274 
GUATEMALA. 
a distinct language, and the obstacles a learner meets are 
important. 
To illustrate, 
here are a few 
of the man 
and woman 
words: — 
Man. 
Woman. 
Father . 
. 
yumaan 
nucuxili 
Mother 
. 
ixanum 
nucuxum 
Son 
macu, imulu 
nirajo 
Daughter 
niananti 
nirajo 
House . 
tubana 
tujonoco 
Earth . 
nonum 
cati 
Brother 
• 
ibuguia 
(?) 
The traveller becomes familiar with such expressions as 
Igarybai, “ let it alone; ” Bwraba duna nu,“ bring me 
water; ” Kimoi , “ let us go ;” Fagai , “ paddle;” Mciwer , 
“ 0 Lord !” Ih hj , “ I don’t know,” — pronounced with a 
contemptuous nasal twang that would outdo the veriest 
Yankee. 
Talkative beyond measure, it is difficult to quiet 
them in camp at night, unless they have had a hard 
day’s work. Good-natured when well treated, they 
have a very good opinion of themselves, and their self- 
love is easily disturbed. Superstitious to an extreme, 
they are not in public very religious; but there are 
strange stories told of human sacrifices in which a child 
was the victim. I have noticed that they put a rude 
cross on the window and door openings of an unfinished 
house to keep out the devils. When becalmed in a dory 
with Caribs, I have often heard the prayer: — 
u Sopla , San Antonio , barba de oro cachimbade plata! 
Llow, Saint Antony, with golden beard and silver pipe ! ” 
And if the saint did not blow when asked repeat- 
edly, the next proceeding was to make a cross of 
