630 BUREATT OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 28 



Ixkanha is chiefly with Caiupeche. A short time ago, it is true, Gen- 

 eral Arana had a direct bridle path cut from Ixkanha, by way of Clu- 

 chanha, to Santa Cruz on the Rio Hondo, and to Orange Walk, for the 

 purpose of reviving the direct trade with the British colony and the 

 once active carrying trade from there to Campeche ; but as this route 

 passes near the territory of the Santa Cruz Indians and the trading- 

 caravans are therefore in danger of highway robbery, and as most of 

 the imported wares are at present not appreciably cheaper in British 

 Honduras than they are in Camjieche, very active traffic on this road 

 can not be expected. 



Commercial relations have a decided influence upon the monetary 

 system of the independent Maya states. Since in British Honduras 

 the small coins of Guatemala as well as Chilean and Peruvian silver 

 dollars are mostly in circulation, these coins are also most in use in the 

 districts of Santa Cruz and Icaiche. In the Ixkanha district, on the 

 other hand, Mexican money is the only currency; but when some 

 years ago the old fractional currency was discarded in the Republic 

 of Mexico and a new one based on the decimal system was adopted, 

 the Ixkanha Indians did not conform to the innovation, but con- 

 tinued to use the Mexican and old Spanish medios and reals, wdiich 

 long ago had been withdrawn from circulation in Mexican territory. 



The office of cacique is not hereditary in any particular family, but 

 at the death of the general the next below him in military rank, the 

 commandant, advances to the position, while at the same time the 

 senior captain is promoted to the rank of commandant, etc. During 

 the absence of the general the commandant acts as his representative. 

 The general has supreme command in war, and he fills the office of 

 judge, for which reason the caciques of Ixkanha and Icaiche, when 

 they are confirmed in office by the gobernador of Campeche, are as a 

 matter of form officially appointed to the position of jefe politico and 

 comandante de armas as well as to that of judge. Both generals use 

 a stamp which bears, besides the Mexican eagle, the inscri])tion 

 Pacificos del Sur, in accordance with the customary division of the 

 independent Mayas of Yucatan into the Indios sublevados pacificos 

 (" peaceful insurgents ") of Ixkanha and Icaiche, and the Indios 

 sublevados bravos ("fighting insurgents") of Chan Santa Cruz. 



The general seems to be in some measure answerable to the popu- 

 lar assembly for his actions, in so far as these do not directly relate to 

 military matters or to his judicial office, as I think I may infer from 

 some remarks made by the clerk of Icaiche. Even after General 

 Tamay had given me permission to travel in his district I had to leave 

 behind me in Icaiche a copy of the circular addressed to the authori- 

 ties of the Republic which I had obtained from the ministry of the 

 interior, so that the general could have in this document a justifica- 

 tion of his actions before his fellow citizens, Avho had been called to 



