HISTORY OF THE QUICHES. 



173 



the monarchy rose to a high degree of splendour. To 

 relieve himself from some of the fatigues of administra- 

 tion, he appointed thirteen captains or governors, and at 

 a very advanced age divided his empire into three king- 

 doms, viz., the Quiche, the Kachiquel, and the Zutugil, 

 retaining the first for himself, and giving the second to 

 his eldest son Jintemal, and the third to his youngest 

 son Acxigual. This division was made on a day when 

 three suns were visible at the same time, which extra- 

 ordinary circumstance, says the manuscript, has induced 

 some persons to believe that it was made on the day of 

 our Saviour's birth. There were seventeen Toltecan 

 kings who reigned in Utatlan, the capital of Quiche, 

 whose names have come down to posterity, but they are 

 so hard to write out that I will take it for granted the 

 reader is familiar with them. 



Their history, like that of man in other parts of the 

 world, is one of war and bloodshed. Before the death 

 of Axcopil his sons were at war, which, however, was 

 settled by his mediation, and for two reigns peace ex- 

 isted. In the reign of Balam Acan, the next king of 

 Quiche, while living on terms of great intimacy and 

 friendship with his cousin Zutugilebpop, king of the 

 Zutugiles, the latter abused his generosity and ran 

 away with his daughter Ixconsocil ; and at the same 

 time Iloacab, his relative and favourite, ran away with 

 Ecselixpua, the niece of the king. The rape of Helen 

 did not produce more wars and bloodshed than the car- 

 rying off of these two young ladies with unpronounceable 

 names. Balam Acan was naturally a mild man, but 

 the abduction of his daughter was an affront not to be 

 pardoned. With eighty thousand veterans, himself in 

 the centre squadron, adorned with three diadems and 

 other regal ornaments, carried in a rich chair of state, 



