1898-99.] | DECIPHERING HIEROGLYPHIC INSCRIPTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA, 161 
“ Vchal dwelt in the first; there he maintained a brilliant court, which 
by its splendour rivalled that of Quauhtemalan. But, if his warlike 
virtues gave umbrage to the Cachiquel kings, his wealth still more 
excited the envy of the princes of the royal family. Hunahpu-Tzian, 
Nimazahay, Aheigahuh, Chooc-Tacatic, Tzimahi, Piaculcan, and Xumac- 
Cham distinguished themselves among his most ardent enemies, and 
they were the more to be feared, inasmuch as, in their character of 
ministers and chief counsellors of the Crown, they possessed the entire 
confidence of the Ahpozotzil and of the Ahpoxahil. Royal suscepti- 
bility was already too much awakened in regard to him, and the least 
pretext would suffice to render him criminal in their eyes. On the 
advice of the elders, heralds were dispatched to Holom, instructed to 
provoke Ychal-Amollac, and to make him know that he had to present 
himself, with the briefest delay, before the tribunal of the king at 
Iximche. 
“He at once took the road to Iximche, accompanied only by five 
warriors devoted to his person and the most illustrious in the nation ; 
these were Hukahic, Tameltoh, Huwur the Musician, Wailqahol, and 
Zoroch, who filled the office of cup-bearer. His face, though calm, bore 
a melancholy expression when he entered the capital of the Cachiquels. 
On the report of his advance his enemies again assembled a council with 
Oxlahuh-Tzy and Cablahuh-Tihax, and his death had been resolved ere 
ever he set foot on the threshold of the palace. He was introduced alone 
into the council chamber, but from judges the Zotzils had changed to 
executioners, and he had barely appeared before them when he fell dead 
beneath their blows. Zoroch, having followed him up, was first killed, 
and some moments after his companions were thrown lifeless upon the 
corpse of their master.” 
“ These iniquitous executions spread terror among the Akahals ; the 
most immediate consequence was the reduction of their territory, and the 
domain of the children of Ychal became the prey of their enemies. They 
were expelled from the cities they governed, and had assigned to them 
as their sole dwelling the town of Xarahapit, which the Cachiquels wished 
to repeople. Lehuh-Noh, the son of the Ahpoxahil, had the command 
of it; there only they had the melancholy satisfaction of rendering the 
last offices to the remains of Ychal and his noble companions, and the 
Akahales were able freely to signalize their grief at their death, together 
with that of their nationality. A large number of their vassals rejoined 
them in this place, leaving deserted the lands they had previously occu- 
pied ; but their oppressors provided for these promptly, they assigned 
