MORLEY] INTRODUCTION TO STUDY OF MAYA HIEROGLYPHS 11 



tipped with obsidian or bone; long lances with sharp flint points; 

 and metal (probably copper) axes, provided with wooden handles. 

 The defensive armor consisted of round wicker shields strengthened 

 with deer hide, and quilted cotton coats, which were said to have 

 extraordinary resisting power agamst the native weapons. The 

 highest chiefs wore wooden helmets decorated with brilliant plumes, 

 and cloaks of "tiger" (jaguar) skin, thrown over their shoulders. 



With a great banner at their head the troops silently stole out of 

 the city, and moved against the enemy, hoping thus to surprise them. 

 When the enemies' position had been ascertained, they fell on them 

 suddenly with extraordinary ferocity, uttering loud cries. Barricades 

 of trees, brush, and stone were used in defense, behind which archers 

 stood, who endeavored to repulse the attack. After a battle the 

 victors mutilated the bodies of the slain, cuttmg out the jawbones 

 and cleaning them of flesh. These were worn as bracelets after the 

 flesh had been removed. At the conclusion of their wars the spoils 

 were offered in sacrifice. If by chance some leader or chief had been 

 captured, he was sacrificed as an offering particularly acceptable to 

 the gods. Other prisoners became the slaves of those who had 

 captured them. 



The Maya entertained an excessive and constant fear of death, 

 many of their religious practices having no other end in view than 

 that of warding off the dread visitor. After death there followed a 

 prolonged period of sadness in the bereaved family, the days being 

 given over to fasting, and the more restrained indulgence in grief, 

 and the nights to dolorous cries and lamentations, most pitiful to 

 hear. Among the common people the dead were wrapped in shrouds; 

 their mouths were filled with ground com and bits of worked stone 

 so that they should not lack for food and money in the life to come. 

 The Maya buried their dead inside the houses ^ or behind them, 

 putting mto the tomb idols, and objects indicating the profession of 

 the deceased — if a priest, some of his sacred books; if a seer, some 

 of his divinatory paraphernaUa. A house was commonly abandoned 

 after a death therein, unless enough remained in the household to 

 dispel the fear which always followed such an occurrence. 



In the higher walks of fife the mortuary customs were more elabo- 

 rate. The bodies of chiefs and others of high estate were burned 

 and their ashes placed in large pottery vessels. These were buried 

 in the ground and temples erected over them.^ Wlien the deceased 



1 The excavations of Mr. E. H. Thompson at Labna, Yucatan, and of Dr. Merwln at Holmul, Guatemala, 

 have confirmed Bishop Landa's statement concerning the disposal of the dead. At Labna bodies were 

 found biu-ied beneath the floors of the buildiags, and at Holmul not only beneath the floors but also lying 

 on them. 



2 Examples of this type of burial have been found at Chiehen Itza and Mayapan in Yucatan. At the 

 former site Mr. E. H. Thompson found in the center of a large pyramid a stone-lined shaft running from 

 the summit into the groimd. This was filled with burials and funeral objects— pearls, coral, and jade, 

 which from their precious natiu-o indicated the remains of important personages. At Mayapan, burials 

 were found in a shaft of similar construction and location in one of the pyramids. 



