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Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021041268 
 
Cornell University Library 
 F 1411.S77 
 Collection of rare and original docurne"! 
 
JMSTCIENT provinces 
 GUAZACAPAST , JZALtC O S 
 
 CTUSCAIEEiAH" & CBDLCtUXSdCOIi A 
 
 jji die 
 AXJDIEKCIAoi GUATEMALA. 
 
 E.G. Siguier, Del. 
 
 i%Tmp,-.l\[qjor8cl£happlath *J/Y. 
 
mamas aDitw 
 
COLLECTION 
 
 OF 
 
 RARE AND ORIGINAL 
 
 ©outment* an* delations. 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 The Difcovery and Conqueft of America* 
 
 CHIEFLY FROM THE SPANISH ARCHIVES. /^ 
 
 No. 
 
 littfilfsflefc ftt t&e ©rfafnal, 
 
 WITH TRANSLATIONS, ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES, MAPS, AND 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 
 
 By E^G ^ffi UIER, M. A., F. S. A. 
 
 $d 'ember of the Society of Antiquaries of France ; Royal Society of Antiquaries of Den- 
 mark ; Archaeological Inflitute of Great Britain : American Ethnological Society, 
 &c. f &c mf &c. 
 
 NEW TORK: 
 
 Charles B. Norton, Agent for Libraries. 
 
 MDCCCLX. 
 
CARTA 
 
 DIRIJIDA AL 
 
 RET D E E S r P A N A , 
 
 POR EL 
 
 Licenciado Dr. Don 
 
 Diego Garcia de_PALACIO, 
 
 Oydor de la Real Audiencia de Guatemala ; 
 Ano 1576. 
 
 Being a Defcriptiqn of the Ancient Provinces of 
 Guazacapan, Izalco, Cufcatlan, and Chiquimula, 
 in the Audiencia of Guatemala : 
 
 » 
 
 WITH 
 
 An Account of the Languages, Cujloms and Religion 
 of their Aboriginal Inhabitants, and a 
 
 Description of the Ruins of Copan. - 
 
/^cornell\ 
 
 jUNlVE.-.SITY! 
 
PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 *HIS Relation of the Licentiate Dr. 
 Don Diego Garcia de Palacio, Audit- 
 or of the Audiencia of Guatemala, 
 written in 1576, and addreffed to 
 the King of Spain, is now for the 
 firft Time published in the original Spanifh. It is 
 from a manufcript Copy made by the Hiftorian 
 Munoz, and preferved in the Royal Academy of 
 Hiftory at Madrid. 1 A French tranflation was 
 publifhed at Paris in 1840, by M. Ternaux-Com- 
 pans, in a Work entitled Recueil de Documents et 
 Me'moires Originaux fur FHiJloire des PoJfeJJions 
 
 1 Acknowledgment is due to 
 Buckingham Smith, Efq., late Se- 
 cretary of the 'Legation of the 
 United States in Madrid, for pro- 
 curing and verifying the Manufcript 
 from which the Spanifh Text of 
 this Relation is printed. The 
 Publick is already largely indebted 
 to his intelligent Zeal for the Pub- 
 
 lication of a moft valuable Collec- 
 tion of original Documents, obtain- 
 ed from the Spanifh Archives, en- 
 titled, Collection de Documentor 
 para la Hiftoria de Florida, y 
 Tierras Adyacentes, as well as for 
 previous Tranflations of rare Trafts 
 and Papers illuftrative of the Hiftory 
 of Florida. 
 
[4l 
 
 Efpagnoles dans FAmerique, etc. But the Tranfla- 
 tion, in a number of important Refpedts, is both 
 imperfedr. and inaccurate, and fails, as all Tranf- 
 lations muft fail, in meeting the Requirements of 
 the critical Student. It is with a full Confciouf- 
 nefs of this inevitable Refult, that I prefent a 
 Tranflation of my own ; but I confider that the 
 Prefumption of the Attempt is atoned for by 
 the Circumftance, that I give, at the fame Time, 
 the original Text, fo that every Inquirer may 
 form his own Eftimate of its Senfe, and of the 
 Spirit which pervades it. To me the Relation 
 has a fpecial Intereft. I have been over a great 
 Part of the Ground that was traverfed by its 
 Author, and I am deeply imprefled with the 
 Accuracy of his Defcriptions. Nothing could be 
 more Exadt than his Accounts of the phyfical 
 Features and natural Productions of the Diftridts 
 of Country which he vifited, and his Truthfulnefs, 
 in thefe Refpedts, infpires complete Confidence in 
 thofe portions of his Narrative which we are no 
 longer able to verify. He was a clofe Obferver, 
 and a careful Narrator, and his Memoir to the 
 King of Spain will always Hand as one of the beft 
 Illuftrations of an interesting Country, as it was at 
 
[ 5 1 
 the Period immediately fucceeding the Conqueft. 
 It feems that in Obedience to a general Order of 
 the Crown, addrefied to the Audiencias, Palacio 
 was deputed to vifit a Number of the Provinces of 
 Guatemala ; but Circumftances which he alludes to, 
 in the clofing Paragraphs of his Relation, limited 
 his inquiries to that Part of the Coaft of the Pacific, 
 lying between the river Michatoyat on one fide 
 and the river Lempa on the other, and extending 
 Inland as far as the Ruins of Copan and the City 
 of Chiquimula — a Diftrid: one hundred and fifty 
 Miles long by a hundred *Miles broad, or rather 
 lefs than a twelfth of the Area comprifed in the 
 ancient Audiencia of Guatemala. The Memoir 
 in Fadt, relates principally and efientially to the 
 ancient Cufcatlan, the prefent Republick of San 
 Salvador, which was found occupied by a People 
 of the Nahuatl or Mexican Stock, furrounded on 
 all fides by Nations of different Languages, towards 
 fome of whom they held a Pofition of Superiority, 
 and by fome of whom they were regarded with 
 Hoftility and Contempt. No rational Account 
 of their Origin, nor even a plaufible Tradition 
 refpecting it has reached us; and the Problem 
 whether, in common with another Family of the 
 
[ 6 ] 
 fame Stock, on the Shores of Lake Nicaragua, they 
 were a Colony from the Plains of Anahuac, and 
 an offfhoot from the Mexican Empire, or confti- 
 tuted the parent Stock whence the latter Sprung — 
 for the Prefent at leaft, this Problem remains open 
 to Investigation, and without a fatisfadrory Solution. 
 The Relation of Palacio was largely ufed by 
 Herrera, who drew from it the whole of 
 Chapters viii, ix, and x, of the Eighth Book of his 
 Fourth Decade. But his Extracts were careleffly 
 made, and in a few Inftances convey a different 
 Meaning from the Original. Nor were they in all 
 Refpedts judicious, at leaft as regards modern Re- 
 quirements, fince fome of the moft interefting Por- 
 tions are not only omitted/ but passed over without 
 Notice. The prefent Publication will fupply thefe 
 Omiffions, and furnifh new and valuable Materials 
 for Hiftorical and Archaeological Inquiry. As 
 regards the general Character of the People of 
 Cufcatlan, but efpecially as regards their religious 
 Rites and Ceremonies, it is probably fufficiently 
 full and fatisfadtory. It does not treat of their civil 
 and political Organizations, inafmuch as thefe had 
 difappeared, or had been greatly modified under the 
 Authority of the Spaniards. As regards the Coun- 
 
[7] 
 try itfelf, and its more remarkable Features, Produc- 
 tions and Refources, I repeat, it is equally Exadt 
 and Interefting. But probably the moft interefting 
 Part of the Relation, is the Account which it con- 
 tains of the Ruins, ancient even when Palacio 
 wrote, and now known, from their Proximity to the 
 little Town of that Name, as the Ruins of Copan. 
 The wonderful Accuracy of Palacio's- Defcription 
 of thefe Remains will appear on comparing it with 
 the Accounts of Galindq and Stephens, and the 
 Drawings of CatherwooaT The " Giants," with 
 what he regarded as Armor " in Mofaic," and with 
 " Ribbons around their Legs" ; the " Bifhops" with 
 " Rings on their Fingers" and holding " Packets, 
 refembling Boxes" in their Hands ; the Altars, or 
 facrificial Stones, with Grooves and Refervoirs 
 " for the Blood of the ^idtims" ; the graduated 
 Pyramids ; the great Circus refembling the " Coli- 
 feum of Rome ;" the Terrace dominating the River, 
 with its flights of Steps reaching to the Water ; the 
 fubterranean PafTages — nothing could be more 
 graphic or truthful than his Account of them all. 
 And it is remarkable, not to fay inexplicable, that 
 Herrera fhould have wholly omitted any Allufion 
 to thefe Monuments. None of the Conquerors 
 
[ 8 1 
 mention them, nor do they appear to have been 
 noticed by any of the Chroniclers of the Country 
 down to the Time of Fuentes, who wrote in 1689, 
 upwards of one hundred Years after Palacio. 
 From his Manufcript, "Juarras, in 1809, drew a 
 brief Notice of them, which is not however, either 
 in Completenefs or Accuracy, at all comparable with 
 that of Palacio. Later, in 1835, Col. Galindo, 
 an Officer in the Service of the Republick of Central 
 America, publifhed a fliort Defcription in the 
 Tranfaclions of the American Antiquarian Society, 
 and in the Proceedings of the Geographical Society 
 of Paris. And finally, in 1841, they were in good 
 part defcribed by Stephens, and admirably illuflrat- 
 ed by Catherwood, and for the firil Time, fairly 
 prefented to the World — a Wonder to the Curi- 
 ous, and an Enigma to tl\e Student. 
 
 Galindo * who had an inquiring Mind, but a very 
 fuperficial Education, milled by the Name given 
 
 2 The Words of Galindo are as " fiderable Number of auxiliary- 
 follows : " Palenque was abandon- " Indians, despatched from Guate- 
 " ed, and the Memory of its Ex- " mala, captured this Place, though 
 " iftence appears to have been " they met with great Oppofition 
 " obliterated before the Conqueft ; " on their March, and a Refiftance 
 " whereas the Spaniards found " here worthy of better Means and 
 " Copan inhabited and in the Sum-, " Succefs." (Trans. Am. Antq. 
 " mit of its Perfection. * * * * " Sac, ii, 549.) 
 " A frnall Spanifli Force with a con- 
 
[9 J 
 to the Ruins, believed them to be the Remains of the 
 Town of Copan, captured and deftroyed by Her- 
 nando de Chavez in 1530, Stephens, alfo, fell 
 into forae Confufion on the Subject, and copied 
 out Juarros's Account of the Capture of Copan ; 
 yet the extent and evident Antiquity of the 
 Monuments forced him to doubt the Identity of the 
 Spot with that of the Town deftroyed by Chavez. 
 And although it is fcarcely poffible that any well- 
 informed Student in American Archaeology ever 
 fell into the fame Error with Galindo, yet what- 
 ever doubts may have exifted on the Subject, and 
 as regards the high Antiquity of the Ruins of 
 Copan, or rather of the namelefs Ruins near Copan, 
 they are fet at Reft by this Account of Palacio. 
 They were evidently very nearly in their prefent 
 Condition, at the Time he wrote, three hundred 
 Years ago, and within fifty Years of the Conqueft. 
 Even then their Hiftory was unknown, and only 
 the vagueft Traditions exifted regarding them. So 
 far as thefe Traditions indicate that they were built 
 by the fame People who built Palenque and Ux- 
 mal, and who left maffive Monuments of their 
 Skill, all the Way from Nicaragua to Mexico, there 
 can be no doubt of their accuracy. The Hiero- 
 
 2 
 
I 10] 
 glyphics, fo called in want of a better Defignation, 
 found on the Altars and Monoliths of Copan> 
 are Identical in Character with thofe of Palenque, 
 and with thofe which have come down to us 
 in fome of the aboriginal Paintings. On the 
 fcore of Antiquity, it may be added, there are 
 various Reafons for believing, that both Copan 
 and Quirigua antedate Olofingo and Palenque, 
 precifely as the Latter antedate the Ruins of 
 Quiche, Chichen-itza and Uxmal, and that all 
 of them were the Work of the fame People, or 
 of Nations of the fame Race, dating from a high 
 Antiquity, and in Blood and Language precifely the 
 fame that was found in Occupation of the Country 
 by the Spaniards, and who ftill conftitute the great 
 Bulk of its Population. 
 
 It is proper to fay in Conclufion, and in Exten- 
 uation of any Obfcurities or Inaccuracies in the 
 following Relation, that the Manufcript from 
 which it is printed is not always legible, is imper- 
 fectly punctuated, and moreover abounds in ancient 
 Forms of Orthography and Expreffion, which 
 fometimes leave the Tranflator in doubt as to the 
 Author's meaning, and defy the Ingenuity of the 
 Compofitor tQ make the Text intelligible, Thofe 
 
[ II ] 
 
 who are beft acquainted with the early Spanifh 
 Manufcripts, are also beft acquainted with the 
 Difficulties in the Way of making them out, and 
 will be the moft lenient in refpedb to any Blunders, 
 into which the Editor and Tranflator may have 
 fallen. 
 
 New York, July, 1859. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE. 
 
 THE Author of the following Relation, 
 Dodlor Don Diego Garcia de Pala- 
 cio, was Auditor of the Royal Audiencia of 
 Guatemala, and afterwards of that of Mexico. 
 He feems to have been a Man of confiderable 
 Intelligence and Activity, with a ftrong martial 
 Tendency, as mown in his various Memoirs and 
 Papers. Nothing is known of his Works anterior 
 to that which is here prefented. In the fame 
 Year in which it is dated, we find his Name in a 
 Contradt made with one Diego Lopez of Truxillo 
 in Honduras, for the Conqueft and Coloniza- 
 tion of the Province of Taguz-galpa, which 
 Name was applied to the Atlantic Coaft of Central 
 America, between Cape Camaron and the River 
 San Juan, including the whole of what is now 
 called the Mofquito Shore. He afted on behalf 
 of the Audiencia of Guatemala, under Authority 
 of a royal Cedula dated from Madrid, i oth of 
 February, 1576. This Conceffion was concluded 
 
1. 14] 
 
 December 4th of the fame Year, and the Original 
 is preferved in Seville, Roll 12 of the Documents 
 entitled Buen gobierno de Indias. In this he is enti- 
 tled " El Iluftre Senor Licenciado Diego Garcia 
 de Palacio, Oydor de la Real Audiencia de Guate- 
 mala, etc." 
 
 On the 8th of March 1578, he addrefied a 
 Letter to the King of Spain on the Conqueft and 
 Pacification of the Philippine Iflands, entitled, 
 Carta al Rey,fobre la Conquijia y Pacification de las 
 ijlas Filipinas, y las Ventajas de hacerfe la Naviga- 
 tion para ellos defde el Puerto de Fonfeca. 
 
 The Original exifts in Seville, among the Papers 
 entitled Papeles tocantes a las Ijlas de Poniente, 
 for the Years 1 570-1 588. In this Palacio ftrongly 
 urged the change of the Tranfit between the 
 Atlantic and Pacific, from Mexico and Panama, to 
 the Route through Honduras from- Puerto de Ca- 
 ballos to the Bay of Fonfeca. 
 
 Palacio afpired to be Governor of the Philip- 
 pines, and in the Letter referred to, offered to reduce 
 thofe Iflands at his own Coft, in cafe the Crown 
 fhould entruft him with the Appointment ; but the 
 Application does not appear to have met with 
 Favour. 
 
[ i5 1 
 
 On the 30th of April 1579, he addreffed another 
 Letter to the Crown, from the Port of Realejo in 
 Nicaragua, giving an Account of the " Robberies 
 made by the Corfair Francis Drake on the Coafts 
 of Peru," etc., which is alfo preferved in Seville. 
 
 After reaching Mexico, Palacio publifhed two 
 Works in that City, of which the Titles are : 
 
 Dialogos Militares de la formacion e information 
 de perfonas, injirumentos y cofas necejfarias para el 
 buen ufo de la guerra. — Mejico, Pedro Ocharte, 
 ano 1583. In 410. 
 
 Injlruccion ndutica para el buen ufo y regimiento 
 de las Naos, su traza y gobierno, conforme a la altura 
 de Mejico. — Mejico, ano 1587. In 4to. 
 
 The Latter was dedicated to Don Alvaro Man- 
 rique de Zufiiga, Marques de Villamanrique, Vice- 
 roy and Captain General of New Spain. It is 
 divided into four Books, treating of the Sphere, the 
 Ufe of the Aftrolabe, the Gregorian Reform of 
 1582, the Golden Numbers, and other Points of the 
 Calendar, with Directions for general Navigation, 
 a Dictionary of Maritime Phrafes, etc., etc. 
 
 In September 1587, Palacio was made Captain 
 General of the Armada which was fent out, in 
 that Year, from Acapulco againft the Englifh Cor- 
 
[ 16 ] 
 fairs who then infefted the South Sea. His Com- 
 miffion, which is ftill preferved at Seville, among 
 the Papers brought from Simancas, gives him great 
 Latitude of Action f ' as one well verfed and practifed 
 in all Things connected with the Sea." The Refult 
 of his Expedition is not known, and with this 
 Appointment, Palacio feems to have difappeared 
 from Hiftory. 
 
CARTA 
 
 DIRIJIDA AL 
 
 RET D E E S P A JV A , 
 
 FOR EL 
 
 Licenciado Dr. Don 
 
 Diego Garcia de PAL A CIO, 
 
 Oydor de la Real Audiencia de Guatemala ; 
 Alio 1576. 
 
 R. M.— Por 
 
 Vueftras ce- 
 dillas y pro- 
 vifiones efta 
 mandado i horde- 
 nado a los Virreyes, 
 Prefiden'tes i Go- 
 bernadores deftas 
 partes, hagan larga i ver- 
 dadera relacion de la po- 
 ficion de tierras, Indios, 
 lenguas, coftumbres, rios, 
 
 3 
 
 TJOUR R. C. Majefty, 
 A by divers decrees, has 
 ordered that your Vice- 
 roys, Prefidents, and Go- 
 vernors in thefe parts fhall 
 give to you an exadT: and 
 detailed defcription of the 
 geography of their va- 
 rious diftridts, and of 
 the mountains and rivers 
 found in them, and of 
 the languages and cus- 
 
[ i8 J 
 
 montes i variadades i cofas de fus diftri&os, de que 
 deba darfe quenta a V. M., i ponerfe por memoria; 
 afi fe debe creher lo habrian fecho, y como cofa 
 cumplida no tratare dello. Por otras anfi mifmo 
 manda V. M. que un Oydor por fu turno ande vi- 
 fitando las provincias de fu partido, para la buena 
 confervacion e pulicia deftos naturales i defagraviar- 
 los de las injufticias i vexaciones que padefcen i 
 a componer i hacer jufticia en las demas cofas que 
 entre ellos fe ofrecen. En cuyo cumplimiento efta 
 V. R. Audiencia de Guatemala "me nombro para la 
 dicha vifita, i fenalo algunas provincias-tle fu dif- 
 tridto donde vi i averigue algunas cofas; que de 
 raras i de confideracion me an forzado a dar quenta 
 a. V. M., aunque con rudo eftilo. 
 
