1881.] ^*J^ [Brinlon. 



las Casas, and afier liim Alonzo Fernandez, and later writers. Their ac- 

 count reads : 



"Dicen fae este Dios [Exbalanquen] a liazer guerra al infierno, y peleo 

 "con gi'ande numero de demonios. Vencio los, y prendio al Rej' del 

 "infierno, y a otros muchos de los suyos, y bolvio al mundo vitorioso. 

 "Llegando cerca de la tierra, el Rey del infierno pidio que no le sacasse 

 "de su lugar. Exbalaquen (que asi se llaman este gran Dios) le dio un 

 "empellon, y le bolvio a su proprio Reyno, diciendole ; Sea tuyo todo 

 "lo malo, sucio y feo. Viniendo vencedor, no le quisieron recibir los de 

 " Guatemala y Chiapa con la lionra que era razon ; y por lo cual se fue 

 "aotra Provincia, adonde fue con grandes ceremonias recibido. Re- 

 "fieron que deste vencedor del diablo tvivo principio el sacrificar 

 "liombres."* 



Las Casas adds tbat Xbalanque was born in Utlatlan, which we may 

 construe as merely a claim made by the Kiches to the birthplace of the 

 hero god, which doubtless would have been contested by their neighbors, 

 for there is evidence that we have here to do with a myth which Avas a 

 common property of the Maya stock. As related in the Popol Ynh where 

 it is told in a confused manner, and at wearisome length, it is briefly as 

 follows : 



The divine pair Xpiyacoc and Xmucane had as sons Hunhun-Ahpu and 

 Vukub-Hun-Alipu (Each-one-a-Magician and Seven-times-a-Magician). 

 They were invited to visit Xibalba, the Underworld, by its lords, Hun- 

 Came and Vukub-Came (One-Death and Seven-Deaths), and acceptmg 

 the invitation, were treacherously murdered. The head of Hunhun-Ahpu 

 was cut off and suspended on a tree. A maiden, by name Xquiq, Blood, 

 passed that way, and looking at the tree, longed for its fruit ; then the 

 head of Hunhun-Ahpu cast forth spittle into the outstretched palm of the 

 maiden, and forthwith she became pregnant. Angered at her condition, 

 her father set about to slay her, but she escaped to the upper world and 

 there brought forth the twins Hun-Ahpu and Xbalanque. They grew in 

 strength, and performed various deeds of prowess, which are related at 

 length in the Popol Vuli, and Avere at last invited by the lords of the 

 Underworld to visit them. It was the intention of the rulers of this dark 

 land that the youths should meet the same fate as their father and uncle. 

 But prepared by warnings, and skilled in magic power, Xbalanque and his 

 brother foiled the murderous designs of the lords of Xibalba ; pretending 

 to be burned, and their ashes cast into the river, they rose from its waves 

 unharmed, and by a stratagem slew Hun-Came and Yucub-Came. Then 

 the inhabitants of the Underworld were terrified and fled, and Hun-Ahpu 

 and Xblanque released the prisoners and restored to life those who had 

 been slain. The latter rose to the sky to become its countless stars, while 



*Las Casas, Historia Apologeii'a de las Indias Occidetiiales, cap cxxiv (Madrid 

 edition): P. F. Alonzo Fernandez, Historia EcclesiasUca de Nvestros Tiempos,p. 

 137. (Toledo, 1611). 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XIX. 109. 4b. PRIJsTED DEC. 29, 1881. 



