168 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. VI. 
unrest. Most of the memoirs of this period shew us on all sides 
rebellion, either open or ready to break forth, as well as civil or foreign 
war at the threshold of every State. The Cachiquel kings, at strife with 
all their neighbours, and contending with their rebellious vassals, 
prepared the way for Spanish conquest, and gave a prelude to the 
cruelties of Alvarado by removing the heads of the most illustrious. 
The Tzutohils, after having profited by the insurrection of the Tukuches 
to take possession of Zakcab, in the following year (1500-1501) saw the 
Ahpozotzil fall upon them and cut their armies to pieces ; Zakcab was 
retaken, and its defenders, commanded by the Ahaus Nahtihay and 
Ahgibihay, put to the sword. .Wookaok, king of the Ahtziquinihayi, 
afterwards besieged in Atiblan, on the other hand, routed the Cachiquel 
forces. 
“In Quiche the situation was not more satisfactory. In fact, since 
the defeat of the successors of Qikab I. national sentiment had revived, 
and royalty had recovered its authority over a portion of the ancient 
feudatories of the empire. But, under the reign of Wahxaki-Caam, and 
of the Ahpop Camha Qikab II., a new revolt broke out, the reasons and 
details of which are little known. The Tukuches returned to Chiawar 
profited by it to establish themselves there more solidly, and had them- 
selves visited the scene of the insurrection for the purpose of taking 
partin it. The Cachiquels, whose brothers they always were in spite 
of their dissensions, made use of them to excite disorder among their 
neighbours. Each hated the other with equal hatred, the Quiches being 
unable to forgive them for having been the first to break the ancient 
unity of the empire." 
Brasseur then proceeds to tell the story of the Xahoh Quiche Winak, 
the speaking ballet of the Quiches. It is that of a Cachiquel prince, 
supposed to have been a son of Oxlahuh-Tzy, who was a famous 
magician, and, as such, annoyed King Wahxaki-Caam of Quiche, by 
transforming himself into a noisy beast or bird and making night 
hideous on the roof of the Ahpop’s palace. A Quiche magician, of 
greater skill, at the urgent request of the monarch, caught the Cachiquel 
intruder, and brought him before the court. Arrayed in costumes 
representing eagles, tigers, and lions, the warriors danced about the 
victim preparatory to sacrificing him on the altar of their gods. In the 
midst of his sufferings, the captive prince beckoned with the hand, and 
cried in a voice of authority: “ Wait a moment and hear what I have 
to say to you. Know that the time is near when you will give your- 
selves up to despair because of the calamities that will] fall upon you. 
This hateful old man” he added, indicating the king, “will die first, 