 Conocida cofa es que del ambito del mundo, 
 que fegun la comun opinion es 5625 leguas, pofehe 
 i gobierna V. M. la mayor parte como confta por 
 fu poficion, porque, fin efos Vueftros Reynos de 
 Efpana, Italia, Flandes, ay a las Iflas del Poniente, 
 do Vueftros Ejercitos van ampliando V. R. Corona, 
 3405 leguas, regulados los paralelos i fecha la com- 
 putacion a las comunes efpanolas, en que fe incluye 
 efte diftridto, que comienza de los poftreros termi- 
 nos de Teguantepeque, i acaba en los de Cofta-rica, 
 corre S. E. y N. O. 300 i mas leguas. Efta divi- 
 dida en 1 3 provincias principales, fin otras mas me- 
 nudas que en ellas fe incluyen ; fon Chiapa, Soco- 
 nufco, Suchitepeques, Cuauhthemalan, Vera-paz, 
 Izalcos, San Salvador, San Miguel, Honduras, 
 
[ *9 ] 
 
 toms of the Indians — in lhort, an account of all 
 the things deferving to be mentioned. As I fup- 
 pofe that thefe orders have been executed, I fhall 
 not treat of all thefe matters. But Your Majefty 
 has alfo ordered, that each member of the Au- 
 diencia, in his turn, mail make a journey through- 
 out its jurifdidlion, to fee to the confervation and 
 regulation of the natives, to defend them againft 
 vexations and injustice, and to arrange and fettle 
 equitably all difficulties which may arife among 
 them. In compliance with thefe orders, Your 
 Royal Audiencia of Guatemala having chofen me 
 to undertake this duty, and having defignated cer- 
 tain provinces within which to make my inquiries, 
 I now proceed, although in a rude way, to give to 
 Your Majefty an account of the rare and curious 
 things which fell under my notice. 
 
 It is a well known thing,' that of the whole cir- 
 cumference of the earth, which according to received 
 opinion is 5625 leagues, Your Majefty pofleffes 
 and governs the greater part; "for from your king- 
 doms of Spain, Italy, and Flanders to the Iflands of 
 the Weft, where your armies are engaged in ex- 
 tending your dominion, there are 3405 Spanifh 
 leagues, including this diftridt, which commences 
 at the lower extremity of Tehuantepec, and reaches, 
 on the S. E., to Cofta Rica, and has a total length 
 of upwards of 300 leagues. It is divided into 13 
 principal provinces, not enumerating a number of 
 others lefs confiderable, which are included in 
 
I 20] ( 
 
 Choluteca, Nicaragua, Taguz-galpa, Cofta-rica; i 
 en cada una dellas ay i hablan los naturales dife- 
 rentes lenguas, que pareze fue el artificio mas 
 mafiofo que el demonio tuvo en todas eftas partes 
 para plantar difcordia, confundiendolos con tantas 
 i tan diferentes lenguas como tienen,' que fon : 
 
 En la de Chiapa, Chiapaneca, Tloque, Mexicana, 
 Zozil, Zeldal-quelen. 
 
 En la de Soconufco, la Mejicana corrupta, i la 
 materna, e Vebetlateca. 
 
 En lade los Suchitepeques i Cuahutemala, Ma- 
 mey, Achi, Cuahtemalteca, Chienanteca, Hutateca, 
 Chirichota. 
 
 Los Izalcos i Cofta de Guazacapan, la Popoluca, 
 i Pipil. 
 
 La Verapaz, Poconchi, Caechicolchi. 
 
 La de Sn. Salvador, Pipil i Chontal. 
 
 El valle de Acacevaftlan i el de Chiquimula de 
 la Sierra, Tlacacebaftleca y Apay. 
 
 En la de San Miguel, Poton, i Taulepa Ulua. 
 
 La Choluteca, Mangue, Chontal. 
 
 En Honduras, Ulba, Chontal, y Pipil. 
 
 Nicaragua, Pipil corrupto, Mangue, Maribio, 
 Ponton, i Chontal. 
 
 En la de Taguz-galpa, la materna i Mexicana. 
 
 En la de Cofta-rica y Nicoya, la materna i 
 Mangue. 
 
 De las quales comenze a vifitar de la de Guaza- 
 capan hafta el rio de Lempa, que corre 50 leguas 
 al Efte por la Cofta del Sur, i a lo hancho hafta 
 
[ 21 J 
 
 them, viz : Chiapa, Soconufco, Suchitepeques, 
 Cuauhthemalan,^) Vera Paz, Izalcos, San Salvador, 
 San Miguel, Honduras, Choluteca, Nicaragua, 
 Taguz-galpa, and Cofta Rica. 
 
 The inhabitants, of each of thefe provinces, 
 fpeak different languages, which without doubt 
 originated in an adroit device of the devil, in order 
 the more eafily to fow the feeds of difcord among 
 them. ( 2 ) Thefe languages are : 
 
 In the "province of Chiapa, the Chiapaneca, 
 Tloque, Mexicana, Zozil, Zeldal-quelen. 
 
 In the province of Soconufco, a corrupt Mexi- 
 can, the Ubetlateca, and the mother language of 
 the country. 
 
 In Suchitipeques and Cuahutemala, the Mamey, 
 Achi, Cuahtemalteca, Chienanteca, Hutateca, and 
 Chirichota. 
 
 Among the Izalcos, and on the coaft of Guaza- 
 capan, the Popoluca and Pipil. (*) 
 
 In Vera Paz, the Poconchi, Caechicolchi. 
 
 In San Salvador, the Pipil and Chontal. 
 
 In the Valley of Acacevaftlan, and in that of 
 Chiquimula de la Sierra, the Tlacacebaftleca and 
 Apay. 
 
 In San Miguel, the Poton, Taulepa, and Ulua. 
 
 In Choluteca, the Mangue and Chontal. 
 
 In Honduras, the Ulba, Chontal, and Pipil. 
 
 In Nicaragua, a corrupt Pipil,' the Mangue, 
 Ponton, Marabio, and Chontal. 
 
 In the province of Taguz-galpa the mother lan- 
 guage, and the Mexican. 
 
[ ** ] 
 
 Chiquimuk de la Sierra, que Cofre 30 leguas 
 Norte-Sur, en que vifite 156 lugares de Efpanoles 
 e Indios i entre ellos cuentanfe i reparti 78, de lo 
 que los naturales deben pagar de tributo, en cada 
 un ano, a fus encomenderos. 
 
 La dicha Cofta comienza defde ei Rio de Mi- 
 chiatoya i fe fenece i acaba en el de Aguachapa* 
 Es abundante de montes, aguas, cazas, i pefca de 
 todas fuertes ; tiene mucho frutales de la tierra i 
 de Caftilla, bonifimas naranjas, i algunos higos, i 
 melones. Es tierra de cacao, y de buenas tierras 
 para mayz, y las demas legumbres i femillas que 
 los Indios hufan ; tiene comodidad toda ella para 
 hacer fal, aunque la hacen con mucho trabajo i 
 riefgo de fu falud. Sacan la falmuera, que para 
 hacella an menefter de la tierra que la mar bana 
 en fus crecientes, i cuezenla en hornos femejantes a 
 los que los campaneros hufan ; gafta mucha lefia i 
 ollas para cocerla por manera, que aunque fe 
 podria hacer mucha, es coftofa, enferma, i trabajofa 
 ,de hacer. Tiene muchos efteros de que fe aprove- 
 chan de grandes pefquerias de todo genero de pef- 
 cados i tortugas, aunque tienen i eftan llenos de 
 cay manes, que propiamente fon los cocodrillos, 
 porque tienen las eleciones que dellos qiientan los 
 naturales ; i efpanta pefcar en ellos, porque alliende 
 de la fiereza que mueftran i grandeza que tienen, 
 eftan algunos muy encarnizados i cebados ; i acon- 
 tecido que pafando un gran toro por un rio le afio 
 unq de la cola, i hera tan grande que aunque falido 
 
[ 2 3 1 
 
 In that of Cofta Rica and Nicoya, the indigenous 
 language and the.Mangue. 
 
 Of thefe provinces, I traverfed firft that of Gua- 
 zacapan, going as far as the river Lempa, which is 
 50 leagues to the Eaftward, following the South 
 Coafl; and thence I went inland as far as Chiqui- 
 mula de la Sierra, a diftance of 30 leagues from 
 North to South; in which diftrict I vifited 156 
 villages of Spaniards and Indians, of which I enu- 
 merated and fet off 78 wherein the Indians mould 
 pay every year the amount of tribute afleffed on 
 them to their encomenderos. 
 
 The faid Coaft of Guazacapan commences at 
 the river Michatoyat, and terminates at that of 
 Aguachapa. ( 4 ) It is abundantly wooded and 
 watered, and contains every variety of fifh and 
 game. It is very productive in fruits of the country 
 and of Spain, and produces furthermore excellent 
 oranges, figs, melons, and cacao. Maize grows 
 well, as alfo all the grains and vegetables ufed by 
 the Indians. There is every facility for making fait, 
 although the Indians do not know how to manu- 
 facture it, except with great labor and at the rifk 
 of their health. They take the brine made by the 
 fun from the water left by the higheft tides, which 
 they reduce in ovens fimilar to thofe which bell- 
 founders ufe, at a coft of large quantities of wood 
 and earthen pots. They might make more if they 
 were acquainted with a better mode of reduction 
 than this, which is difficult, coftly, and unhealthy. 
 
[ 2 4 ] - 
 
 el toro a la horilla, el tiro lo que. pudo para defa- 
 firfe i falir a tierra, no pudo porque el cayman hera 
 tan grande i feroz que lo torno al agua i mato ! 
 Otros eftragos i danos han fido en diverfas partes 
 deltas provincias que admira, aunque con toda fu 
 fiereza ay muchos Indios que fe hechan al agua i 
 chapuzados debajo le atan pies i manos i dan cabo 
 a otros Indios que quedan en tierra i anfi los facan 
 fuera del agua i los matan. Llegando yo a un lugar, 
 por me regalar me convidaron para que lo viefe, 
 no lo quife acceptar por el riefgo que parece ofrece 
 la braveza de un animal tan efpantofo, los quales" i 
 fin que yo lo fupiefe fueron i ataron uno como 
 dicho es i me lo traxeron. Ay algunos dellos 20, 
 30 i mas pies, muy gruefos, de gruefos pies i manos, 
 la cola gruefa i recia, hieren con ella bravifima- 
 mente. Tienen muchas conchas i que no las pafa 
 un arcabuz, a veces la boca muy grande con dientes 
 fierifimas repartidos en tres aridanas ; yo conte a un 
 34 dientes en cada una, fin los colmillos con que 
 atrabiefa el ocico fuperior, por dos agujeros que na- 
 turaleza le hizo. Tiene toda efta cofta muchas 
 praderias que aca llaman zabanas, grandes i de 
 mucho pafto, i en ellas algunas eftancias de vacas, 
 aunque no las que podria haber fegun fu grandeza 
 i grofedad. 
 
 Es tierra enferma por la mucha calor i humedad 
 que en ella ay, de que fe fuelen caufar grandes ca- 
 lenturas i otros males peftilenciales, mofquitos de 
 quatro generos que de'dia defafofiegan i enfadan, 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 There are many creeks on the coaft, in which they 
 have large eftabliftiments for catching all kinds of 
 fifties and turtles, notwithftanding that they are full 
 of alligators, or rather crocodiles, very ferocious, 
 and greatly feared by the people. They relate 
 that a large bull, in pafling a river, was attacked 
 by a cayman, which feized him by the tail with 
 fuch force, that notwithftanding he reached the 
 ftiore and did his utmoft to fhake off his enemy, 
 he was drawn back into the water and killed. The 
 caymans have committed many ravages in other 
 parts of this province ; yet it is wonderful, not- 
 withftanding their ferocity, that there are actually 
 many Indians who dive beneath them, in the 
 water, and attach cords to their legs, in fuch man- 
 ner that they are dragged to the ftiore and flain. 
 On my arrival at one of the villages, the inhabit- 
 ants propofed to entertain me with a feat of this 
 kind, but I would not confent to their incurring 
 the rifk of encountering fo fearful an animal. 
 They neverthelefs went off without my knowledge, 
 and brought me one thus fecured. Some of the 
 caymans are from twenty to thirty feet and up- 
 wards in length,' with large bodies and big feet, 
 and covered with fcales through which a mufket 
 ball cannot pierce. Their tails are very powerful 
 and dangerous ; and their mouths are large, with 
 three rows of formidable teeth. I counted thirty- 
 four teeth in each range, befides the eye-teeth, 
 which fit into holes in the upper jaw. 
 
[ 26 J 
 
 i de noche no dejan dormir muchas mofcas, i 
 abifpas de diverfos generos malas i venenofas que 
 en picando hazen roncha, ifi las rafcan llagan. Yo 
 vi que un mozo cayo de una picadura atordido i 
 amortecido por mas efpacio de dos horas. Ay 
 alacranes i unos gufanos peludos que con cualqui- 
 era cofa que de fu cuerpo toquen emponzonan i a 
 veces matan ; i otros que llaman cientopies tan ma- 
 los i tan venenofos como los dichas ; grandes cule- 
 bras i vivoras maliflimas, i otras fabandijas peftilen- 
 ciales i muy danofas, de diferentes efpecies, que 
 efpantan con los malos efectos que ellas i CQn ellas 
 hacen. Ay unas que crian un cornecuelo en la 
 cabeza, de que los malos hufan para fus fucias luju- 
 rias, de efedto eftrano ; i para lo mefmo ay unos 
 efcarabajos muy grandes los cuernos de los quales 
 aun fon peores i de mas mala operacion. Yo hable 
 a un facerdote a quien unos fus tofcos amigos le 
 hicieron las raeduras de una burla tan pefada que 
 ni baiiarfe, ni ungiiento rofado, ni fangrarfe le 
 aprovecho por mas de 24 horas. Ay en efta pro- 
 vincia abejas blancas, aunque pocas. Hacen la 
 miel i cera muy blanca, no pican tan mal como los 
 otras hordinarias. 
 
 Ay en toda efta tierra un arbol comun que 
 nofotros Uamamos ciruelos i los Indios cotes, que per- 
 diendo las hojas, fin ella crian i produzen i dan fu 
 fru6to, i defpues de dada, hechan hoja i feparan 
 muy frefcos i lozanos como lozaneandofe del frufto 
 i beneficio que an dado. 
 
[ V ) 
 
 On this coaft are many plains, called in the 
 country Savannahs, with abundant pafturage. In 
 thefe there are fome cattle farms, but not as many 
 as from the great fize of thefe Savannahs might 
 be expected. 
 
 The country is unhealthy, in confequence of its 
 heat and humidity, which caufe fevers and other 
 peftilent maladies, and produces mofquitos of four 
 kinds, which torment one all the day and prevent 
 him from fleeping at night. There are alfo many 
 venomous flies, and bees the fling of which makes 
 blifters, that become fores on rubbing. I faw a 
 boy who fainted and remained infenfible for up- 
 wards of two hours, in confequence of having been 
 ftung by one of thefe infects. There are alfo fcor- 
 pions, and a kind of hairy worm which poifons all 
 things it touches, and fometirries caufes death ; and 
 alfo centipedes, as bad and venemous as the creatures 
 already named ; large ferpents, and dangerous 
 vipers — in fhort, all kinds of unclean and deadly 
 infects, enough to make one tremble who reflects 
 on the evils which they occafion or which may 
 be occafioned by them. 
 
 Some of thefe have a little horn on their heads, 
 which evil-minded perfons ufe in their filthy de- 
 baucheries, and which has an extraordinary effect. 
 There is alfo a fpecies of very large fcarabceus of 
 which the horns have a greater and frill worfe 
 efFedt. I knew a prieft, whom fome of his rude 
 friends induced to fwallow fome of the fcrapings 
 
L 28 ] 
 
 El dicho rio de Michiatoya, donde efta provincia 
 comienza, nace i es un defaguadero de la laguna de 
 Amatitan, quatro leguas de Guatemala, i para caer 
 a la dicha provincia, hace un falto tan grande que 
 un arcabuz parece no podria llegar debajo arriba, i 
 una concavidad entre el agua i pefia donde cae muy 
 grande, de manera que fe crian en el gran fuma de 
 papagayos de diferentes suertes, i tantos murcielagos 
 que es maravilla, que fon tan malos que fe dan e 
 topan una ternera la matan i defangran ; cuelganfe 
 en la dicha cueva unos de otros, i hazen razimos i 
 colgajos mayores que un fombrero, i en algunas 
 partes fe an defpoblado eftancias de ganado por el 
 mucho dano que hacian en las dichas terneras. 
 
 En un lugar de aquella provincia, que fe llama 
 Nefticpac, ay unos lagos que parecen falen de mi- 
 neros de azufre de mala agua i hedionda ; falen a 
 fus trillas pedazos del dicho azufre quajados i con- 
 jelados de la grofedad del agua, tan limpio i purifi- 
 cado como la mejor que viene de Alemaiia ; i el 
 pafto que riega las vertientes -defta agua es tan 
 bueno para los caballos i engordan tanto que de 
 muy perdidos i flacos en pocas dias vuelvan en fi i 
 feparan muy hermofos-i gordos. 
 
 Los Indios defta provincia fon humildes i de 
 buena condicion ; corre entre ellos la lengua Mex- 
 icana, aunque la propia es Popoluca ; en fu genti- 
 lidad hufaban de los ritos i idolatrias, fuefios i 
 fupredticiones que los Pipiles i Chontales fus veci- 
 nos, de que tratare adelante; en los mas lugares 
 
[ 29 ] 
 
 from thefe horns ; and for more than twenty-four 
 hours, neither baths, unguents, nor bleedings could 
 flop the confequences of the pleafantry ! 
 
 White bees are found in this province, but in 
 fmall numbers. Their honey and wax have an 
 extraordinary whitenefs, and their fling is not as 
 fevere as that of the ordinary varieties. 
 
 Throughout the country there is a very common 
 tree producing a fruit which we call plums, and 
 the Indians cotes [jocotes]. It fheds its leaves when 
 the fruit appears ; but when the latter matures and 
 is gathered, it throws them out again, frefhly and 
 luxuriantly, as if rejoicing over the harvefl and 
 benefits which it has given. 
 
 The river Michatoyat, where this province com- 
 mences, rifes in the lake of Amatitan, four leagues 
 from Guatemala. In reaching this province it 
 precipitates itfelf over a fall fo high that its top 
 cannot be reached by a mufket ball. (5) There is 
 a kind of cavern between the fheet of water and 
 the rock, within which are found parrots of various 
 kinds, and a marvellous number of bats, which 
 attach themfelves one to the other, forming cluflers 
 as big as a hat. They are very mifchievous, and 
 if they find a calf in the fields will kill it, by 
 fucking its blood. On fome farms in the neigh- 
 borhood, it is impoflible to raife cattle, becaufe the 
 bats deflroy all the calves. 
 
 In a place in that province which is called Nef- 
 ticpac, there are fome fmall lakes which appear to 
 
[ 3° J 
 fe conozen fus fenores naturales, heran poco 
 poderofos, valia i mandaba entre ellos mas el que 
 mas podia mas, i tenia mas hombres de guerra. 
 
