IN THE OLDEN TIME. 
277 
and Tzutohiles, — those long-time enemies. The reader 
may see by the table of words I borrow from Dr. Berendt 
the similarity of certain common words in sixteen of 
these dialects. 
The Lacandones, those unconquered Indios of the Usu- 
macinta, speak a dialect cognate with that spoken in 
Yucatan, Campeche, and the sacred island Cozumel; and 
what gives additional interest to the Maya language is the 
fact that all the inscribed monuments of Tikal, Copan, 
Quirigua, and Usumacinta belong to this race, and if 
interpreted, this is probably the key. 
The Quekchi language (6) is spoken by the Indios of 
Coban Cahabon, Senaju, and adjoining parts of Alta 
Verapaz, while close at hand (San Cristobal, Tactic, Tu- 
curu, La Tinta, and Teleman) we have the Poconchi form. 
Externally both tribes are alike, although the Quekchis 
perhaps dress rather better. 
The extant literature of the Quiches has been freely 
consulted in the preparation of this chapter. Would my 
readers like to see what the original language of the 
“ Popul Vuh ” is like ? 
Are u xe oher tzih varal Quichbe 
u bi. 
Varal xchekatzibah, xchikatiqiba 
vi oher tzih, u tiqaribal, u xenabal 
puch ronohel xban pa ’tinamit 
Quiche, r’amag Quiche vinak. 
This is the beginning of the story 
of those who were formerly in the 
land that is called Quiche. 
There begins and commences 
the knowledge of the earlier time, 
the origin and beginning of all 
done in the Quiche state in the 
home of Quiche men. 
Uspantan has a little dialect all to itself (4). Of 
the Cakchiquel language we have a most interest¬ 
ing remnant in the “ Cakchiquel Manuscript,” next in 
