«eler] antiquities OF GUATEMALA 105 



in finds. From the latter the Sapper collection contains a cup- shaped 

 vessel, with a wide opening, about 10 cm. high, d. From the middle 

 one it contains a cup-like vessel, 17 cm. high, e, of a form frequent in 

 Yucatan and Tabasco. Both have the reddish-yellow coating which is 

 quite common among the cla}' vessels of this region and of the neigh- 

 boring Yucatan and Tabasco. 



The figure vessel, a^ contained an obsidian knife and the phalanges 

 of the left little finger of a human hand. It is possibl}-, even probably, 

 merely accidental that the figure which forms the vessel has only four 

 fingers on the left hand. In the same way, it seems, all the other 

 vessels which were found covered with a bowl or a cover contained 

 obsidian knives and finger joints. Some contained, in addition, pot- 

 tery fragments, rattle balls, and pieces (feet) of clay figures. 'Phis 

 fact, which I can not compare with anything among other sculpture 

 finds of Mexico and Central America, seemed very strange to me at 

 the first glance. Cutting off the finger joints is known to be a sacri- 

 fice to the deity in the sun dance of the North American Indians. The 

 women of the Charrua and other neighboring South American races 

 cut off single finger joints at the death of their husbands. But noth- 

 ing of this sort has been known up to this time of the ancient races 

 of Central America. 



Neither do I believe it is necessary to suppose a sacrifice in this 

 case. On the other hand, a certain passage in the Quiche tradition 

 which is known under the name "Titulo de los Senores de Totonica- 

 pani'' appears to me to contain a definite allusion to the custom which 

 we are considering. 



It is related that the Quiche, together with the kindred tribes of the 

 Tam and the Hoc and the thirteen tribes of the Vuk ama'k I'ecpani. 

 b}^ whom are apparently understood the Cakchiquel and the Tzutu- 

 hil, left their homes and went hj way of Chicpach and Chiquiche to 

 the mountain of Hacavitz Chipal. There the Tam separated from the 

 rest and went to the mountain of Ama'k Tan, and the Hoc, together 

 with the Vuk ama'k, settled on the mountain of U'kin, while the 

 Quiche themselves remained behind on the Hacavitz Chipal mountain. 

 Here the Vuk ama'k threatened them with war, but the Quiche, 

 advised by their nagual, w^re able to defend themselves by magic arts 

 against three successive attacks. The first trick played on the Vuk 

 ama'k was by magic, to cause them to fall into a deep sleep, and when 

 they were asleep not only to take away their weapons, but also to cut 

 off their little fingers and little toes, so that when they awoke they felt 

 so disgraced that they returned to their homes filled with shame." 



In reference to this passage, I am of the opinion that these were spolia 

 opima taken from slain enemies, which were buried in the various pots 



<i Alii les acometi6 tan profundo sueno que no sintieron cuando nuestros padres les despojuron ^^■ 

 sus arcos, flechas y toda arma y demas el dedo menique de pi<5s y mnnos, de suerte que .•iianrto 

 acordaron, se vieron en estado tan afrentado, que se volvieron avergonzados d sus hogares, 