 Efta repartida en -feys partidos de clerigos ; fon 
 
 medianamente inftruydos en la dotrina Criftiana; en 
 
 la pulicia van tambien aprovechando aunque como 
 
 jente nueva en nueftra coftumbres fi fe defcuydan 
 
 dellos falen a la pega de fu gentilidad. .A1H fe me 
 
 querello un Indio que un fu alcalde fin fu pedi- 
 
 mento habia procedido contra fu mujer i caftiga- 
 
 dola por ocho adulterios, i forzadole a el que pa- 
 
 gafe la condenacion que por ellos le habia fecho, 
 
 por manera que allende de fu afrenta le llevaban fu 
 
 dinero ; el cafo es que en tiempo de fu infidelidad, 
 
 hera coftumbre que quando alguna muger eftaba 
 
 de parto, la comadre hazia confefafe i dixefe todos 
 
 los pecados, para que haviendolos confefado pariefe 
 
 mejor, i quando habiendolo fecho la tal muger no 
 
 paria, llamaban a fu marido, i hacian le el confefafe 
 
 las fuyos; i fe efto "no aprovechaba quitavanle al 
 
 tal marido el maxtli i panetes que traya calzados e 
 
 poniales en las renes de la prenada, i fi efto no ha- 
 
 provechaba para que pariefe, la propria comadre 
 
 facaba fu fangre i facrificabala afperjandb con ella 
 
 los quatro vientos, haciendo algunas invocaciones 
 
 i ceremonias. Sucedio que eftando la muger del 
 
 querellante de parto fe confefo, oyendela un algua- 
 
 zilejo que eftaba efcondido, dixo que habia cometido 
 
 adulterio con los ocho referjdos ; i defpues de fana 
 
 el dicho alguazil la acufo ante el alcalde dellos 
 
[ 3i ] 
 flow from mines of fulphur. Their water is 
 bad and fetid. At their edges are found cryf- 
 talized mafTes of fulphur, purer than the beft which 
 comes from Germany. The paftures irrigated by 
 the water are fo excellent for horfes that the 
 thinneft and moft reduced rapidly recover their 
 powers, and come out in a few days fleek and 
 fat. 
 
 The Indians of this province are fubmiflive and 
 of a good nature. The Mexican language is cur- 
 rent among them, although their proper tongue is 
 the Popoluca. Before their converfion, they had 
 the fame rites and idolatry with the Pipiles and 
 Chontales their neighbors, of whom we mail fpeak 
 further on, and like them believed in dreams and 
 other fuperftitions. In moft parts they recognize 
 their native chiefs, who however were not very 
 powerful ; thofe who were ftrongeft or had moft 
 warriors give law to the others. ( 6 ) 
 
 They are now diftributed among fix orders of 
 priefts, and moderately inftrudted in the Chriftian 
 faith. They begin to be civilized, but as they" are 
 new to our cuftoms, if they are neglected, they will 
 foon fall back into their idolatry. While there one 
 of the Indians complained to me that the Alcalde 
 had profecuted his wife for adultery, without his 
 having complained of her, and that he had been 
 obliged to pay the fine ; in confequence of which, 
 .and to avenge his injury, he had ftolen the money 
 of the Alcalde. This affair happened as follows : 
 
[ 3* ] 
 dichos delitos, i por ellos la prendio caftigo e peno. 
 Eftan aun fiempre eftos naturales en algunos hier- 
 ros i ceremonias antiguas, placera a Dios que, con 
 la diligencia que fe pone, poco a poco vayan olvi- 
 danofe de fu perdicion antigua, i tomando el camino 
 verdadero para falvarfe. 
 
 No tiene efta provincia puerto, fino uno que 
 llaman de Eztapa, donde antiguamente el Adelan- 
 tado Pedro de Alvarado hizo ciertos navios peque- 
 nos. An querido algunos decir que fera comodo para 
 que, fi V. M. fuere ferbido fepafe por eftas provin- 
 cias la contratacion del Peru, fe correfponda en el ; 
 es impofible por mucbas razones ; fu entrada es playa 
 de mucho tumbo, defabrigada i de mala facion para 
 puerto; hace la mar una barra en la tierra arto 
 grande i onda, mas en la entrada i boca muy baja, 
 porque quando es mar muerto aun no ay un eftado 
 de agua, i por la bracuz ay refaca i tumbo dicho la 
 dicha boca fe muda cada ano adonde la fuerza de 
 los tiempos hiere mas recio. Dicen algunos, que 
 para que la barra no fe mude fe podria hacer un 
 muelle, que la fuerze fiempre a eftar en un lugar i 
 no mudarfe ; parece razon de poca confideracion, 
 para que allende que aunque eftubiera fiempre en 
 un lugar i no mudarfe, es baxa i de poca agua, defa- 
 brigada i que con los tiempos tiene mas 6 menos 
 arena por falta de cimiento que no tiene por fer 
 harena gruefa i lavada. No tiene V. M. hacienda 
 en eftas provincios para podello hacer en 20 anos, 
 Dizen tambien que en la dicha barra fe podria 
 
[ 33 1 
 During their idolatry, the women, at the time of 
 their accouchment, confefTed all their fins to the 
 midwife ; they believed that this facilitated partu- 
 rition ; but if notwithstanding, the birth was diffi- 
 cult, the hufband was alfo obliged to confefs his 
 fins ; and if this did not anfwer, they took the 
 breech-cloth {maxtli) or drawers of the hufband 
 and placed them under her loins ; and if this did 
 not fucceed, the midwife, as a laft refource, drew 
 blood from her own perfon, and fprinkled it to the 
 four points of the compafs, with ceremonies and 
 invocations. The wife of the Indian in queftion, 
 at the time. of her accouchment, confefTed to the 
 midwife that fhe had eight lovers, whom fhe 
 named. This was heard by a concealed alguazil, 
 who when fhe became wefl, denounced her to the 
 Alcalde, who in turn chaftifed her. (?) 
 
 Thefe Indians preferve many of the errors and 
 ceremonies of their ancient idolatry, but it is to be 
 hoped that through the will of God, and by the 
 diligence of his fervants, they may be diverted, 
 little by little, from their road to perdition, and led 
 to take the true path to falvation. 
 
 There is but a fingle port in this province called 
 Eflapa [Iftapa], where in former times the Adelan- 
 tado Pedro de Alvarado conftrudted fome little 
 veffels. Certain perfons have alledged that it would 
 be advantageous for Your Majefly to make the 
 route to Peru pafs through thefe provinces ; but this 
 is entirely impoflible, fince it is only an open road- 
 
[ 34 ] 
 
 echar un rio que con fu corriente haga mayor 
 barra i boca i mas ondo, i mejor puerto ; tampoco 
 es bien confiderado, porque allende que fera muy 
 coftofa i poco firme fegun lo que la mar y remarfo 
 haze entra en la tierra adentro, aunque en ella fe 
 hechafen muchos rios, no havia ni 'podria hacer 
 fuerza que contra la furia hordinaria de la mar i 
 grande tumbo que fiempre alii tiene, haga barra ni 
 puerto conveniente ; i quando contra ella obiera 
 tanta agua i corriente que lo pudiera hacer la pro- 
 pia corriente, impidiera i eftorbara que fuera puerto 
 como quieren en decir que podria. 
 
 LA PROVlNCIA DE LOS IZALCOS. 
 
 Que la cofa mas rica i gruefa que V. M. tiene 
 en eftas partes, comienza del rio Aguachapa i acaba 
 en Guaymoco i Cofta de Tonala, corre por la 
 mefma cofta 1 8 leguas. Tiene las calidades del 
 fuelo i cielo que la de Guazacapan, i abundancia 
 de cacao, pefca, i frutos, i demas cofas que aca 
 comunamente ay en las tierras calientes, i en espe- 
 cial la mas abundante de cacao que fe fabe. El 
 arbol que da el cacao es mediano, tiene fus hojas 
 como caftanal, aunque mayores; produze flor i 
 fruta cafi todas las lunas, i lo mefmo hacen en eftas 
 partes todas los naranjos. Echa fu flor el trongo 
 i ramas, comenzando las mas veces defde el fuelo, i 
 como ellos echan la flor i crian fu fru&o, de que fe 
 van criando unas mazorcas mas largas i mayores 
 que pinas ; i dentro dellas 25630 almendras, que 
 
[ 35 J 
 ftead, incommodious and without fhelter. The 
 fea has made fo bad a bar at its mouth that it is 
 difficult to go into it at low tide, and the florins 
 change the entrance every year. There are thofe 
 who pretend, that to prevent this bar from con- 
 ftantly changing its place, it is only neceffary to 
 conftrucl: a mole which will keep it fixed; but 
 even then the port would only be a little lefs bad 
 than now — fhallow, without fhelter, and filling up 
 conftantly, as it appears that the bottom of the fea 
 is only coarfe fand and pebbles, without cohefion. ' 
 Befides, this province does not afford the means of 
 conftrudting a work of the kind propofed, in 
 twenty years. They pretend alfo, that a river may 
 be turned to flow into the port, and thus deepen it, 
 and cut through the bar ; but they do not confider 
 the coft of the undertaking, rior the difficulties in- 
 terpofed by the furf and the tides. ( 8 ) 
 
 PROVINCE OF IZAJ.COS. 
 
 This is the largeft and richeft province which 
 Your Majefty pofTeffes in thefe parts ; it commen- 
 ces at the river Aguachapa and ends at Guaymoco, 
 on the coaft of Tonola, extending a diftance of 
 eighteen leagues along the fea. It -has the fame 
 qualities of foil and fky with that of Guazacapan ; 
 is abundant in cacao, fruits, fifh, and the other 
 things which are generally found in hot countries ; 
 but in efpecial, it is more abundant -in cacao than 
 any country known. The tree which produces 
 
[ 36 ] 
 
 es el cacao, de las quales 200 valen comunamente 
 entre los Indios un real ; i es la moneda que, para 
 las cofas menudos, corre de hordinario entre ellos i 
 nofotros. Es tan tierno arbol que con qualquiera 
 eftremo fe pierde i feca ; i anfi para criarle es menef- 
 ter mucho cuydado, i ponelle otro arbol que llaman 
 madre, que le haga ■ fombra i hampare del fol i del 
 ayre. Antiguamente hera tan eftimado que nadie 
 bebia del dicho cacao, que no fuefe Cacique, gran 
 Senor, 6 valiente foldado. JJfaban en el fembrallo 
 muchas ceremonias ; efcojiendo de cada mazorca e 
 pipa los mejores granos de cacao i juntos lo que 
 habrian menefter, los zaumavan i ponian al fereno 
 en quatro dias del pleni lunio, i quando los habian 
 de fembrar fe juntaban con fus mujeres con otras 
 ceremonias bien fucias. En efedlo hera la cofa mas 
 preciada que aca habia ; a crecido i multiplicadofe 
 tanto, defpues que eftan en Vueftra Real Corona, con 
 la libertad que tienefi devello i tratallo, que defta 
 provincia principalmente i de fu comarca fe provee 
 la Nueva Efpafia, de que ay mucho cofhercio i 
 contratacion de una a otra parte. La calidad defta 
 frudta es cafi fria, en tercero grado ; ufafe en las 
 bebidas generalmente i gaftafe i coxefe tanto, que 
 pareze que lo que fale a Nueva Efpafia i dan i 
 gaftan en fus cafas i labores, debe fer, en folos 
 quartro lugares de los Izalcos, mas que 50 mill car- 
 gas, que, a un precio comun, valen quinientos mill 
 pefos de oro de minas. Yo los conto i reparti el tri- 
 bute. Ocupan todos ellos, con fus huertas dos leguas 
 
I 37] 
 
 the cacao is of medium height ; its leaf is like that 
 of the cheftnut but larger ; and, like the orange 
 trees of the country, it gives out flowers and fruit 
 with almoft every moon. The flowers ftart in- 
 differently from the ftem and branches, all the way 
 from the ground up, and when thefe fall the fruit 
 makes its appearance. It is as large or larger than 
 a pineapple, and contains from twenty-five to 
 thirty feeds like almonds, which are the cacao 
 beans, and of thefe 200 are of the value, among 
 the Indians generally, of one rial. They ferve for 
 fmall money or change, both among the Indians 
 and the Spaniards. (?) 
 
 The cacao tree is very delicate, and suffers alike 
 from too much heat and too much cold, and there- 
 fore requires a great deal of care. They plant at 
 its fide, in order to give it fhade, and protect it 
 from the winds, another tree, which is called its 
 Mother. The beverage which they prepare from 
 the cacao was formerly fo highly efteemed by the 
 Indians^ that no one was permitted to drink of it, 
 unlefs he were a great perfonage, a cazique, or a 
 famous warrior. In planting it, they ufed many 
 ceremonies. They felected the beft grains, and 
 expofed them for four nights to the full moon, and 
 at the moment of planting them, the men had 
 connection with their wives, and went through 
 other ceremonies of a libidinous character. In 
 fhort, the cacao is the moft precious thing pro- 
 duced here, and its cultivation has fo much in- 
 
[ 38 ] 
 en quadro, de que fe infiere, no fe faben tales leguas 
 de arboles i huertas que fruttifiquen, i den tanto 
 valor. Quentan eftos naturales el cacao por contles, 
 xiquipiles, i cargas ; un contle es 400 almendras, un 
 xiquipil 20 contles, que fon 8000 almendras ; i una 
 carga, 3 xiquipiles, con 24,000 almendras. Por eftos 
 numeros quentan todas las cofas, i es el mayor que 
 entre ellos fe halla. Parecio haber en la quenta de 
 los dichos lugares * * * * vecinos i que todos 
 tienen * * * * pies de los dichos cacaos. 
 
 En los terminos i cofta deftos Izalcos, efta el 
 puerto de Acajutla, donde furgen i eftan los navios 
 que andan al tra&o del dicho cacao e mercaderias 
 que vienen del Peru i Nueva Efpana.- 
 
 Tambien ha querido decir que es bueno i fufi- 
 ciente para la correfpondencia a Peru, fi V. M. 
 fuefe fervi^o que la que agora ay en Tierra Firme 
 fe pafafe a efta proyincia. Efta en altura de 1 3 
 grados i 36 minutos, e por la diferencia del Meri- 
 diano de Sevilla al defta tierra i declinacion fe le da 
 4 minutos, con que feran 1 3 grados i 40 minutos. 
 Corre lefte-huefte i efta defabrigado del fur i fus co- 
 laterales. Es una playa de mucha refaca i tumbo, 
 i no tiene facion ni talle de puerto, de mala i en- 
 ferma poficion, fuftentarfe los navios que alii furjen 
 con todos los daiios dichos, porque haze la mar en 
 una recife que ay en la dicha playa una vuelta i 
 refaca de mar tan fuerte que hace eftar los navios 
 fufpenfos fin hazer fuerza en los cables i ancoras ; ' i 
 efte folo beneficio tiene para tantos daiios i la ner- 
 
[ 39 J 
 
 creafed fince the country came under Your Royal 
 Crown, in confequence of the liberty which now 
 exifts for traffic in it, that this province and its 
 neighborhood furnifh the principal fupply for all 
 New Spain, with which there is much commerce, 
 and where it is generally ufed, to fuch an extent 
 indeed, that it is eftimated, that from but four vil- 
 lages of the Izalcos, there are exported upwards of 
 50,000 loads, valued, at ordinary prices, at 500,000 
 dollars. "The quality of this fruit is cold, in about 
 the third degree. ( IO ) 
 
 I made an enumeration of thefe Indians and 
 aflefled their tribute. They occupy, with their 
 gardens, two leagues fquare, and I known of no 
 equal extent of land which has trees and gardens 
 fo flourifhing, or which yields fo great value. 
 
 Thefe Indians count their cacao by contles, 
 xiquipiles, and cargas or loads ; one contle is 400 
 grains ; the xiquipil is 20 contles or 8000 grains ; 
 and a cargo, is three xiquipiles or 24,000 grains. 
 In this way they count all things, and it is the beft 
 mode they have. It appears, in the enumeration of 
 thefe villages, that there are * * * * inhabitants, 
 each of whom has * * * * feet of ground for the 
 cultivation of the cacao. 
 
 On the coaft and confines of thefe Izalcos, is 
 the port of Acajutla, where veffels come to ex- 
 change the merchandife and products of Peru and 
 New Spain for cacao. There are fome who pre- 
 tend that this would be a good and adequate port 
 
[ 4° ] 
 cefidad precifa que del tienen i falto de otro tal, e 
 toda eftg. comarca i la comodidad i cercania que en 
 el allan los vecinos i mercaderes de la villa de la 
 Trinidad que efta poblada en los dichos Izalcos. 
 
 Eftan fituados en la falda de un volcan que efta 
 humeando, ..que fegun todos afirman fe ha confu- 
 mido i ha bajado de 50 afios a efta parte mas de 
 20 eftados de altura ; i algunos afios arrojado i efpe- 
 dido de fi tanta zeniza que a cubierto la tierra 
 muchas leguas al rededor, y fecho gran dafio en las 
 huertas del cacao. Vierte la parte del Sur, como 
 mas baja, muchas aguas, algunas muy buenas i 
 otras maliflimas i hediondas. Haze un rio que 11a- 
 man de la Zeniza, por el mucho i gran hedor que 
 lleba. Sale anfimifmo del, otro arroyo de tan mala 
 i vifcofa agua que en poco tiempo cubre i haze 
 piedra quajquiera cofa que en el cae. Y acontecio 
 que habiendofele caydo a un India un machete, al 
 cabo de dos afios fe hallo cubierto de mas de un 
 palmode piedra por todas partes. Y fuera "deftos 
 Izalcos, en un lugar que fe llama Tecpa, fale del 
 dicho volcan otro arroyo de la mefma calidad. 
 Dizen que en la provincia de Chiapa ay un rio 
 que haze lo mefmo ; i facando unos Indios piedra, 
 para hazer cal, i quebrando una hallaron dentro 
 un fufte de una filla gineta, fano i entero. 
 
 De los dichos Izalcos fe van fubiendo tres leguas 
 hafta un lugar que fe llama Apaneca, tan frefco i 
 aun frio que es el eftremo de los lugares dichos ; 
 cojenfe en el granadas, membrillos, manzanas, i 
 
[4i ] 
 for the communication with Peru, if Your Majefty 
 were difpofed to change the tranfit from Tierra- 
 firme-to this province. It is in 13 36' of Lati- 
 tude, or rather in 1 3 40', adding 4' for the differ- 
 ence of the meridian of Seville. This roadftead 
 opens eaft and weft ; it is unfheltered, ^with much 
 furf, and has neither the form nor appearance of a 
 port ; it has a bad and unhealthy pofition ; and the 
 mips that vifit it are fubjecfed to all kinds of dan- 
 ger, since the fea breaks on a reef which there is 
 here, with fuch force, and makes fuch a recoil, 
 that they can only be held by the ftrongeft anchors 
 and cables ; hence they do not come here, except 
 from neceflity, for want of any other port, and 
 from the importance of the trade of this diftridt, 
 and of the city of La Trinidad, which has been 
 founded in this province. ( fI ) 
 
 This city is fituated at the foot of a Volcano 
 which fmokes continually, and which I am affured 
 has confumed itfelf and diminished in height more 
 'than twenty ejiados within fifty years. It has 
 thrown out fuch a quantity of cinders, at different 
 times, as to cover the earth for many leagues 
 around, doing great damage to the plantations of 
 cacao. Falling from its fouthern declivity, as well 
 as lower down, are many ftreams of water. In 
 fome of thefe ftreams the water is excellent, in 
 others bad and ftinking. They form a river which 
 is called la Ceniza (of the Afb.es), which emits a 
 great ftench. There is alfo another ftream of fuch 
 
 6 
 
[42 ] 
 
 duraznos, trigo i las demas cofas que a eftas partes 
 an venido defos Vueftros Reynos. 
 
 En el mefmo alto, unalegua del, efta otroque fe 
 llama Ataco, del mefmo temple ifertilidad, i muy 
 abundante de toda monteria i caza, por los muchos 
 i buenos montes que para ella tienen. Tube noti- 
 cia que habia en el venados de la forma que son los 
 que en la India de Portugal crian la piedra bezar, 
 e hife matar algunos en que fe hallaron algu- 
 nas piedras, que probadas en enfermidades pefti- 
 lentes hacen el mefmo efedto que las que, fe traen 
 de la dicha India. • Ay tambien, un genero de 
 ofos pequenos ; no tienen boca, como los defos 
 Reynos ; tienen en el cabo del ocico un agujero pe- 
 quefio i redondo, i para mantenerfe proveyolos 
 naturaleza de una lengua larga, acanalada, con que 
 chupan i facan la miel do quiera que la allan. I 
 quando efta les falta, fe van a los hormigueros, donde 
 tienden fu lengua como por cano y agujero de 
 otra cofa enganandas las ormigas que entran i fe 
 hartan dellas. 
 
