XVI 



Some American Corn Gods 



A DMIRABLE is the account" (so begins the Popol Vuh, 

 lL which is the sacred book of the Quiche Indians of 

 Guatemala) "in which it came to pass that all was formed in 

 heaven and upon earth. . . . Lo, all was in suspense, all was 

 calm and silent, all was motionless, all was quiet; and wide 

 was the immensity of the skies. . . . There were only im- 

 mobility and silence in the darkness in the night. Alone was 

 the Creator, the Maker, Tepeu, the Lord, and Gucumetz, the 

 Plumed Serpent; those who engender, those who give being, 

 alone upon the waters like a growing light. ..." 



At that time Tepeu, the Lord, and the Plumed Serpent 

 spake together. At their words light dawned; and with the 

 first day, man appeared. 



"... Tepeu and Gucumetz held council together touching 

 civilized life; how seed should be formed, how light should 

 be produced." 



First they made the animals, and assigned to each his place 

 in the earth. But the animals disappointed their creators, 

 because they had no speech. The two said, "Let us make those 

 who shall be our supporters and nourishers." And so they 

 made men. 



The first men were made of mud. But these were even less 

 satisfactory than the animals because they could not move 

 about. Tepeu and the Plumed Serpent then made some men 

 out of wood. These could move but they could not think. 

 They stupidly made war on each other and filled the world 

 with trouble. To get rid of them Tepeu caused a great flood. 



256 



