26 Singing Valleys 



for the fifth day of the Mayan month of twenty days, was 

 written 0^ . It signified planting, and was presided over by 

 the Four Bacabs. The four grains of maize in the hill are easy 

 to read. So to this day in thousands of American gardens, the 

 Mayan planting-gods are honored. 



Transcribing from Bishop de Landa's book: 



The winter begins with St. Francis' Day (October fourth) and 

 lasts until the end of March. There is sown a certain kind of maize 

 at St. Francis' Day which is harvested early. . . . There is a short 

 hot spell at the end of January lasting into February when there is 

 no rain except at the change of the moon. . . . The rains come 

 from April to September. Then most of the crops are sown and 

 mature. . . . The natives go into the milpas and cut the brush in 

 the autumn. . . . This is burned in March and April, at which 

 time they hold ceremonies connected with planting. . . . The 

 sowing is done in the dry ground before the rains. . . . They take 

 little care of the fields after they are sown except to clear away the 

 second growth of brush. . . . The ears are ripe in November. . . . 

 The men go into the fields and bend the stalks downward, pulling 

 the ears of maize down so the birds cannot peck at them. . . . 

 When the ears are harvested they are stored upright and close to- 

 gether in well-constructed granaries. . . . 



The Indian women put maize to soak the night before in lime 

 water, and in the morning it is soft and half-cooked. It has lost its 

 husk and nib. Then they grind it on stones and make it into balls 

 for the use of laborers, travelers and sailors. . . . This keeps sev- 

 eral months, except for souring. Of this they take a lump, dissolve 

 it in a gourd or vessel and drink the liquor, it being of excellent 

 taste, every morning. . . . From the maize that is more fully 

 ground they take away the milk and thicken it at the fire making 

 a sort of curd for morning use; and this they drink hot. Upon what 

 is left from morning they put water for drinking through the day, 

 since they are not accustomed to drink water alone. . . . They also 

 toast the maize and then grind and mix it with water into a very 

 refreshing drink, putting into it a little Indian pepper, or cacao. 

 . . . Out of maize and ground cacao they make a sort of froth that 

 is very delicious, and with which they celebrate their festivals. . . . 