 Ay afimifmo, muchas dantas de color bianco, 
 pardo i vermejo, i otros muchos generos de ani- 
 malejos eftrafios i danofos, i muchas ierbas i arboles 
 de buenos efedtos para la falud humana, almazigos, 
 dragos, e arboles de anime en mucha cantidad. 
 
 Profiguiendo en la vifita defte lugar, i pediendo 
 razon de los menores i huerfanos, para faber del 
 tradto de fus perfonas i haciendas. Me traxeron 
 una nina de ano i medio, huerfana de padre i ma- 
 
[ 43 ] 
 bad and vifcous water, that it covers with ftone, 
 or converts into ftone, whatever article may fall 
 into it. They relate that an Indian, who loft; his 
 machete in this ftream, found it, at the end of two 
 years, covered with a coating of ftone more than 
 a palm in thicknefs. 
 
 Beyond the diftridT: of Izalco, near a village 
 called Tecpa, is found another ftream flowing from 
 this volcano, which has the fame qualities. They 
 fay that there is a fimilar one in the Province of 
 Chiapa, from which fome Indians took a ftone, 
 within which, on breaking it-, they found the tree 
 of a faddle, found and entire. ( I2 ) 
 
 Leaving Izalco, and afcending three leagues, we 
 reach a place called Apaneca, which is frefh and 
 cool, therein difFering greatly' from the villages al- 
 ready defcribed. Here they cultivate pomegra- 
 nates, quinces, apples, peaches, wheat, and, in one 
 word, all the produdts of Spain which have been 
 brought to thefe countries. 
 
 On the fame elevated grounds, one league diftant, 
 is another village called Ataco, which has the fame 
 climate and produces. Here are large and fine 
 forefts, affording good hunting and an abundance 
 of game. I underftand that the fame kind of deer 
 is found here, which, in the Portuguefe Eaft In- 
 dies, furnifhes the bezoar ftone, and that feveral 
 have been killed, in which ftones were found pro- 
 ducing the fame erfedt on peftilential maladies. 
 Here is alfo found a fpecies of very fmall bears 
 
[ 44 ] 
 dre, que eftaba en poder i la daba leche una vieja 
 de mas de 70 anos. I yo admirado que muger de 
 tanta edad tubiefe leche, la hize traer delante de 
 me, e vi como la nifia la mamada averigue allende 
 que hera dicha edad, que jamas habia parido fino 
 que al tiempo que tomo la dicha nifia mobida de 
 piedad i con animo de crialla, i porque no tenia 
 quien la diefe leche fuficiente, la dio el pecho i le 
 vino leche. Hizelo tomar por teftimonio, i quife 
 diefe a en tender a los Indios como por la caridad 
 que aquella mujer habia tenido, Dios habio fido 
 fervido hufar aquella- maravilla contra la orden co- 
 mun, para que los Indios fe moviefen a mifericordia 
 que lo han bien menefter. 
 
 Del dicho lugar fuy a otro de Vueftra Real Corona 
 que fe llama Aguachiipa, de mediano temple, de la 
 fertilidad i cazas dichas. Hacefe en el la mejor i 
 mas galana loza al modo de los Indios, que ay en 
 eftas provincias. Principalmente la hacen i es ofi- 
 cio de las mugeres, las quales labran firi rueda ni 
 inftrumento alguno, mas que preparado el barro 
 con las manos lo adelgazan, e ygualan de manera 
 que hacen muy bien qualquier vafija que les man- 
 dan. Ay en los terminos defte lugar dos arroyos, 
 i en el uno hacen los Indios pozos i remanfos de 
 agua, en que fe cria una nata i efcrimento, que be- 
 neficiado fe hace Colorado como grana, i defta ha- 
 cen i dan color a unos jarros que hacen muy curio- 
 fos. Creo que es el bol armenico, porque tienen 
 las eleciones del, i anfimefmo lo ha dicho un me- 
 
[45 ] 
 
 [ant-eaters], which inftead of a mouth, has a 
 fmall round orifice at the extremity of the muzzle. 
 Nature, to enable it to live, has given to this ani- 
 mal a long and hollow tongue, by means of which 
 it fucks up all the honey it can find. In lack of 
 this, it thrufts its tongue into nefts of ants, and 
 when the latter, miftaking it for a tube or opening 
 of fome fort, enter into it, the animal withdraws 
 its tongue and fwallows them. 
 
 There are alfo many white, fawn-colored, and 
 ruflet tapirs, and other ftrange and noxious animals. 
 Alfo many trees and plants of medicinal qualities, 
 fuch as maftic, dragon's blood, and copal. 
 
 In vifiting this place, I took information related 
 to minors and orphans, to know if they were pro- 
 tected in their perfons and property. They brought 
 me a little girl, a year and a half old, who had loft 
 both father and mother, and who had been taken 
 in charge and fucked by an old woman, feventy 
 years of age. Aftonifhed at this report; and that a 
 woman of fuch age mould give milk, I had her 
 called before me and witneffed the fuckling of the 
 child, with my own eyes. This woman had never 
 borne a child, yet taking pity on the infant, who 
 had nobody to give it fuck, me prefented her own 
 breafts, and the milk came. I had the teftimony 
 in the cafe taken down, and fought to imprefs the 
 Indians with the idea that this was a miracle, 
 wrought by God himfelf, in recognition of the 
 charity of the old woman. 
 
[ 46 J 
 
 dico, bebido aprobecha al flujo de fangre y ace pro- 
 bado en enfermedades peftilentes, y ha aprobechado 
 mucho, debefe creer que fi lo es el agua do eflo fe 
 queja pafa por algun minero del dicho bol armeni- 
 co. En el otro arroyo, con la mefma horden, coxen 
 otra tierra negra con que dan muy buen color 
 negro, aunque labado bacia. Ay en el termino del 
 dicho lugar unos manantiales que yo vi de agua 
 caliente i tanto que quema, i tan diferentes en el 
 color i nacimientos que efpantan. Llamanlo los 
 Indios el Injierno, i no fin alguna femejanza. Brota 
 i fale el agua en efpacio de un tiro de ballefta, por 
 muchas partes i con diverfos eftruendos, fegun los 
 horganos por do falen ; unos azen ruydo como fuele 
 un batan, otros como molino, otros como fuelles, 
 otros como quien ronca, i de otras mil formas. 
 En algunas partes fale el agua turbia, en otras clara, 
 en otras colorada, en otras amarilla i de otros co- 
 lores, fegun los mineros de tierra por do pafen, i 
 del humo de alii fale. Se haze un betun de dife- 
 rentes colores que parece podria fervir para pintar. 
 Los Indios fuelen llevar fus hollas de cotes i de 
 carne y cozellas en algun refpiradero de aquella 
 agua. Habra tres anos que pafando un muchacho 
 en el dicho lugar fe le fumio i undid una pierna en 
 un pantano defta agua, i aunque lo focorrieron 
 luego, dejo la carne de toda la pierna, i faco el huefo 
 i nierbos mondos i limpios, i murio otro dia figuiente 
 defpues. De todas eftas fuentes fe haza un rio, 
 que llaman el rio Caliente, que aunque fale por 
 
[47 ] 
 
 I went from here to another village called 
 Aguachapa, which enjoys a medium temperature, 
 and where are found the fame produces and the 
 fame kind of game. Here is made the beft pottery, 
 after the Indian manner, in all thefe provinces. It 
 is chiefly manufactured by the women, without the 
 aid of a wheel or other inftrument, with their hands 
 alone, in the ufe of which they are fo dexterous as 
 to give to their veffels whatever fhape may be de r 
 fired. 
 
 There are two ravines in the lands belonging to 
 this village, in one of which the Indians open pits 
 or refervoirs for the water, whereon collects a kind 
 of cream or fcum, which, when prepared, gives as 
 fine a color as cochineal. With this they paint 
 their pottery in a very curious manner. I believe 
 it to be bole of Armenia, for it has the fame pecu- 
 liarities ; and a doctor allured me that when taken 
 inwardly it cured the bloody flux, and that it has 
 proved to be ufeful in peftilential maladies. If this 
 be fo, we may believe that the water which flows 
 in this ravine, traverfes a mine of bole of Armenia. 
 In the other ravine, in the fame manner, they ob- 
 tain a kind of black earth, which gives an excellent 
 black color; it however, wafhes out. Near this 
 place I alfo found fome fprings of boiling water ; 
 they are of different origins and of various colors. 
 The Indians call the place where they are found 
 Hell, and not without fome reafon. They are all 
 within the fpace of a gun mot acrofs, and each 
 
[48 ] 
 
 debajo de la tierra, mas de media legua defte lugar 
 a contecido pelar los pies a un caballo i mancalie. 
 Dos tiros de arcabuz mas cerca de una fierra que 
 alii efta, ay otros refpiraderos de agua caliente, i 
 efta una piedra' de cinco varas de largo i tres 
 de ancho, endida por medio, i fale fiempre por la 
 endedura cantidades de humo ; i llegandofe a ella 
 fe oye el mas orrible i efpantofo ruido que fe fale ; 
 y acontece muchas beces quando los tiempos an- 
 dan rebueltos, que falen por alii unos bramidos i 
 truenos que fe oyen media legua al derredor. Cofa 
 por cierta que admira en el monte -donde efto efta, 
 ay grandes i gruefos arboles, i un genero de robles 
 de grandifimas bellotas de que los muchachos ha- 
 zen tinteros ; e yo tengo una concha de las dichas 
 bellotas, que tienen tres dedos de gruefo. .Ay en 
 los terminos defte lugar efcorpiones tan grandes 
 como gazapos, e un genero de fapos menores que 
 ranas, que faltan por los arboles, i fe tienen como 
 pajaros. En tiempo de aguas hazen tan grande 
 eftruendo i dan tan grandes bramidos como uhos 
 terneros, i aunque efto me le habian afirmado no 
 lo quife creher hafta vello ; i anfimefmo las mayores 
 ormigas que he vifto. Comenlas los naturales, i 
 las venden en fus mercados. 
 
 Toda efta provincia efta repartida en 8 partidos 
 de clerigos ; i por el mucho comercio que en ella 
 ay, es gente entendida e ladina, e inftruida por la 
 mayor parte en las cofas de la Fee. 
 
 La provincia de Cenconatl fe acaba en el lugar 
 
[ 49 ] 
 
 makes a different noife. One imitates a fuller's 
 mill, another the founJt of a forge, and a third a 
 man fnoring ; in fadl they give forth a thoufand 
 different noifes. The water in fome is clear, in 
 fome turbid, and in others red, yellow, and of va- 
 rious colors, according to the nature of the mine- 
 rals which they contain, or of the fmoke which 
 rifes from them. They all leave depofits of va- 
 rious colors, which it feems to me might be ufed 
 for painting. The Indians are accuftomed to place 
 their veffels over fome of thefe openings, and thus 
 cook their food. Three years ago, a boy paffing 
 here, one of his legs broke through the cruft which 
 had been formed over one of thefe fprings, and 
 although the limb was immediately withdrawn, it 
 was deprived of its flefh, and only the bones and 
 tendons remained. • The boy died on the fecond 
 day after. Collectively, thefe fprings form a river 
 called Rio Caliente (Hot River), which does not 
 emerge from the earth for more than half a league 
 from them, and even there is fo hot as to burn the 
 feet of horfes and make them lame. Double the 
 range of a mufket mot from thefe fprings, nearer a 
 mountain which is found here, are other refpira- 
 deros of hot water. One of thefe is in a rock five 
 yards long and three broad, which is fplit in the 
 middle, and from this opening it conftantly fends 
 out fmoke ( I3 ) ; and on approaching it, one hears 
 a fearful found, which it is faid, at certain times, 
 fuch as the changes of the feafons, refembles thun- 
 
[ 5° ] 
 dicho, i comienza la de Sn. Salvador en el de Ati- 
 quizaya, que es un lugarfjo de V- R. Corona. 
 Tiene las cazas e fertilidad dicho, tienen i hacen 
 una rriafa i betun que llaman axin, de un genero de 
 gufanos ediondos i ponzonofos, que is marabillofo 
 medicamento para todo genero de frialdades y otras 
 indifpoficiones. Nace dos leguas defte lugar el rio 
 que llaman de Aguachapa, y a 7 de fu nacimiento 
 va muy grande, i a 1 3, que es donde entra en el mar 
 del fur, grandifimo. Creo que en todas las Indias 
 no ay rio tan grande, con tan poca corriente. 
 
 De alii fuy al lugar de Sta. Ana; no tiene cofa 
 de notar mas que de dos generos de madera, de 
 las aftillas de la una hacen i tienen la color leonada, 
 i el otro palo fi lo echan en el agua fe torna azul. 
 Eftremadamente cerca del dicho efta un lugarejo 
 que fe llama Coatan, i en fus terminos una laguna 
 en la falda del volcan dicho, ondifima i de mala 
 agua'i muy llena de caymanes. Tienen dos ifletas 
 en medio. Los Indios Pipiles tenian efta laguna 
 por un oraculo de fuma autoridad, e que ningun 
 humanO podra ver lo que en ella habia, i que el 
 que probafe fe habia de tullir i morir mala muerte ; 
 i deribavan efta devocion de patranas antiguas ; en 
 efte herror mande que me hiciefen unas balias para 
 entrar en la dicha ifla i defenganarles de tal tor- 
 peza. Eftando fechas i para partirme pareze que 
 ciertos negros i mulatos de una eftancia alii vezina, 
 entraron en la ilia e hallaron un idolo grande de 
 piedra de figura de muger, i algunos facrificios. 
 
[ 5* J 
 der, and may be heard for a diftance of half a 
 league around. However this may be, one thing 
 is certain and to be admired, and -that is the foreft 
 in which this fpring is found. The trees are tall 
 and thick, and there is a kind of oak producing 
 immenfe acorns, from which the boys make ink- 
 ftands. I have the fhell of one of thefe, which is 
 three inches in diameter. 
 
 There are hereabouts fcorpions as large as young 
 rabbits, and a kind of toad fmaller than a frog, 
 which mounts into the trees, and might be taken 
 for a bird. In the rainy feafon it makes a fearful 
 noife, like that of a calf. Although I was told 
 this, I could not believe it, until I faw the animal 
 for myfelf. Here alfo, are found the largeft ants 
 that I ever faw. The natives eat them, and they 
 are fold in their markets. 
 
 This province is divided into eight ecclefiaftical 
 diftridts ; and in confequence of its considerable 
 commerce, its inhabitants are intelligent, fagacious, 
 and for the moft part welKinftrudted in the effen- 
 tials of the Faith. 
 
 At the point laft named, the province of Cen- 
 conatl terminates ; that of San Salvador com- 
 mencestat Ataquizaya, a little village belonging to 
 the crown. This has the fame climate and pro- 
 ductions with the towns juft defcribed; and here 
 they make, from a ftinking and venemous worm, 
 a dough or pafte called axin, which is an admirable 
 remedy againft cold humors and other maladies. 
 
[ 52 1 
 
 Cerca hube de lo que fe hallo unos Chalchibites que 
 fon piedras de las que fuelen aprobechar para la 
 ijada orina e materias. Con lo qual los Indios 
 viejos i antiguos fe defenganaron de fu hierro, i los 
 mozos mas Criftianos entendieron la burla de aquel 
 fantuario fer como las demas de fu gentilidad. 
 
 Todos los lugares comarcanos fon de buen tem- 
 ple e fertilidad, e de las demas buenas calidades 
 dichas. 
 
 Con el termino i montes del lugar Guaymoco 
 de V. Real Corona, ay grandes arboles de balfamo, 
 i en toda la cofta de Tonala, que es de fu partido. 
 En la iglefia del vi doce pilares del balfamo de a 
 mas de 55 pies de alto. Es madera muy recia i pefada. 
 El licor que en comun fe coje del es por el bueno 
 en el verano que aca es defde Noviembre hafta 
 Mayo ; vale una botija perulera del, dofcientos i 
 quarenta reales. Los Indios facanlo con alguna 
 violencia, porque para que el arbol de e deftile mas, 
 lo chamufcan con lena al Jerrido del tronco ; yo 
 he hecho facarlo i cojfello como el arbol la da i 
 defpide, fin otra fuerza de fuego ni. inftrumento. 
 Dizen es licor marabillofo; i que fera de mejor 
 efedto hecha fu femilla como almendras, i en ellas 
 cria un licor como oro, hize facar un poet, tam- 
 bien fe cree que marabillofa cofa ; en abiendo oca- 
 iion fe efparimentara, tambien hize facar de las 
 mefmas pepitas agua, dicen las mugeres que es 
 muy buena para agua de roftro. 
 
 De alii fe va a la ciudad de San Salvador por una 
 
[ 53 ] 
 Two leagues from here the river Aguachapa takes 
 its rife ; at. a diftance of feven leagues from its 
 fource it is a large ftream, and at thirteen leagues, 
 where it falls into the fea, it is very large. I do 
 not believe, that in all the Indies, there is fo large 
 a river with fo fhort a courfe. 
 
 From this place I went to Sta. Ana, where there 
 is nothing remarkable except two kinds of wood, 
 from the chippings of one of which, when foaked 
 in water, is obtained a fawn color, and from thofe 
 of the other a fine blue. Very near here, is a little 
 village called Coatan, in the neighborhood of 
 which is a lake, fituated on the flank of the vol- 
 cano. ( I4 ) Its water is bad ; it is deep, and full of 
 caymans. In its middle there are two fmall iflands. 
 The Indians regard this lake as an oracle of much 
 authority. They believe that no man can endure 
 to fee what it contains, and that whoever makes 
 the attempt will become dumb and die fome fear- 
 ful death. They derive this fuperftition from their 
 ancient legends, and in view of it, I ordered fome 
 rafts to be made on the fpot, to take me to the 
 iflands, in order to undeceive the Indians. They 
 were made accordingly, but at the moment of em- 
 barking, I learned that certain negroes and mulattos 
 of an adjacent eftate had been there, and had found 
 a great idol of ,ftone, in the form of a woman, and 
 fome objedts which had been offered in facrifice. 
 Near by were found fome {tones called chalchibites, 
 which are good againft difeafes of the liver and 
 
[ 54] 
 
 •0 
 
 angoftura i callejon -eftrafio ; pafafe yendo por el 
 un rio 67 vezes. Efta a la falda de-un volcan 
 grande, i de mucha circumferencia por fus faldas ; 
 no echa fuego, porque la materia que la caufaba fe 
 debio de acabar en el tiempo que ardio, confumio 
 e hizo tan gran boca que boxa mas de media le- 
 guai i efta ondifima ; i antes de llegar a lo bajo 
 haze dos eftancias 6 plazas a la forma que fon los 
 que fe hazen en los hornos de cal ;' de lo mas ondo 
 e ultimo fale un humo ordinario, i de tan grande 
 hedbr que ha contecido, Uegandofe un Efpaiiol 
 cerca defmayarfe, y amortecerfe. Defde lo ultimo 
 e bajo afta lo mas alto efta llenode grandes cedros, 
 pinos, i otros muchos generos de arboles i animales, 
 i de quemazones del fuego que folia haber en eL 
 
 Tres leguas de fu eftremidad efta un lugar que fe 
 llama Nixapa, donde ay un pedazo de monte afpero 
 que llaman malpays, de piedra i de mucha tierra 
 quemada i arrojada, muy tendida i de grandes pe- 
 dazos; i aufi pone admiracion donde pudo venir, 
 pues en todo lo que ay hafta el dicho volcan no 
 parece feflal de lugar de aya habido fuego ; fino en 
 dicho volcan parece que pues las piedras y tierra 
 que alii ay es que manda, i no ay lugar do mas 
 cerca pudiefe falir que el dicho volcan lo arrqjo al 
 tiempo que tenia fuego, como lo an fecho en eftas 
 provincias uno que ay en el valle defte ciudad, que 
 pocas afios ha hecho de fi grandes montones de 
 fuego i piedra ; i otrp de Nicaragua que rebento i 
 
[ ss ] 
 
 bladder, ('s) This vifit undeceived the old In- 
 dians, and convinced them of their errors, at the 
 fame time that it gave the younger and Chriftianized 
 Indians to underftand, that the ideas connected 
 with this fandtuary were as abfurd as the other 
 notions of their paganifm. 
 
