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1898-99.] DECIPHERING HIEROGLYPHIC INSCRIPTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA, 165 
lands adjoining the volcanoes of Hunahpu, happy to shake off a yoke 
which they impatiently endured, had raised the standard of revolt; but, 
if the voice of the Atzih-Winak had succeeded in easily detaching them 
from their allegiance, it had not the same power to bring them around 
him. * In place of joining their vassals to his, and marching together 
against the capital, they found it more convenient to profit by the 
disorder which reigned there, in order to declare their independence, and 
constitute themselves sovereign in their own States. Thus were formed 
at that time the great lordships of Tzolola, Mixco, Yampuk, and 
Papuluka, which remained independent of the Cachiquel kings until the 
time of the Spanish conquest. 
“ At the end of some days, Cay-Hunahpu, tired of waiting in vain for 
his allies, prepared to attack Iximche with the troups assembled under 
his orders. Their numbers, however, were much superior to those of 
the Ahpozotzil, and the Tukuches ranked as the bravest warriors of the 
Cachiquel nation ; the most respected portion of the nobility had gone 
out with them, and Oxlahuh-Tzy had about him only the members of 
his family and some chiefs of inferior rank. In his destitution he looked 
to them ; to them he confided the most dangerous posts, and one among 
them named Cinahitoh, having been invested with the office of com- 
mander in chief, with the title of Ahpop Achi, was instructed to defend 
the ford of the river on the descent of the rebels. This ford led straight 
to the gates of the city, and opened upon a stone bridge which crossed 
the ravine at a place named Xechipeken. There the first skirmish took 
place, and both sides fought with equal valour. 
“ Cay-Hunahpu, seeing the preparations of the Ahpozotzil, understood 
that henceforth it was a question of victory or death ; and that to amuse 
himself with skirmishes would be to lose his time; he was urgent to 
deploy his whole force in one day, and as soon as possible to assail the 
capital. The Ahau Chucuybatzin who was placed at the head of the 
rebel forces began the first attack. ‘On the eleventh day, Ah, morn now 
having lighted the horizon, the Tukuches awoke on the other side of 
the city. Soon the sound of the drums and war trumpets of Prince Cay- 
Hunahpu resounded ; they covered themselves with armour, with shining 
feathers, with dazzling plumes, they adorned their heads with coronets 
of gold and jewels. Then they on the other side of the river awoke 
together ; it was indeed a formidable sight, the array of those innumer- 
able Tukuches : for they were not to be counted by eight nor by sixteen 
thousand. Then the battle began before the city, at the end of the 
bridge, where Chucaybatzin, at the head of the Tukuche troops had 
transferred the action. Four ladies clad in coats of mail ensanguined 
