of a memoir entitled "The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British Honduras," by Thomas W. F. Gann, and to recommend its publication as a bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology. Very respectfully, F. W. HODGE, _Ethnologist-in-Charge_. Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, _Secretary, Smithsonian Institution_. CONTENTS PART 1. CUSTOMS, CEREMONIES, AND MODE OF LIFE Page Introduction 13 Habitat 14 Personal characteristics 15 Dress 18 Industrial activities 20 Agriculture 20 Procuring food; cooking 21 Hunting 23 Fishing 25 Construction of houses and furniture 26 Pottery making 28 Boat building 28 Spinning and weaving 29 Minor industries 30 Tobacco curing 30 Basket and mat weaving 30 Social characteristics 32 Villages 32 Marriage and children 32 Drunkenness 34 Chiefs 35 Diseases and medicines 36 Games 39 Religion 40 PART 2. MOUND EXCAVATION IN THE EASTERN MAYA AREA Introduction 49