 All the villages in' this vicinity are of good 
 climate, furrounded by a fertile foil, and poflefs the 
 various good qualities already mentioned. In the 
 diftricT: of the village of Guaymoco, and in the 
 forefts which pertain to it, as alfo in all the coaft 
 of Tonala, are found balfam trees of large fize. In 
 the church of the village, I faw twelve pillars of 
 balfam wood, which were at leaft 5$ feet high. 
 It is a hard and heavy wood. The beft balfam is 
 collected between November and May, and a bottle 
 of it is valued at 40 rials. The Indians obtain it 
 from the trees with fome degree of violence ; and 
 in order to make them diftil rapidly they build 
 fires around their trunks. They fay that this balm 
 is a marvellous liquor; and in order to give it 
 greater effecl:, they extract an oil from the nuts of 
 the trees, which looks like gold ; alfo, a kind of 
 liquid, which the women aver is very good as a 
 cofmetic. ( l6 ) 
 
 Going from here to the city of San Salvador it 
 is neceffary to pafs through a defile exceedingly 
 narrow, and .to crofs the ftream which flows 
 through it fixty-feven times. ( I7 ) The city is 
 fituated on the flank of a very high volcano, of 
 
[ 56 ] 
 
 fubertio unas fierras fobre un valle, eundio ciertos 
 lugares de Indios, en que mureron hartos. 
 
 De dicho volcan falen muchas e muy buenas 
 aguas, junto al dicho lugar de Nixapa fe forma un 
 rio dellas. I fale un arroyo que corre i lleba agua 
 de noche i afta las 7 u 8 del dia, e lo demas fe 
 zume e no pareze. Junto al cerro de San Juan, 
 en la provincia de la Choluteca, es publico ay otro 
 que folo corre afta medio dia, i de alii hafta la 
 noche fe zume el agua; i otra en la provincia de 
 Chiapa que tres anos continuos corre, i tres no corre 
 ni parece agua. 
 
 Anfimifmo en la falda de dicha volcan ay una 
 oya redonda de mucha anchura que mueftra haber 
 iido volcan i ardido mucho tiempo, porque en todo 
 fu circuyto la tierra i pefia efta muy quemada e 
 molida del fuego. Naze agora en ella una fuente 
 de boniffima agua, de que fe provehe el lugar de 
 Cufcatan, que efta afentado a la orilla della. 
 
 Junto al dicho lugar efta la ciudad de San Sal- 
 vador ; es de buen temple i fertil tierra, i en el al- 
 tura de 13 36'. Quando Uegue a ella cafi eftaba 
 defpoblada, porque un temblor grande que hizo el 
 fegundo dia de la Pafcua del .Erpiritu Santo pafado 
 les derroco i molio todas fus cafas, que aunque 
 muchas heran fuertes e buenas fe cayeron e habrie' 
 ron. Fue el mas efpantofo que jamas dicefe ha 
 vifto. 
 
 Yo vi un lienzo bien gruefo de la pared de 
 una Iglefia que habiendole lebantado el temblor 
 
[ 57 ] 
 
 wide circumference, which is now extin£t, probably 
 becaufe it confumed all the materials of a com- 
 buftible nature which were in it, during the period 
 of its activity. It has an enormous crater, half a 
 league broad, and very deep. In defcending into 
 it, are found two terraces or platforms, fimilar to 
 thofe in lime kilns. From the laft and loweft rifes 
 a fmoke fo offensive, that a Spaniard who reached 
 there barely efcaped fuffocation. This mountain 
 is covered from top to bottom with great cedars, 
 pines, and forefts of other trees, abounding with 
 animals, and has many deep ravines, caufed by fire. 
 Three leagues diftant, near a place named Nix- 
 apa, there is a piece, of rough country called mal- 
 pays, covered with rocks and burned earth in con- 
 fufed mattes, which is the more furprifing as be- 
 tween this fpot and the volcano there is not the 
 leaft trace of fire. ( lS ) It muft be believed there- 
 fore, that thefe malTes were thrown here from the 
 volcano, during one of its eruptions, as has happend 
 with the volcano of Guatemala, which has vomited 
 great volumes of fire within the part few years, and 
 as has happened alfo, in Nicaragua, where one 
 broke out in eruption, and raifed feveral moun- 
 tains in what was before a valley, overwhelming 
 various Indian towns, and deftroying many of their 
 inhabitants. There flow from this volcano a great 
 many ftreams of water, which unite near the faid 
 village of Nixapa, and form a river. There is one 
 rivulet which flows all night, and until 7 or 8 o'clock 
 
 8 
 
[ 58 ] 
 
 arriba, fe torno a fentar defbiado de fu cimiento un 
 xeme por algunas partes, y otras much as cofas a 
 efte tono, i en el camino i fierras que llaman de 
 los Tec9acuangos hendidas por muchas partes. 
 Ninguna cofa de los Indios de aquellas fierras quedo 
 en pie ; todas cayeron. Contome un Efpanol que 
 caminaba por alii a la fazon que temblo, que las 
 fierras pareciafe juntaban, unas con otras, e que a el 
 fue forzado a apearfe i tenderfe en el fuelo, por que 
 no fe pudo tener en pie. 
 
 La cafa donde yo eftaba arfaba como un navio ; 
 parecia que los demas llegaban con los tejados al 
 fuelo ; e quifo N- S. que no peligraron fino tres 
 perfonas que fue efpanto i mifericordia fuya ; fegun 
 las cafas cayeron i la gente andaba turbada, i efpan- 
 tada en los arrabales de la ciudad. 
 
 Salen tres hojos muy grandes de agua caliente, 
 muy buena i clara, e' fin ningun mal fabor, i 
 que en faCandola fe enfria i bebe ; en fu naci- 
 miento es algo calida, aunque fe puede fufrir, como 
 va corriendo fe va resfriando. No creo que en el 
 mundo puede haber difpoficion para los banos 
 que en las dichas fuentes. 
 
 Cerca a la dicha ciudad ay una laguna, que boxa 
 cinco leguas, de poco frudto hafta agora, aunque han 
 hechado algunos mojarras, no havido pefcado de 
 momento. Quentan los naturales Indios antiguos, 
 que folia haver en ella culebras de eftrana grandeza, 
 i que un cazique de un lugar que fe llama Atem- 
 pamacegua topo una que fegun la demoftracion 
 
[ 59 ] 
 in the morning, and which is dry during the reft 
 of the day. It is well known that near the moun- 
 tains of San Juan, in the province of Choluteca, 
 there is another fpring which flows until noon, and 
 then flops until night ; and another in the pro- 
 vince of Chiapas, in which the water flows for 
 three years, and then flops for an equal time. ('?) 
 On the flank of the fame volcano, is a large 
 round opening, which appears to have been an- 
 ciently a crater, for' all around it the cliffs and earth 
 are burned and cracked by fire. A fmall flream of 
 excellent water now flows from it, which fupplies 
 the village of Cuzcatlan, fituated on its banks. 
 Near here is the city of San Salvador, with a fine 
 climate and fertile foil. Its latitude is 13 36'. 
 When I arrived there I found it nearly depopu- 
 lated, in confequence of a great earthquake which 
 took place on the fecond day of Eafler preced- 
 ing. T-his earthquake fplit and threw down all 
 the houfes of the town, notwithflanding that they 
 were generally flrong and well-built. It is faid 
 that it was the fevereft and mofl fearful ever known. 
 I myfelf faw a large fragment of the facade of a 
 church, which had been lifted up, turned, and 
 thrown for fome diflance from its foundation, and 
 many other things of this kind. The road and the 
 mountains called Teccacuangos was fifTured in 
 many places, and not a fingle houfe of the Indians 
 in thofe mountains was left flanding; all were 
 thrown down. A Spaniard who was travelling 
 
C 60 J 
 
 hacia debia tener mas que 50 pies. No lo tengo 
 por cofa muy autentiea, porque nadie dice la ha 
 vifto fino efta cazique, aunque es notorjo por la 
 fama antigua. en toda aquella provincial. 
 
 En la cofta del Sur ay unos campos que |e llaman 
 de Jivoga [Jiboa], que qorren 14 leguas, hafta el 
 rio Lempa, termino de la provincia de San Miguel, 
 llanos y abundantes de pafto para gran cantidad de 
 ganado ; al prefente ay algunas eftancias, pero muy 
 poco ganado para lo que podria haber. Ay en ella 
 grandes pefquerias i difpoficiea, para, haeer fal al, 
 mpdo de lps : Indies. A un lado, dellos, e a la faca- 
 de un alto volcan, eftan quatro lugares de Indies 
 que .llaman los Nunualcos, donde de poco tiempo a 
 efta parte fe beneficia e cria cacao abundantifima- 
 mente, y en tanta cantidad que tanto por tanto 
 efcede a la provincia de los Izalcos^ 
 
 A h- partt del norte del dichoi volcan efta un 
 lugar que fe dize Iztepeque, i en fus terminos unos 
 manantijalies de agua caliente de la mifma forma 
 que dixe lo.s feabia^ en el lugar de Aguachapa; 
 tienan mucfao alumbre i azufire;; en todo aquel al- 
 derredor ay muchos a^boles i yerbas para buenos 
 efedtos, i en, efpecial eftan los months, llenos de la 
 rayz de Mecbpacan. Del lugar dicho, aunque es 
 en la mijfma provincia,, comienza otra lengua de 
 Indies, que llaman lps- Chontales, gen,te mas, bruta, 
 aunque antiguamente valientes entre ellos. 
 
 Hay en la dicha provincia ufe laguana que fy 
 dize de Uxaca grande, i que de- fu defaguadero fc 
 
[ 6i ] 
 
 there, at the time, related to me, that the moun- 
 tains rocked towards each other as if they would 
 join, and that he was forced to diimount and lie 
 down, from the abfolute impoflibility of Handing 
 eredt. The houfe in which I Hopped, had been 
 toiTed about like a vefTel at fea, and it feems that the 
 others were all thrown down, with their roofs flat, on 
 the ground ; but thanks to God only three perfons 
 perifhed, which was a fpecial mark of mercy, fince 
 moft of the houfes fell while yet the inhabitants 
 wandered in confufion and alarm in the fuburbs. ( zo ) 
 There are, near the city, three large fprings of 
 hot water, clear and good, without any had taile 
 whatever, which may be drunk when it cools. They 
 are of fupportable temperature near their fburees,. 
 and the water cools in. running, fo that I do not be- 
 lieve there exifts a better place in the world for the 
 eftablifhment of baths,, than is afforded by thefe 
 fprings. Near this city there is alfo alake, about five 
 leagues in circuit, but of very little utility, for al- 
 though fame mojarras have beea thrown into it, 
 yet up to this time it has no nfh worthy of men- 
 tion. The old Indians fay that there are. ferpenta, 
 in this lake, of extraordinary fize, and that the ca- 
 zique of a town called Atempamacegua encounter- 
 ed one which, according to his defcription, was 
 fifty feet long.. *I do not, hold this as very authen- 
 tic, for no one pretends having feen any, except 
 this cazique ; neverthelefs the notion has prevailed" 
 in the country for a long time. ( 2I ) 
 
[ 6a ] 
 
 forma i haze el rio de Lempa, que es uno de los 
 mayores defte diftridto. Tiene en medio dos pe- 
 fioles, en uno de los quales antiguamente los Indios 
 de aquel deftridto hacia fus facrificios e idolatrias. 
 Es tierra aunque caliente, fertil, de mucha pefca i 
 caza ; hay algunos venados blancos, i no fe fabe en 
 eftas provincias en otras partes do los haya. En fu 
 ribera hay un jenero de arboles pequenos que dan 
 una goma de Undo olor i que femeja i parece menjuy 
 finifimo ; de la flor muy olorofa i el fruto no fe 
 fabe que fea de provecho. 
 
 Tres leguas della efta el lugar de Micla,* donde 
 antiguamente los Indios Pipiles defta diftricto te- 
 nian gran devocion i venian a ofrecer fus dones e 
 hacer facrificios ; i lo mefmo hazian los Chontales 
 e otros Indios comarcanos de diferentes lenguas. 
 Tenian en fus facrificios algunas efpecialidades que 
 en otras partes, i cues i teupas de mucha autoridad, 
 de que aun oy ay grandes feiiales e indicios. 
 
 Allende del cazique i Senor natural, tenian un 
 papa que llamaban TeSli, el qual fe veftia de una 
 ropa larga azul, i traia en la cabeza una diadema i 
 a vezes mitra labrada de diferentes colores, i en los 
 cabos della un manojo de plumas muy buenas de 
 unas pajaros que ay en efta tierra, que llaman 
 0$uetzales. Traya de ordinario un baculo en la 
 mano a manera de obifpo, i a efte obedecian todos 
 
 Herrara, in copying this paragraph, fubftitutes Mimilla for Micla. 
 
[ 63 ] 
 
 On the fouth coaft there is a plain called that of 
 Jivoga [Jiboa], extending fourteen leagues to the 
 river Lempa, which is the boundary of the pro- 
 vince of San Miguel. It is level, abundant in paf- 
 turage, and capable of fupporting a great number 
 of cattle; but, at prefent, there are only a few- 
 farms, with but few cattle compared with what 
 there might be. There are here fome large fifh- 
 eries, and manufactures of fait, after the Indian 
 fafhion. To one fide, and on the flank of a high 
 volcano [San Vicente], are four villages of Nunualco 
 Indians, who have lately commenced the cultiva- 
 tion of cacao trees, which produce abundantly, and 
 on equal fpace of ground, even more than in the 
 province of Izalco To the north of this volcano 
 is a village called Iztepeque, near which are fprings 
 of hot water like thofe of Aguachapa. Much 
 alum and fulphur is found here, and in the forefls 
 thereabouts are many trees and plants having me- 
 dicinal virtues. They efpecially abound in the 
 root of Michoacan. At this place, although in 
 the fame province, the Indians commence to fpeak 
 a new language, called the Chontal. They are a 
 very rude people, but had anciently a great reputa- 
 tion for valor amongft their neighbors. ( 2i ) 
 
 In this province there is a lake called Uxaca, in 
 which the river Lempa, one of the largeft in thefe 
 regions, has its fource. It has in its center two 
 high rocky iflands, on one of which the Indians 
 formerly made their facrifices and practiced their 
 idolatries. The diftnft around the lake, although 
 
[ 64 ] 
 
 en lo que tocaba a las cofas efpirituales. Defpues 
 de defte tenia el fegundo lugar en el facerdozio 
 otro que llaman tehu a matlini que hera el mayor 
 echizero i letrado en fus libros i artes, i el que de- 
 claraba los agiieros i hacia fus pronofticos. Habia 
 allende deftos quatro facerdotes que llamaban teu- 
 phcqui yeftidos de diferentes colores i de ropas hafta 
 fus pies, negras, verdes, colorados, i amarillas ; i 
 eftos heran los del confejo de las cofas de fus cere- 
 monias,i los que afiftian a todas los fuperfticiones i 
 boberias de fu gentilidad. 
 
 Habia tambien un mayordomo que tenia cuydado 
 de guardar las joy as i prefeas de fus facrificios, i el 
 que facaba los corazones a los facrificados, i hazia 
 las demas cofas perfonales que heran necefarias ; i 
 fin los dichos habia otros que tenian trompetas e 
 inftrumentos de fu gentilidad para convocar i Ha- 
 mar la gente a los facrificios que habia de hazer, 
 
 E/eccion del Papa i Sacer dotes. 
 
 Quando el Papa fallecia, lo enterraban afentado 
 en un banco pintado, en fu propia cafa, i le lloraba 
 todo el pueblo quinze dias, con muchos gritos i 
 alaridos ; ayunaban todos los quinze dias ; acabadas 
 las ptbfequias, el cazique i el fabio elegian. otro papa 
 por fuertes, i habia de fer uno de los quatro facer- 
 dotes fufodichos ; i a. la elecion defte hacian grandes 
 mitotes i fieftas, i efte eledtp facnficaba la lengua i 
 
[ 65 ] 
 
 fomewhat hot, is fertile, and abounds in fifh and 
 game. There are white deer alfo, which, fo far as 
 I know, are not to be found elfewhere. On its 
 mores is a kind of fmall tree, which .yields a gum 
 of delicate odor, refembling the fineft benjamin; 
 and alfo a flower of great fweetnefs, but I do not 
 know if the fruit be good or of ufe. ( 2 3) 
 
 Three leagues diftant, is the village of Micla, 
 which anciently the Pipil Indians of this diftridt 
 held in great veneration; it was here they came 
 to make their offerings and facrifices, as did alfo the 
 Chontals, and other neighboring Indians of different 
 languages. Their modes of facriflcing differed in 
 fome refpecls from thofe of other parts. . They had 
 cues or temples, and teupas or priefts of high author^ 
 ity, of which there are rftill many figns and traces. 
 
 Befides their cazique or fecular lord, they had a 
 kind of pope, called TeSli, who dreffed in a long 
 blue robe, and wore on his head a diadem, or fome- 
 times a mitre embroidered with many colors, at the 
 crown of which rofe a clufter of very beautiful fea- 
 thers, taken from a bird, called in this country, 
 Quetzal. ( 24 ) This pontiff carried in his hand a 
 ftaff, which refembled the crook of a bifhop, and 
 he was obeyed. in all fpiritual things. After him, 
 next in facerdotal authority, was the tehu a matlini, 
 who was the ableft diviner and the man beft verfed 
 in their ancient books and in their arts. He it was 
 who made auguries and foretold future events. 
 After him, were four priefts • called teupixquis, who 
 
[ 66 ] 
 
 rhiembro genital i la fangre ofrecia a fus idolos, i 
 efte elexia el facerdote que habia de entrar en fu 
 lugar, i havia Be fer uno de los hijos del papa 
 muerto fi los tenia u otro hijo de los facerdotes, i 
 los demas oficios que faltaba en fus teufas. 
 
 Adoraban el fol quando fale, i tenian dos idolos, 
 el uno en figura de hombre, i efte fe llamaba ^uet- 
 zalcoatl, i el otro en figura de muger, Itzqueye ; 
 todos los facrificios que hacian heran a. los fufodi- 
 chos, i tenian calendarios 6 dias diputados para 
 cada uno dellos, i anfi el facrificio fe hazia conforme 
 a quien caya la fuerte del dia. 
 
 ft 
 
 Sacrificios. 
 
 Hacian dos facrificios folenes cada ano, el uno al 
 principio del invierno, i otro al principio del verano ; 
 i efte facrificio hera dentro de la cafa de oracion, i 
 los que facrificaban para efte facrificio heran mu- 
 chachos de feis anos hafta doce, baftardos, i nacidos 
 entre ellos. 
 
