INHABITANTS OF GUATEMALA. 223 



Mexican branches (Tzendal, Tzotzil and Choi), while Quiche ramified into the 

 various Guatemalan subdivisions of Pokoraan, Pokouchi, Cakchiquel and modern 

 Quiche with Ixil and Marné, 



The pure Indians, who constitute over two- thirds of the whole population, 

 differ little in their jjhysical appearance, to whatever linguistic group they may 

 belong. The Cakchiquels, who may be taken as typical Guatemalan Indians, are 

 of average or low stature, but stoutly built, with clear eye, prominent cheekbones, 

 large nose, firm mouth, black, lank hair, thick eyebrows, low forehead, somewhat 

 depressed by the strap passed round the head to support their loads. They never 

 grow grey, and preserve to old age their well-set dazzling white teeth and muscular 

 frames, which never put on too much flesh. They are indefatigable walkers, and 

 the women may be daily seen trudging to market, doing their three and a half 

 miles an hour under loads of 90 to 110 pounds, with the baby perched on the hip. 

 The Guatemalan Indians are much addicted to the practice of eating an edible 

 earth of volcanic origin, of a yellowish- grey colour and strong smell, which is 

 taken as an accompaniment or appetiser. Reference is already made to this habit 

 in the Popol- Vuh. Christians going on pilgrimages also eat little earthen figures, 

 which they obtain at the holy shrines, and which are supposed to heal all mala- 

 dies. Giige was acquainted with two Creole ladies, who ate " handfuls of earth " 

 to brighten the countenance. The natives age rapidly, doubtless owing to their 

 extremely monotonous existence, unrelieved by any incidents which might stimu- 

 late curiosity or afford food for reflection. After the age of thirty they have 

 passed through all their experiences, and nothing further remains to be learned. 



Musical gatherings are greatly enjoyed ; the least pretext, such as the death 

 of a child, which has become an angel in heaven, serves to get up festivities, to 

 which everybody is invited. The natives, and especially the Mayas of Peten, have 

 a delicate ear for music, and in this respect are said to be supt rior to the Spaniards. 

 The Itzas sing in perfect tune, and even vary their parts with much originality ; 

 according to Morelet their songs are lively and bright, very different from the 

 plaintive melody of the Ladinos. The same traveller believed in the native origin 

 of several musical instruments, such as the chirimiya, somewhat like a clarionet, 

 and the marimba, a series of vertical wooden tubes formed of uneven calabashes, 

 which are disposed like those of a reed-pipe, pierced at the lower extremity and half 

 shut by a thin membrane ; its notes are said to be more powerful than those of the 

 piano. The marimba, however, is not an Indian but an African invention ; it is 

 widely known in the î^iger and Congo basins and as far south as Kaffraria. Its 

 name is of Bantu origin, and it was doubtless introduced into Central America by 

 the African slaves. 



Although more fervent Catholics than the Ladinos, the Indians have none the 

 less preserved the old religion under a new form. In many places dolls repre- 

 senting the gods of their forefathers are hidden under the altars of the churches, 

 and by this device both divinities are simultaneously worshipped. When kneeling 

 before Saint Michael they light two tapers, one for the dragon, the other for the 

 ai-changel. An old deity corresponds to each personage of the Christian religion, 



