DERIVATION OF THE WORD YUCATAN. 139 



the elements, or they had been visited more harshly 

 by the destroying hand of man. 



Fortunately, at this place again we have a ray of 

 historic light. According to the best accounts, the 

 region of country now called Yucatan was known 

 to the natives, at the time of the Spanish invasion, 

 by the name of Maya, and before that time it had 

 never been known by any other. The name of 

 Yucatan was given to it by the Spaniards. It is 

 entirely arbitrary and accidental, and its origin is 

 not known with certainty. It is supposed by some 

 to be derived from the plant known in the islands by 

 the name of Yuca, and tal or thale, the heap of earth 

 in which this plant grows ; but more generally it is 

 derived from certain words supposed to have been 

 spoken by the natives in answer to a question asked 

 by the Spaniards on their first arrival. The sup- 

 posed question is, "What is the name of this coun- 

 try 1" or, " How is this country called V and the con- 

 jectured answer, "I do not understand those words," 

 or, " I do not understand your words," either of 

 which expressions, in the language of the natives, 

 has some resemblance in pronunciation to the word 

 Yucatan. But whatever was its origin, the natives 

 have never recognised the name, and to this day, 

 among themselves, they speak of their country only 

 under its ancient name of Maya. No native ever 

 calls himself a Yucateco, but always a Macegual, or 

 native of the land of Maya. 



One language, called the Maya, extended through- 



I 