 La Manera dejle Sacrificio. , 
 
 Tanian fus trompetas i atabales un dia i una 
 noche antes, i luego todo el pueblo fe juntaba en 
 la manera fufodicha, i los quatro facerdotes dichos 
 falian del cue con quartro braferitos de fuego, i en 
 
[ 67 ] 
 
 went drefled in long robes, falling to their feet, 
 each of different color, black, red, green and yellow. 
 Thefe were the counfellors of the pontiff, and di- 
 rected all the fuperftitious ceremonies and follies 
 of their religion. Inhere was alfo a kind of major- 
 domo, who had charge of the facred jewels and the 
 inftruments of facrifice. He alfo opened the breafts 
 of the victims of facrifice, and tore out their hearts, 
 and performed fuch other perfonal fervices as were 
 requifite. Befides all thefe there were other func- 
 tionaries, who played on the drums, trumpets and 
 other inftruments ufed in convoking the people to 
 the facrifices. 
 
 EleSiion of the Pope and Priejis. 
 
 When the chief prieft died, he was buried in his 
 own houfe,feated in a painted chair, and all the people 
 mourned for him for fifteen days, with loud cries and 
 lamentations. They alfo fafted during this period; 
 but when this was over, the cazique and the wife 
 man ^or diviner feledted a new pontiff by lot. It 
 was requifite that he fhould be one of the four 
 priefts above mentioned. When the choice was 
 made, they had great feafts and dances, and he who 
 was chofen drew blood from his tongue and private 
 parts, and offered it in facrifice to the idols. He 
 alfo named his fuccefTor in the priefthood, who was 
 required to be a fon of the deceafed pontiff, if he 
 had left one, if not, the fon of fome other prieft. 
 He filled alfo the other offices which at any time 
 
[ 68 ] . 
 
 ellos pueftos copal i ule, ivanfe derechos todos 
 quatro juntos a do fale el fol, i fe hincavan de ro- 
 dillas ante el, i le zaumavan diciendo palabras e in- 
 vocaciones, i efto fecho fe dividian hacia quatro 
 partes, left, oeft, riorte, fur, ijpredicavan fus ri£to9 
 i ceremonias. Acavado el fermon fe entravan corien- 
 do en unas cafas que tenia hecha. los quatros 
 vientos, i defcanfavan un rato. De ay fe iban a la 
 cafa del papa que eftava junto al cu, i alii tomavan 
 el muchacho que havian de faerificar, i davan 
 quatro bueltas al patio en manera de baile can- 
 tando. Acabadas las bueltas falia el papa de fu 
 cafa, con el fabio i mayordomo, i fubian al cu con el 
 cazique i principales, los quales quedavan a la 
 puerta de fu adoratario, i luego los quatro facer- 
 dotes tomavan al muchacho en brazos, cada uno 
 de fu mano i pie ; i falian luego al mayordomo 
 con cafcaveles en los pies i manos, i moijado, i por 
 el finieftro lado le facavan el cqrazon i lo davan al 
 papa, el qual lo ponia en una bolfa labrada pe- 
 quena- i la cerra, i los quatro facerdotes tomavan 
 la fangre del facrificado en unas quartro jicaras, que 
 fon vafos de cierta fruta que los Indios ufan, i fa- 
 lian uno tras otro, abajavan al patio, i a. las quarto 
 partes de los vientos dichos afperjavan la fangre con' 
 la mano derecha ; i fi fobrava algun fangre, la 
 volvian adonde eftava el papa, el qual hechava la 
 fangre, corazon i bolfa en el cuerpo del facrificado 
 por la propia herida, i enterravanlo en el mifmo 
 
[ 69 ] 
 
 became vacant in the teupas, or temples. They ■ 
 adored the rifing fun, and had two idols, one repre- 
 fenting a man, whom they called Quetzalcoatl, and 
 the other a woman named Itzqueye. All their fa- 
 crifices were made to them, and they had a calendar, 
 with days fpecially fet apart for each one, and on 
 thefe the facrifices were made. 
 
 Sacrifices. 
 
 Each year they had two principal and very fo- 
 lemn facrifices ; one at the commencement of fum- 
 mer, and the other at the beginning of winter. 
 Thefe were made in the interior of the facred place 
 or temple, and were of boys between the ages of six. 
 and twelve years, baftards, born among themfelves. 
 
 Mode of thefe Sacrifices. 
 
 They founded their trumpets and drums for one 
 "day and night before the facrifice, and when the 
 people were affembled, the four priefts came out 
 from the temple, with four fmall braziers in which 
 they burnt copal and caoutchouc; and the four 
 together, turning in the direction of the rifing sun, 
 bent their knees to it,* offering incenfe, and reciting 
 words of invocation. After this they feparated, and 
 did the fame in the direction of the. four cardinal 
 points, fouth, eaft, north and weft, preaching and 
 explaining their rites and ceremonies. When the 
 fermon was finished, they retired within four houles 
 or chapels which were built at the four corners of 
 
[ 7o ] 
 
 cue. Efte era el facrificio que hacian por los 
 tiempos del ano. 
 
 Juntavanfe el papa, fabio i hechizero, con fus 
 quatro facerdotes i fabian por fus fuertes i hechice- 
 rias fi harian guerra 6 fi alguno venia contra ellos, 
 i fi las fuertes les decian que fi, Jlamavan al cazique 
 i capitanes de guerra, i decianles como venian los 
 enemigos e adonde havian de ir a hazer guerra. 
 El cazique aperceyia.toda fu gente de guerra i falia 
 en bufca de fus enemigos, i fi tenian vidtoria en la 
 batalla, luego el cazique defpachava correo al papa, 
 i le havifava el dia que havia fubcedido, i el fabio 
 via aquien fe havia de hacer el facrificio. Si era a 
 Quetzalcoatl, durava el mitote 15 dias, i cada dia 
 facrifican un Indio de los que havian cautivado en 
 la batalla ; i fi era a Itzqueye durava el mitote cinco 
 dias, i cada dia facrificavan otro Indio. 
 
 El facrificio fe hacia en efta manera ; que todos 
 los que fe hallaron en la guerra venian en or- 
 denanza cantando i bailando, i 'traian a los que 
 havian de facrificar con muchas plumas i chal- 
 chwetes a los pies i manos con fartas de cacao 
 al pefcuezo, i eflas traian los capitanes en medio 
 de fi. Salia el papa i facdrdotes con los demas 
 del pueblo a fecebillos con baile i mulica, i los 
 caziques i capitanes ofrecian al papa, aquellos 
 Indios para el facrificio, ivanfe luego todos juntos 
 al patio de fu teupa i bailavan todos los dias 
 i noches fufodichos. I en medio del patio ponian 
 una piedra como poyo, i fobre ella hechaban al 
 
[ 7i r 
 
 the temple, and there refted for a little while. They 
 next went to the houfe of the high prieft, which 
 was clofe to the temple, and took thence the boy 
 who was to be facrificed, and conducted him four 
 times around the court of the temple, dancing and 
 ringing. When the ceremony was finifhed, the 
 high prieft came out^of his houfe, with the fecond 
 prieft and mayordomo, and afcended the fteps of 
 the temple, accompanied by the cazique and prin- 
 cipal Indians, who, however, flopped at the door 
 of the fandtuary. The four priefts next feized the 
 victim by his extremities, and the mayordomo 
 coming out, with little bells on his wrifts and 
 ankles, opened the left breaft of the boy, tore out 
 his heart and handed it to the high prieft, who put 
 it into a little embroidered purfe, which he clofed. 
 The priefts received the blood of the victim in four 
 jicaras, which are veffels made from the fhell of a 
 certain kind of fruit (the calabafh), and, defcending 
 one after another into the court, fprinkled it, with 
 their right hands, in the direction of the cardinal 
 points. If any blood remained over, they returned 
 it to the high prieft, who put it back, with the 
 purfe containing the heart, into the body of the 
 vidtim, which was interred in the temple itfelf. 
 This was the kind of facrifice made at the opening 
 of the two feafons of the year. ( 2 *) 
 
 The high prieft, his fecond, and the four priefts 
 were accuftomed to meet to afcertain, by forcery 
 and enchantment, if they fhould make war, or if 
 
[ 72 ] ' 
 
 Indio que habian de facrificar defpaldas i los qua- 
 tro facerdotes tenian al Indio de pies i manos, falia 
 el mayordomo con muchas plumas i cargado de 
 cafcabeles con un navajon de piedra en la mana, i 
 le abria el pecho, i le facaba el corazon, i en fa- 
 candolo lo hechaba en alto a las partes de los qua- 
 tro vientos, i la quinta vez lo echaba en medio del 
 patio derecho en alto quanto podia i decia toma 
 Dios el premio defta vitoria. Efte facrificio hera 
 publico que todos chicos i grandes lo vian, 
 
 Los que heran foldados de la guerra no dormian 
 en fus cafas con fus mugeres fino en unos calpules 
 que tenian diputados por ellos, lo propio los raan- 
 zebos que amoftraban elarte de la milicia, i de 
 dia iban a cafas de fus mugeres a comer i beber, i 
 de alii a fus milpas, i fiempre quedaya una compa-r 
 fiia a guardar el pueblo. Conocianfe los valientes 
 en el que mas agujeros fe haria en fu miemhro, 
 aquel hera mas valiente. Las mugeres facrificavan 
 las orejas i lengua, i fe labravan todo el cuerpo, i la 
 fangre que le falia lo coxian en algodones i lo ofre- 
 cian a fus idoles, las mugeres a Itzqueye, \ los hom- 
 bres a ^uetzalcoatl. 
 
 Las fuperfticiones que hazian para fus femente- 
 ras hera que tomavan en unas jicaras pequenas todas 
 las fuertes de femillas que querian fembrar, i las 
 llevaban ante el altar de fus idolos, i en el fuelo ha- 
 zian un oyo, i los ponian por fu horden i la cobi- 
 jaban con tierra, i r fobre ellos ponian un brafero 
 grande con muchas brafas i con copal y ule. I los 
 
[73 ] 
 their foes were coming to attack them ; and if it 
 appeared that fuch an event was to take place, they 
 called together the cazique and war chief, and ad- 
 vifed them of the approach of their enemies, and 
 whether they mould go to meet them. The cazi- 
 que then affembled the foldiers, and all went out 
 to battle. If he was victorious, he defpatched a 
 meifenger to the high prieft, advifing him of the 
 date of the occurrence, and on this information the 
 diviner afcertained to which of the Gods facrifice 
 was to be made. If to Quetzalcoatl, the ceremo- 
 nies lafted fifteen days; if to Itzqueye, five days, 
 and on each day they facrificed a prifoner. Thefe 
 facrifices were made as follows : All thofe who 
 had taken part in the war, returned home in or- 
 der, finging and dancing, and bringing with them 
 thofe who were to be facrificed, decorated with 
 feathers and chalchiuites on their wrifts and ankles, 
 and with firings of cacao beans around their necks, 
 the captains themfelves conducting them in their 
 midft. The pontiff and priefts, at the head of the 
 people, went out to meet the victors, with mufic 
 and dancing ; and when they encountered them, 
 the captains delivered over the victims to be facri- 
 ficed to the high prieft ; after which all went to- 
 gether to the court of their teupa, where they 
 kept up the dancing night and day, for the periods 
 above named. In the middle of this court was 
 placed a block or bench of ftone, on which the 
 victim was ftretched, the four prjefts holding him 
 
 10 
 
[ 74 ] 
 quatro facerdotes facrificaban las orejas i narizes, 
 i por ellas fe metian unas canas la'rgas i las quema- 
 ban ante fus Idolos. I otras vezes facaban fangre 
 de la lengua i miembro, i pedian a fus idolos les 
 dieren fructas i que frudtificaren todas las femilas 
 de la tierra. El papa fe facrificaba la lengua i 
 orejas, i miembro, i la fangre que defta falia untaba 
 pies i manos a los idolos, e invocaba al demonio i 
 hablaba con el, i les decian los tiempos que habian 
 de fubceder i mandaba a. aquellos quatro facerdotes, 
 dijefen al pueblo lo que el idolo le habia dicho, i 
 liempre concjuian efta platica con mandalles que tu- 
 biefen comunicacion con fus mugeres, i de alii fue- 
 fen a fembfar ; i efto hera el facrificio de femillas. 
 Lo que hazian en los facrificios de la pefca i caza 
 hera que tomaban un venado vivo, i llevabanlo al 
 patio del cue e eglefia que tenian fuera del pueblo, i lo 
 aogaban i lo defollaban, i le falvaban toda la fangre 
 en una olla, i el higado, i bofes, i buches lo ha- 
 zian pedazos muy menudos-, i el corazon, cabeza, i 
 pies ; apartaban i mandaban cozer el venado por 
 fi, i la fangre por fi, i mientras efto fe cozia hacian 
 fu bayle. Tomaban el Papa i fabio la cabeza del 
 venado por las orejas, i los quatro facerdotes los 
 quatro pies, i el mayordomo en un brafero llevaba 
 el corazon fe quemavan con ule i copal, e infenfaba 
 al idolo que tenian puefto i fenalado para la caza i 
 pefca. Acabado el mitote ofrecian la cabeza i pies 
 al idolo i chamufcabanla, i defpues de chamufcado 
 la llevaban a cafa del papa i fe la comia, i el venado 
 
[ 75 1 
 by the feet and hands. The facrificer then came 
 forward, loaded with plumes and bells, with a 
 knife of flint, with which he opened the breaft of 
 the victim* and took out his heart, and tofled it in 
 the air in the direction of the four cardinal points, 
 and finally threw it aloft directly in the middle of 
 the court, in this way foliciting the divinity to ac- 
 cept the facrifice, in return for the victory. This 
 facrifice was public to all the Indians, great and 
 fmall. 
 
 During this period, the foldiers returning from 
 the war, could not cohabit with their wives, but 
 were obliged to fleep in certain calpules or barracks, 
 which were given up to them for the occafion, by 
 the young men who were learning the art of 
 war. ( 26 ) During the day they went to the houfes 
 of their women to eat and drink, and from thence 
 to their plantations, always however leaving a com T 
 pany to guard the town. The men facrified blood 
 drawn from their private parts, and he who had 
 moft wounds in thefe was reputed to be moft va- 
 liant. The women facrificed blood drawn from 
 their tongues and ears, and they sacrified their en- 
 tire bodies, taking up the blood with cotton and 
 offering it to their idols — the men to i^uetzalcoatl, 
 and the women to Itzqueye. 
 
 Their fuperftitious ceremonies, at the time of 
 planting their fields, were as follows : They put 
 in little cups of calabafh the feeds which they had 
 felected for the purpofe, and placed them before 
 
[7* ] 
 i fangre comian delante del idolo, u otro qualquier 
 animal que facrificafen, i a los pefcados lo facaban 
 las tripas i lo quemaban ante el dicho idolo ; lo 
 propio hera en los demas animales. 
 
 Lo que ufaban quando parian las mugeres, que 
 llamado a la partera la prenada no podia parir, 
 luego le hazian dezir fus pecados i fi no paria, hazia 
 que fe confefafe el marido, i fi no podia con efto, 
 fi havia dicho i confefado que conofia alguno, ivan 
 a cafa de aquel i traian de fu cafa la manta e pane- 
 tesi ceiiiola a la prenada paraque pariefe ; i fi no 
 baftara, el marido facrificara las orejas i lengua. 
 Quando la criatura nacia, fi era hombre le ponian 
 un arco i flechas en la mano, i fi era muger un ufo 
 i algodon, i la partera le hacia en el pie derecho una 
 raya con tizne fignificava, efta raya que quando 
 fuefe grande no fe perdiefen por los montes. Pa- 
 fando doze dias llevaban la criatura al facerdote, i 
 aquel que la llebava le cortarba,n ramos verdes en 
 que pifafe ; i llegado ante el facerdote le ponia el 
 nombre de fus aguelos 6 aguelas, i le ofrecian cacao 
 6 gallinas, i eftas eran las ofrendas de las facerdotes. 
 Llegados a cafa con la criatura la partera tomaba a 
 la recienparida i la llebava a lavar al rio, i ofrecia al 
 agua cacao i copal, i efto hacian porque el agua 
 no le hiciefe mal. 
 
 Los ridtos de fus difun£tos eran que fi fallecia el 
 Cacique 6 algun Capitan 6 Senor, 6 hijo, 6 muger 
 deftos, los llorava todo el pueblo quatro dias i qua- 
 tro noches; a la quarta noche quando amanecia 
 
C 77 ] 
 the altar of their idols. They next dug a trench 
 in the ground, in which they planted the feeds 
 regularly, covering them with' earth ; and over all 
 they placed a large brazier, full of burning coals, 
 on which they fprinkled copal and caoutchouc. 
 The four priefts then drew blood from their ears 
 and nofe, receiving it in certain large reeds, which 
 they burnt before their idols. At other times they 
 drew blood from their tongues and private mem- 
 bers, and petitioned their gods to profper the fruits 
 of the earth, and give them abundant harvefts. 
 The high prieft, in facrificing, drew blood from the 
 fame parts, and with it anointed the feet and hands 
 of the idols, invoking the demon, who fpoke with 
 him, and told him what kind of weather would 
 follow, all of which was communicated to the 
 people by the four priefts, who always concluded 
 by ordering the men to have connection with their 
 wives, and then proceed to plant their fields. And 
 fuch was the facrifice of planting. 
 
 We came now to their facrifices for hunting and 
 fiftiing. They took a living deer to the courtyard 
 of the cue or temple which they had outfide of the 
 town, where they ftrangled and fkinned him, col- 
 lecting all his blood in a vafe, and cutting in fmall 
 pieces the liver, lungs and ftomach. Thefe were 
 put afide, with the heart, head, and feet. They 
 next cut up and cooked the deer by itfelf, and the 
 blood by itfelf, and while thefe were cooking they 
 had their dances. Next the high prieft and his 
 
[ 78 ] 
 
 falia el papa i decia que el anima de aquel Cacique 
 eftava con los Diofes i que no llorafen mas ; eftos to- 
 dos fe enterravan en fus propias cafas, afentados i 
 veftidos con todos fus' bienes, i aquellas quatro no- 
 ches y dias fu llorar era como a manera de mitote, 
 cantavan fus hazanas i linajes. Si era cazique luego 
 otro dia el papa i todos los demas del pueblo toma- 
 van por Senor al hijo 6 hija fi los tenia, i fi no, al 
 hermano 6 pariente mas cercano. I a la eleccion 
 defte fe hacian grandes fieftas i bailes i facrificios, i 
 el dava de comer a .todos los capitanes i facerdotes 
 en fu cafa. Si el difunto no era de principal, folo 
 fus parientes le lloravan i fus hijos ; i fi alguna mu- 
 ger fe le moria la criatura, guardava la leche qua- 
 tro dias que no la dava a ninguna otra criatura, 
 porque tenian por agiiero que el difunto le havia 
 algun dano 6 mal ; efte facrificio fe llamava navi- 
 tia. 
 
 El cazique era fu oficio de mandar fembrar i 
 cafar a los Indios, i fiempre los cafavan con mu- 
 chachas, i quando eftavan concertados, fi acafo el 
 yerno encontrava al fuegro, torcia el camino, lo 
 propio hacia la nuera a la fuegra ; i hacian efto 
 porque el diablo les decia que no havrian hijos fi fe 
 topavan con los fuegros. El cafamiento i boda fe 
 hacia en efta manera ; que los parientes de la no- 
 via ivan por el novio, i lo llebavan al rio a lavar ; i 
 las parientas del novio ivan por la novia i lavados 
 en el rio; ambos los enbolvian cada qual en fu 
 manta blanca nueva, i los llebavan a la cafa de la 
 
[ 79 ] 
 
 affiftant took the head by the ears, and each of the. 
 four priefts one of the feet, and the mayordomo 
 put the heart in a brafier and burned it, with copal 
 and caoutchouc, as incenfe to the idol of the god 
 who was held to be protector of hunting and fifh- 
 ing. When the dance was finifhed, the head and 
 feet were fcorched in the fire before the idol, as an 
 offering, and afterwards taken to the houfe of the 
 high-priefl and eaten. The flefh and blood were 
 then eaten before the idol ; and the fame was done 
 with all the animals which they offered in facrifice. 
 When they facrificed fifh, the entrails were burnt 
 before the idol. ( 2? ) 
 
 When a woman was in travail, the midwives 
 made her confess her fins ; but if this was not fuf- 
 ficient to haften the birth, they made her hufband 
 do the fame ; and finally, if the woman admitted 
 illicit connection with any other man, they went 
 to his houfe and took his clothes and placed them 
 beneath her; if this failed, as a laft refort, the 
 hufband facrificed blood from his tongue and ears. 
 When the child was born, if a boy, they put in 
 his hands a bow and arrows ; if a girl, a fpindle of 
 cotton ; and the mother made a ftreak of foot mixed 
 with water on the right foot of the child, which 
 they believed would prevent it, when grown up, 
 from being loft in the woods. At the end of 
 twelve days, the child was taken to the prieft, 
 green branches being fcattered under the feet of the 
 bearers. The prieft gave it the name of its grand- 
 
[ 8o 1 
 
 novia, i los ataban juntos en las dos mantas anuda- 
 das defnudos en cueros ; i los parientes del novio 
 davan prefentes a la novia, jicoles, mantas, algodon, 
 gallinas, cacao, i los parientes de la novia lo mefmo 
 al novio; i luego comian todos juntos, i a eftos 
 cafamientos fe hallavan el cazique i papa de necefi- 
 dad. 
 
 En lo que tocava al parentefco, tenian un arbpl 
 pintado, i en el iiete ramos que fignifacava fiete 
 grados de parentefco. En eftos grados no fe podia 
 cafar nadie, i efto fe entendia por linea re6la fi no 
 fuefe que alguno huviefe fecho algun gran fecho en 
 armas, i havia de fer del tercero grado fuera ; i por 
 linea traverfa tenia otro arbol con quatro ramos que 
 fignificaban el quarto grado, en eftos no fe podia 
 cafar nadie. 
 
 Fuera de otras leyes que los Indios tenian en 
 toda efta provincia, tenian los defta nacion por in- 
 violables las iiguientes : 
 
 Qualquiera que menofpreciava los facrificios de 
 fus Idolos 6 ridtos, moria por ello. 
 
 Qualquiera que fe echava con muger ajena mo- 
 ria por ello. 
 
 Qualquiera que tenia quenta carnal con parienta 
 en los grados fufodichos morian por ello ambos. 
 
 Qualquiera que hablara con qualquiera muger 6 
 le hacia feiias fi era cafada, le defterravan de fu 
 pueblo i la quitavan fus bienes. 
 
 Qualquiera que fe echava con efclava ajena le 
 hacian efclavo, fino fuefe que la tal perfona le per- 
 
[ 8i ] 
 
 father or grandmother, as the cafe might be, and 
 they prefented it with cacao and fowls, which were 
 the offerings made to the prieft. When it was 
 taken back to the houfe, the mother carried it to a 
 river and bathed it, offering to the ftream cacao 
 and copal, that it mould never do evil to the 
 child. 
 
 As regards the rites for the dead ; if the defundt 
 were a cazique or captain, or the wife or child of 
 either, all the people mourned for four days and 
 nights. At the rifing of the fun on the fifth day, 
 the high prieft announced that the foul of the 
 dead was with the gods, and that it was ufelefs to 
 mourn any longer. They buried the dead man 
 dreffed in all of his riches, in a fitting pofture, and in 
 his own houfe. ( 28 ) Their manner of mourning 
 during the four days and nights refembled a mitote, 
 in which they chaunted the lineage and deeds of 
 the ,dead. If he were a cazique who died, the 
 high prieft and all the people, immediately recog- 
 nized as his fucceffor his fon or daughter ; or, if he 
 had neither, his brother or neareft relative. On 
 fuch occafions they had great feafts, dances and 
 facrifices, and the new chief entertained in his 
 houfe all the priefts and captains. If a common 
 man died, only his children and relatives mourned ; 
 and if a woman loft her child, fhe referved her 
 milk for four days, without giving it to another ; 
 for they believed, if fhe failed in this, the dead 
 child would do the living one fome injury. This 
 facrifice they called navitia. 
 
 II 
 
[ 82 ] 
 
 donafe el papa por fervicios que huviefe fechp en la 
 guerra. 
 
 Qualquiera que hurtava hurto, como fuefe grave, 
 moria por ello. 
 
 Qualquiera que forzava doncella le facrificavan 
 por ello. 
 
 Qualquiera que mentia lo azotavan bravamente, 
 i fi era en cofa de guerra le hacian efclavo por 
 ello. 
 
 Lof que no eran para la guerra, cultivaban las 
 tierras millpas del eazique i papa i facerdotes, i de 
 las propias fuyas davan un tanto para la gente de 
 guerra. Efto es lo que he alcanzado defte pue- 
 blo. 
 
 En el dicho lugar efta una pena de donde falen 
 dos ojos de agua cafi juntos ; el uno muy caliente i 
 el otro frio. 
 
 Hay en el muchas efpecias que los Indios ufan 
 para fu bebidas i comidas ; e una tierra que parece 
 caparofa, que lo deve de fer fegun el efeclo hace, 
 con que fe hace tinta. En toda efta provincia, del. 
 comienza la provincia i correximiento del pueblo 
 de Chiquimula de la Sierra, es la mas del tierra alta 
 i de buen temple i paftos, i fertil para labranzas i 
 crianzas de todo jenero de mantemientos i ga- 
 nado. 
 
 Acia la parte que defte lugar van a Gracias a 
 Dios en Honduras fon Indios Chontales. Ave- 
 rigiie eftando alii un delito contra un cacique del 
 lugar de Gotera, el qual defde fu gentilidad tenia 
 
[ 83 ] 
 
 It was the office of the cazique to order the 
 plantings, and diredt the marriages. They always 
 married when young; and when the affair was 
 arranged, and the affianced groom met his future 
 father-in-law he turned afide, as alfo did the affian- 
 ced bride when fhe.met her future mother-in-law. 
 They did this, becaufe the devil had made them be- 
 lieve that fuch encounters would prevent their having 
 children. Marriages were celebrated in this wife : 
 the male relatives of the woman fought the bride- 
 groom and made him bathe in a river ; and the 
 female relatives of the woman did the fame with 
 the bride ; they then wrapped each of them in a 
 new, white cloth, and took them to the houfe of 
 the bride, where they tied them up naked, in their 
 garments. The relatives of the young man then 
 made prefents to the bride of cloths, cottons, fowls 
 and cacao, while thofe of the bride gave prefents 
 of the fame kind to the bridegroom ; after which 
 they all feafted together. At thefe marriages the 
 high prieft and cazique were obliged to be pre- 
 fent. ( 2 9) 
 
 Concerning relationfhip : They have a tree 
 painted, with feven branches, which reprefent the 
 feven degrees of relationfhip in diredt defcent, 
 within which no perfon might marry, excepting 
 thofe who had diftinguifhed themfelves in war, but 
 even thefe might not marry within three degrees of 
 blood. In refpecT: of the line collateral, they made 
 ufe of another tree with four branches, which 
 
[ 8 4 ] 
 
 el miembro hendido i abierto, que era una de las 
 gentilidades ufavan antiguamente los mas valientes. 
 En aquel ano de 1563, en otro lugar cercano que fe 
 llama Cezori ciertos Indios idolatraron en un monte 
 en fus terminos, i entre ellos que uno fe harpo i 
 hendio fu miembro, i que circuncidaron quatro 
 muchachos de doze afios para arriba al ul'o judaico, 
 i la fangre que falio dellos la facrificaron a un idolo 
 de piedra redondo, llamado Icelaca, .con dos caras 
 atras i adelante, i con muchos ojos. Decian que 
 efte era el Dios que fabia lo prefente i lo pafado, i 
 via todas las cofas. Tenia untadas ambas caras i 
 ojos con fangre, i facrificaronle venados, gallinas, 
 conejos, aji, chian, otras cofas que ellos ufavan an- 
 tiguamente. 
 
 Cerca del dicho lugar eftava un cerro alto en la 
 prefpedtiva, parece fabrepuja a todas las alturas 
 comarcanas, i tiene en fu alto una laguna de agua 
 dulce, grande de mucha hondura, fin que parezca 
 de donde puede tener vertiente 6 nacer tanta agua ; 
 cierto que mirada la fituacion de toda la tierra, 
 parece que alii es lo mas alto dellos, e que 6 la la- 
 guna es milagrofa, 6 tiene algun venero que las 
 Hondas eftrafias de la tierra que produce i fuftenta 
 de ordinario tan gran pielago de agua, i aun ver- 
 tiente grande que de ella fale fiempre. Crianfe 
 alii muchas dantas mas que en otra parte de aquella 
 tierra, fuelenfe matar algunas aunque la carne no es 
 muy buena de comer porque es vifcofa ; tienen dos 
 buches, en el uno hechan el pafto ordinario, i el 
 
[ 8 5 ] 
 
 reprefented the four degrees within which no one 
 could marry. 
 
 Afide from other laws which thefe Indians pof- 
 feffed in common throughout the province, thofe 
 of this nation have the following as inviolable : 
 
 Whoever contemned or ridiculed the facrifices to 
 the idols, or the ceremonies connected therewith, 
 was condemned to death. 
 
 Whoever had connection with a ftrange woman, 
 was condemned to death. 
 
 Thofe who had carnal intercourfe with relatives, 
 within the degrees above profcribed, both fuffered 
 death. 
 
 He who fpoke libidinoufly with a married 
 woman, or who made improper figns to her, was 
 banifhed and his property confifcated. 
 
 Whoever had commerce with a ftrange Have 
 [one not his own ?] was himfelf reduced to flavery, 
 unlefs pardoned by the high prieft for fervices in war. 
 
 Whoever wounded another, if the wound were 
 ferious, fuffered death therefor. 
 "Whoever violated a virgin was facrificed. 
 
 Whoever lied was feverely whipped ; and if it 
 were in any matter concerning war, he was enflaved. 
 
 Thofe of the people who were not foldiers cul- 
 tivated the plantations of the cazique, pontiff and 
 priefts ; and alfo gave a part of their own crops for 
 the fupport of the warriors. 
 
 This is what I have been able to gather con- 
 cerning the manners and cuftom of this people. 
 
[ 86 ] 
 
 otro trae fiempre lleno de palos i madera podrida ; 
 no fe que fea de algun efetto, mas es de creer que 
 no fe lo dilo naturaleza de valde. 
 
 En la provincia dicha efte un lugarejo encom- 
 endado en un Geronimo Italiano ; fucedio alii el 
 afio de 1764, que canfadoslos Indios i enfadados de 
 una larga enfermedad que havia tenido fu cazique, 
 de acuerdo i juntos fueron a .fu cafa i le dixefon 
 que fegun fu enfermidad havia fido larga, eftavan 
 canfados de ferville, i que pues ya no era de prove- 
 cho, ni los podia governar fe muriefe i acavafe de 
 dalles mas pefadumbre; el cazique enfermo les 
 refpondio que tenian razon, i pues anfi era que el fe 
 queria morir que lo enterraran ; i ellos oida fu deter- 
 minacion lo amortajaron vivo i tocaron a muerto i 
 lo llevaron a enterrar, occurrieron a la iglefia los 
 mas del lugar i entre ellos la muger del encomen- 
 dero, i admirada que eftando el dicho cazique poco 
 antes con mediana difpoficion fe huviere muerto 
 tan prefto, fe llego a el e dijo a las Indios que no le 
 enterraren que podria fer algun defmayo, i como 
 tentando le vio que eftava caliente, quitole el velo 
 del 'roftro i viole vivo, i ella riiiendo a. los que lo 
 llevaban a enterrar, le quito de alii i llevo a fu cafa i 
 vivio defpues mas de quatro v mefes, e para defeno 
 jalla le decia el cazique i los vecinos que peor hu- 
 viera fido.fi lo mataran. Efta muger del dicho en- 
 comendero por el ano de 64 fe hizo prenada e 
 malpario cinco hijos de una vez, de cinco mefes i 
 todos vivos. 
 
[ 8 7 ] 
 
 Near this place, is a high rocky hill from which 
 flow two ftreams of water, clofe to each other, 
 one hot and the other cold. Here too is found an 
 abundance of fpices, which the Indians ufe in their 
 drink and food; and an earth which refembles 
 copperas, and which it muft be judging from its 
 effedts. With this they make a dye. 
 
 From here to the borders of the province of 
 Chiquimula de la Sierra, the country is for the 
 moft part high, of good temperature, abounding in 
 pafturage, and adapted for the fupport of cattle, 
 and the cultivation of all kinds of grains. 
 
 In the portion of this province which lies in the 
 direction of Gracias a Dios in Honduras, are the 
 Chontal Indians. While there, complaint was 
 made to me againft a cazique of a place called 
 Gotera, who fince the time of his paganifm had 
 had his private member fplit open, as was the 
 cuftom anciently, among the moft valiant. In 
 1563, certain idolatrous Indians of another village 
 called Cezori, got together in a neighboring foreft 
 where one of them performed the fame operation ; 
 and afterwards they circumcifed four boys of twelve 
 years of age, in the Jewifh manner, offering the 
 blood to an idol of ftone of a cylindrical form, 
 with a double vifage and many eyes, called Icelaca. 
 They lay that he is the God which knows the 
 prefent and the paft, and fees all things. Both his 
 faces were anointed with 'blood, and they facrificed 
 to him deer, fowls, rabbits, peppers, and other things 
 which they ufed in ancient times, 
 
[ 88 ] 
 
 Ruinas de Copan. 
 
 Cerca del dicho lugar como van a la ciudad de 
 San Pedro, en el primer lugar de la provincia de 
 Honduras, que fe llama Copan, eftan unas ruinas i 
 veftijios de gran poblacion i de fobervios edificios, i 
 tales que parece que en ningun tiempo pudo haver, 
 en tan barbaro injenio como tienen los naturales de 
 aquella provincia, edificio de tanta arte i funtuofi- 
 dad ; es ribera de un hermofo rio, i en unos cam- 
 pos bien fituados i eftendidos, tierra de mediano 
 temple, harta de fertilidad, e de mucha caza e 
 pefca. 
 
 En las ruinas dichas, hai montes que parecen 
 haver lido fechos a manos, i en ellos muchas cofas 
 de . notar. Antes de llegar a ellos, efta fenal de 
 paredes gruefas i una piedra grandifima en figura 
 de aguila, i fecho en fu pecho un quadro de largo 
 de una vara, i en el ciertas letras que no fe fabe 
 que fea. 
 
 Llegados a las ruinas, efta otra piedra en figura 
 de gigante ; dicen los Indios antiguas que era la 
 guarda de aquel Santuario ; entrando en el fe hallo 
 una cruz de piedra de tres palmos de alto, con un 
 brazo quebrado. 
 
 Mas adelante van ciertas ruinas i algunas piedras 
 en ellas labradas con harto primor ; i efta una efta- 
 tua grander de mas que quatro varas de alto, la- 
 brada como un obifpo veftido de pontifical, con fu 
 mitro bien labrada i anillos en las manos. Junto a 
 
[ 8 9 ] 
 
 From here, in the diftance, is feen a very high 
 mountain, which feems to rife above all the 
 others. It has at its top a lake of fweet water, 
 very deep. It is difficult to conceive whence 
 the water comes, fince the mountain appears to 
 overlook all the land, and to be the higheft in it ; 
 and it is a queftion whether the lake is miraculous, 
 or has fome fource within its depths in the earth 
 which fupplies it with fo much water that a ftream 
 flows from it conftantly. There are produced 
 here many tapirs, more than in any other part of 
 the country. The Indians fometimes kill them, 
 but their flefh is not very good for food. This 
 animal has two ftomachs ; in one is found the or- 
 dinary grafs which he eats, but the other is always 
 full of branches of trees and fine pieces of wood. 
 I know not what may be the ufe of this, but it 
 may well be believed that nature has not given it 
 without a purpofe. 
 
 In the faid province there is afmall place, which 
 is affigned to one Geronimo Italiano, and here it 
 happened, in the year 1574, that the Indians 
 wearied and irritated by the long illnefs of their 
 cazique, went in a body to his houfe, and informed 
 him that his' long infirmity had made them tired 
 of ferving and fupporting him, and that being him- 
 felf unable to do any good or to govern them, he 
 had better die, and thus relieve them from further 
 trouble. The chief replied that they had caufe for 
 what they faid, and that he was willing to die at 
 
 12 
 
[ 9° 1 
 ella efta una plaza muy bien fecha con fus grados a. 
 la forma que efcriben del Colifeo Romano, i por 
 algunas partes tiene ochenta gradas, enlofada i la- 
 brada por cierto en partes de mui buena piedra e 
 con harto primor ; efta en ella feis eftatuas grandi- 
 fimas, las tres de hombres armados a lo mofaico 
 con ligagambas, e fembradas muchas labores por 
 las armas, i las otras dos de mugeres con buen 
 ropaje largo i tocaduras a. lo Romano ; la otra es 
 de obifpo que parece tener en las manos un bulto 
 como cofrecito. Devian de fer idolos, porque de- 
 lante de cada una dellas havia una piedra grande 
 que tenia fecha una pileta con fu fumidero donde 
 degollavan los facrificados i corria la fangre; tam- 
 bien tenian fendas cazolejas do facrificavan con fus 
 fahumerios, i en medio de la plaza havia otro pila 
 mayor que parece de bautizar, donde anfimefmo 
 devian de hazer en comun fus facrificios. Pafada 
 efta plaza fe fube por muchas gradas a un promon- 
 torio alto que devia de fer donde hacian fus mitotes 
 i rictos ; parece fue fecho i labrado con mucha 
 curiofidad, porque aun fiempre fe hallan alii pie- 
 dras muy bien labradas. A un lado defte edificio 
 parece una torre 6 terrapleno alto que cae fobre el 
 rio, que por alii pafa ; hafe caido i derrumbado un 
 gran pedazo, i en lo caido fe defcubrieron dos cue- 
 vas debajo del dicho edificio muy largas i angof- 
 tas, i fechos con harta curiofidad; no he podido 
 averiguar de que fervian e para que fe hicieron ; 
 hay una efcalera que baja hafta el rio por muchas 
 
[ 9* ] 
 
 once, if they would bury him. He then fainted 
 away or feemed to die, and taking him for dead, 
 they carried him off for burial. Moft of the peo- 
 ple of the place gathered at the funeral, and among 
 them the wife of Geronimo, who wondered how 
 it was that the chief, who was before only a little 
 indifpofed, mould be dead fo foon. She accordingly 
 told the Indians that they muft not bury him, as he 
 might be in a fwoon. On touching the body me 
 found that it was warm, and'taking off the covering 
 from his face, all were aftonifhed to find that the 
 chief was alive. Seeing this, they took him back 
 to his houfe, where he furvived for more than four 
 months. This woman became pregnant at the 
 age of 64, and was prematurely delivered, at the 
 end of five months, of five infants, all alive. 
 
 Ruins of Copan. 
 
 Near here, on the road to the city of San Pedro, 
 in the firft town within the province of Honduras, 
 called Copan, are certain ruins and veftiges of a 
 great population and of fuperb edifices, of fuch 
 (kill, that it appears they could never have been 
 built by a people as rude as the natives of that pro- 
 vince. They are found on the banks of a beautiful 
 river, in an extenfive and well chofen plain, tem- 
 perate in climate, fertile, and abounding in fifh and 
 game. ■« 
 
 Among the ruins are trees which appear to 
 have been planted by the hands of men, as well as 
 
[ 92 ] 
 
 gradas. Sin lo dicho hay muchas cofas que de- 
 mueftran haver havido alii gran poder i concurfo de " 
 hombres, 6 pulicia, i mediana arte en la obra de 
 aquellas figuras i edificios. He, procurado con el 
 cuidado pofible faber por la memoria derivada de 
 los antiguos, que gente vivio alii e que faben e 
 oyeron de fus antepafados, i no he hallado libros de fus 
 antigiiedades, ni creo que en todo efte diftri&o hay 
 mas que uno, que yo tengo ; dicen que antigua- 
 mente havia venido alii i fecho aquellos edificios 
 un gran feiior de la provincia de Yucatan, i que al 
 cabo de algunos aiios fe' bolvio a fu tierra e lo dejo 
 folo i defpoblado, i efto parece que de las patranas 
 que cuentan es la mas cierta, porque por la memo- 
 ria dicha parece que antiguamente gente de Yuca- 
 tan conquifto i fubjeto las provincias de Ayajal, 
 Lacandon, Verapaz, i la tierra de Chiquimula, i 
 efta de Copan, i anfi la lengua Apay que aqui ha- 
 blan, corre i fe entiende en Yucatan i las provin- 
 cias dichas. I anfimefmo parece quel arte de los 
 dichos edificios es como lo que hallaron en otras 
 los Efpanoles que primeramente defcubrieron la de 
 Yucatan e Tabafco, donde huvo figuras de obifpos, 
 hombres armados, i cruzes, i pues en ninguna parte 
 fe ha hallado tal, fi no es en los lugares dichos : 
 parece que fe puede creer que fueron de una nacion 
 los que hicieron lo uno i lo otro. 
 
 De los lugares dichos me volvi a Guatemala, 
 porque con indifpoficiones de algunos del Audien- 
 cia fue necefFario para el defpacho de los negocios, 
 
[ 93 J 
 many other remarkable things. . Before reaching 
 them, we find remains of heavy walls, and a great 
 eagle in ftone, having on its breaft a tablet a yard 
 fquare, covered with unknown characters. 
 
 Arriving at the ruins, we find another ftone in 
 the form of a giant, which the ancient Indians aver 
 was the guardian of this fanctuary. Entering the 
 ruins we find a crofs of ftone, three palms in height, 
 with one of the arms broken off. (3°) Further on 
 we encounter ruined edifices, and among them a 
 number of ftones fculptured with much fkill ; alfo 
 a great ftatue more than four yards in height, 
 which refembles a bifhop in his pontifical robes, 
 with a well-wrought mitre on his head, and rings 
 on his fingers. Near this, is a well built plaza or 
 fquare, with fteps or grades, which, from defcrip- 
 tion, refemble thofe of the Colifeum at Rome. In 
 fome places it has eighty fteps, paved, and made in 
 part at leaft of fine ftones, well-worked. In this 
 fquare are fix great ftatues ; three reprefenting men 
 with armor in mofaic, and garters around their 
 legs. Their arms are loaded with ornaments. 
 Two are of women, with long robes, and with 
 head drefies in the Roman ftyle. The remaining 
 ftatue is of a bifhop, who holds in his hands a 
 packet refembling a box or fmall trunk. It feems 
 that thefe ftatues were idols, for in front of each 
 of them is a large ftone, in which is carved a fmall 
 refervoir, with its groove, in which the blood was 
 collected from the facrifices. We find alfo the 
 
[ 94 J 
 
 i anfi fe mand6 lo hiciefe, pafe por lugares bien 
 frios e fragofos donde ay los mayores i mas her- 
 mofos pinos i robles, cedros, ciprefes, i otros mu- 
 chos arboles que ay en todas eftas provincias. 
 
 •Eftas fon las cofas que en el difcurfo de la vifita 
 que hize por orden de V. M. me parecieron dignas 
 de alguna confideracion; no pongo entreellasla orden 
 i particularidades de fu gentilidad por fer muchas i 
 requerir gran efcriptura, aunque pudiera por tener 
 hechas memoria de las mas dellas, fiempre que V. 
 M. me ocupare en fu fervicio procurare en lo ge- 
 neral i en femej antes efpecialidades de manera que 
 fe entienda, que a lo menos tengo buen defeo. 
 
 Nueftro Senor la C. i R. perfona de V. M. 
 guarde muchos anos con augmento de mayores 
 eftados i con felicimos fucefos ! Defta. Vueftra 
 Ciudad de Guatemala, a 8 de Marzo de 1570 
 afios. C. R. M. humilde i leal criado, que befa 
 las reales manos a V. M. 
 
 El Licengiado PALACIO. 
 
 FIN. 
 
[ 95 ] 
 little altars on which the perfumes were burned 
 before them. In the centre of the fquare is a large 
 bafin of ftone, which appears to have ferved for 
 baptifm ; and in which alfo, facrifices may have 
 been made in common. * After pafling this fquare, 
 we afcend by a great number of fteps to a high 
 place, which appears to have been devoted to mi- 
 totes and other ceremonies ; it feems to have been 
 conftrudted with the greateft care, for throughout 
 we find the ftones excellently well-worked. On 
 one fide of this ftrudture, is a tower or terrace, very 
 high, and dominating the river which flows at its 
 bafe. Here a large piece of the wall has fallen, 
 expofing the entrance of two caves or paflages, ex- 
 tending under the ftrudture, very long and narrow, 
 and well built. I was not able to difcover for what 
 they ferved, or why they were conftrudted. There 
 is here a grand ftairway defcending by a great 
 number of fteps, to the river. Befides thefe things, 
 there are many others which prove that here was 
 formerly the. feat of a great power, and a great 
 population, civilized, and confiderably advanced in 
 the arts, as is mown in the various figures and build- 
 ings. I endeavored, with all poffible care, to af- 
 certain from the Indians, through the traditions 
 derived from the ancients, what people lived here, 
 and what they knew or had heard from their 
 anceftors concerning them. But they have no 
 books relating to their antiquities, nor do I believe 
 that in all this diftridt there is more than* one, 
 
[ 96 ] 
 which I poffefs. They fay that in ancient times 
 there came from Yucatan a great lord, who built 
 thefe edifices, but at the end of fome years returned 
 to his native country, leaving them entirely de- 
 ferted. And this is what appears mofl likely, for 
 tradition fays that the people of Yucatan anciently 
 conquered the provinces of Ayajal, Lacandon, Ve- 
 rapaz, Chiquimula and Copan ; and it is certain 
 that the Apay language which is fpoken here, is 
 current and underftood in Yucatan and the afore- 
 faid provinces. ( 3I ) It appears alfo, that thefe edifices 
 are like thofe which the firft Spaniards difcovered 
 in Yucatan and Tobafco, where there were figures 
 of biftiops, and of armed men, as well as of croffes. 
 And as fuch things are found nowhere, except in 
 the aforefaid places, it may well be believed, that 
 the builders of all were of the fame origin. (s 2 ) 
 
 From the aforefaid places I returned to Guate- 
 mala, becaufe fome of the members of the Audien- 
 cia had fallen fick, and it was neceffary for the 
 defpatch of bufinefs. In returning, I pafled through 
 places cold and rough, where there are the largeft 
 and moll beautiful pines and oaks, cedars, cypreffes, 
 and many other varieties of trees, which are to be 
 found in all thefe provinces. 
 
 Thefe are the moft remarkable things which I 
 difcovered in the vifit which I made, under Your 
 Majefty's orders. I have not recounted all that I 
 learned of the Indians during the time of their 
 infidelity, becaufe it would make volumes ; but I 
 
[ 97 J 
 can give what I have retained in my memory, if 
 Your Majefly thinks it ufeful, in fuch a manner, 
 at leaft, as to prove my good will. 
 
 May Our Lord preferve Your Royal and Ca- 
 tholic perfon for many years, with augmentation 
 of dominion, and with happy deeds. From Your 
 city of Guatemala, March 8th, 1576. Your 
 Royal Catholic Majefty's humble and loyal fervant, 
 
 The Licenciate PALACIO. 
 
 *3 
 
ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES. 
 
 ' Note i, page 21. 
 
 FUENTES, and after him Juarros and the Bifhop Pelaez, de- 
 rive this name from the Tzendal words Guhatex-mal-ba fignify- 
 ing mountain which throws out water, referring to the Volcan de 
 Agua or Water Volcano, at the bafe of which flood the ancient 
 city of Guatemala. That volcano, however, was called by the aborigines 
 Hunaphu, mountain of verdure or of flowers, and does not feem to have 
 been called Volcan de Agua until after the deftru&ion of the old city of 
 Guatemala, by a flood of water which poured down its fides on the 
 night of the nth September, 1 541. Remefal, on the other hand, af- 
 firms that the word fignifies, " lugar donde fe echa la madera ;" while 
 Vafquez writes the original word Quauhtemali, " the fame being a Mexi- 
 can tranflation of the Kachiquel name Iximche, palo podrido." Ixim 
 however, is the Kachiquel word for maize, and che means tree ; the 
 tranflation of Iximche, would therefore feem to be maize-tree, rather 
 than rotten-tree. Juarros, however, fuggefts with great plaufibility, that 
 the name was derived from that of Juitemal, the firft traditional king of 
 Guatemala, and fupports his opinion as follows : " It was a praftice of 
 " the native inhabitants to call kingdoms and towns by the names of the 
 " monarchs or chiefs who governed them. Thus the natives of the 
 " kingdom of Utlatlan were called Quiches from Nimaquiche, who led 
 " them from Tula to that country ; the Kachiquels from the kingdom of 
 " Kachiqueleh ; the Zutugils from Zutugilch. In like manner, the 
 " capital of Rabinaleb, Cacique of Vera Paz, was called Rabinal. And 
 " even the Spaniards have fqllowed the fame nomenclature, by giving 
 " the name Nicaragua to the territory of the Cacique Nicaragua, and 
 " Nicoya to the pofleflions of the Cacique Nicoya." — Hifloria del Reyno 
 de Guatemala, cap. xxxvi. 
 
[ IOO ] 
 
 Note 2, page 21. 
 
 THIS language of Palacio bears a. ftrong Iikenefs to that ufed by 
 Cotton Mather,, in writing of the Indians of New England : 
 
 " The natives of the country now poffefled by the New Eng- 
 " landers, had been forlorn and wretched heathen ever frnce their firit 
 " herding here ; and though we know not when or how th'efe Indians firft 
 " became inhabitants of this mighty continent, yet we may guefs that pro- 
 " bably the devil decoyed thofe miferable falvages hither, in hopes that the 
 " Gofpel of the Lord Jefus Chrift would never come here to deftroy his 
 " abfolute empire over them. But our Eliot was in fuch ill terms with the 
 " devil, as to alarm him with founding the filver trumpets of heaven in his 
 " territories, and make fome noble and zealous attempts at oufting him of 
 " his ancient pofleffions here. There were, I think, fome twenty nations, 
 " if I may*fo call them, of Indians upon that fpot of ground which fell 
 " under the influence of our then united colonies, and our Eliot was 
 " willing to refcue as many of them as he could from that old ufurping 
 " landlord of America, who is by the wrath of God, the prince of this 
 " world. — Magnolia Chrifti Americana, b. iii ; 1 702." 
 
 Note 3, page 21. 
 
 IT would be intereflang to go into a critical analylis of the lift of lan- 
 guages given by Palacio, with a view of identifying the various diale&s, 
 and determining their relations. But this would involve a wide phi- 
 lological difcuffion, a companion of vocabularies} and an appeal to author- 
 ities quite beyond the fcope of an illuftrative note. And as the memoir 
 of Palacio, after all, only relates to the diftrift or provinces of Guazaca- 
 pan and Izalco, and their immediate neighborhood, it will be enough to 
 fix the relations of the dialedls which were (poken in them, and which 
 our authority declares were the Popoluca, Pipil, and Chontal. 
 
 The Pipil, it may be obferved, was the prevailing language of the 
 aborigines from the river Michatoyat to the river Lempa, including nearly 
 the whole of the prefent republic of San Salvador, and was nothing more 
 nor less than a dialeft of the Nahuatl or Mexican. It is ftill retained in 
 moft of the Indian towns, in the diftrift referred to, but under the name 
 of Nahuatl. The defignation Pipil is now unknown, nor does it ap- 
 pear that it was ever adopted by the people themfelves. Etymologically 
 it means childifti, undeveloped, or provincial ; and was probably applied 
 by the Mexican auxiliaires in the armies of Alvarado and the con- 
 
[ ioi J 
 
 querors, as an expreffion of contempt for a dialed which did not come 
 up to their ftandard of metropolitan purity.* Vocabularies which I 
 procured from the Indians of this diftricl, in 1853, mow very flight 
 variations from the Nahuatl of the dictionaries — hardly greater than 
 would be made by different perfons in writing down the fame words, as 
 they might be founded to them by the fame individual. The principal 
 variation is precifely that which I have had occafion to remark, in ano- 
 ther connection, in the pronunciation of the Nabuath of Nicaragua ; viz, 
 the general omiffion or contraction of the well-known Mexican prefix 
 and terminal tl or tli. Thus tlativez, to throw, becomes tativez, and 
 tlacatl, man, becomes tacat. (See States of Central America, etc., p. 
 
 338)- 
 
 In the diftrift proper of the Izalcos, the aborigines were undoubtedly 
 wholly Nabuath ; but further to the weftward, between the rivers Paza 
 (the ancient Pazaca or Aguachapa), and Michatoyat, in the diftrift 
 called by Palacio Guazacapan, there were two languages fpoken — the 
 native or Popoluca, and the intruded or Pipil. This is, in fad, diftinftly 
 affirmed by Palaoio in a fubfequent paragraph. He fays: " The Mex- 
 " ican language is current among them, although their proper tongue is the 
 " Popoluca." There is abundant evidence that the people of this diftricl: 
 were not Pipiles, Nabuath or Mexicans, nor yet of the fame ftock with 
 the Kacbiqueh and their affiliated nations to the northward and weftward. 
 It was againft them, and the people of Izalco and Cufcatlan, that Alva- 
 rado was excited to make war by the Kachiquel kings, who furniflled 
 him with a large body of native auxiliaries for the purpofe. He was 
 three days in paffing the belt of difputed territory, depopulated and de- 
 folate, which intervened between the Kachiquel territories and thofe of 
 the people of Guazacapan. His advance, fays Juarros, was flow, becaufe 
 " there was no intercourfe between the provinces, and roads were un- 
 " known." 
 
 Herrara, in defcribing Guazacapan, follows the ftatements of Palacio. 
 He fays, " The natives of this province are fubmiffive, and fpeak the 
 " Mexican tongue, although they have another peculiar to themfelves. 
 " When heathens they obferved the rites of the Chontah of Honduras." — 
 Hift. de las Indias Ofcidentales, dec. iv, lib. viii, cap. viii. 
 
 # Bufchmann conceives that the defignation Pipil is a reduplication of the Nahuatl 
 word pilli, having the double iignificance of child and nobleman, like the German 
 jonker. A late traveller in Nicaragua, Frabel, thinks he has difcovered the fame 
 word in pipe, a common term of endearment among the Indian and mixed population 
 of that country. 
 
[ 102 ] 
 
 We may fairly infer from this and other teftimony, that the diftridt 
 was occupied by a people, probably of the fame family with the nation 
 or group of nations vaguely denominated Cbontals, who had either been 
 brought more or lefs under fubjedtion to their Nahuatl neighbors, and 
 been compelled to adopt their language, or who had gained a knowledge 
 of it, and affimilated in other refpe&s with them, from long contact and 
 " aflbciation. 
 
 The name of their peculiar language, according to the direct authority 
 of Palacio, was Popoluca ; and its relations, fo far as we may infer from 
 his teftimony and that of Herrara, was with that of the people or peoples 
 denominated Cbontals. That it had fome affinity with the language of 
 the fo-called Cbontals of Honduras and Nicaragua, is fupported by the 
 circumftance that a dialect called by that name was fpoken in the towns 
 Totogalpa, Telpaneca, Mofonte, and Somoto-Grande, in the Departs 
 ment of Nueva Segoria, Nicaragua, as late as 1784-86. This depart- 
 ment lies between the department of Chontales in Nicaragua, and that of 
 Tegucigalpa in Honduras, and its phyfical and aboriginal affinities are 
 the fame. The conclufion is alfo fupported by the fact that Popolaca and 
 Chontallt are both pure Nabuatl or Mexican words, fignifying ftrangers, 
 foreigners, and barbarians, or thofe fpeaking a barbarous language, which 
 (as we mail foon fee) accords with the ufe made of the term Cbontal, 
 as a general defignation for all the ruder aboriginal nations of Central 
 America. In Molina's Mexican Dictionary we have : 
 
 " Topolaca, barbero, hombre de otra nacion y lenguaje. 
 
 " Popolaca, que habkn lenguaje barbero. Pret. oni popolacac. 
 
 " Cbontalli, eftrangero, 6 foraftera." 
 
 The only inference that can be drawn from thefe data^ is, that the 
 Popoluca was neither a dialect of the Kacbiquel nor Nahuatl, but fome 
 form of the Cbontal, ufing that term to defignate the various dialects 
 fpoken by the " rude and brutifh" Indian nations of the various pro- 
 vinces of Central America. 
 
 A language called the Popoloca was fpoken by a portion of the people 
 in the diftrict around the ancient town of Teramachalco, eighty or a 
 hundred miles to the fouth-eaft of the city of Mexico. The Fray Fran- 
 cifco de Toral, who afterwards became Bilhop of Yucatan, wrote a gram- 
 mar of this language, which is characterized by Torquemada as " difi- 
 cultofifima de aprender." The authorities always diftinguilh it as 
 radically diftindt from the Mexican ; and, from all that can be gathered, 
 the people who /poke it were an intruded family, of a warlike and ob- 
 ftinate -character. There is no reafon for believing that their language- 
 had any reladon with that fpoken by the people of Guazacapan ; although 
 
[ io 3 1 
 
 it is probable that it received its name from the fame caufe, namely, its 
 difficulty, and, to the Mexican ear, barbaric rudenefs.* 
 
 I have grave doubts if the term Cbontal was ever ufed to defignate any 
 particular language or dialed!:, and as a bafis for an expreffion of my 
 views on this point, I fubjoin fuch allufions to the Chontah and the Cbon- 
 tal language as have fallen under my notice, in the early chronicles and 
 in other authorities. 
 
 Torquemada alluding to the languages of Honduras, fays : " There 
 " are different languages, but the molt general is that of the Chontaks, 
 " who extend into Nicaragua, called thus by the Spaniards, who mean 
 " thereby to exprefs ruftics, or Bocales." \^-Monarcbia Indiana, etc., 
 vol. i, p. 335. 
 
 Oviedo, enumerating the languages of Nicaragua, mentions three prin- 
 cipal ones, of which the third was the Chondal. « Thefe Chondals," 
 he continues, " are the moll clownifh, living among the mountains or on 
 " their Hopes." In another place he adds : " The Chondals differ 
 " among them/elves in language, fo that they cannot communicate one 
 " with another ; being feparated in this refpedt as widely as the Bif- 
 " cayans and Italians." 
 
 Palacio ftates that at Iftepeque, in San Salvador, going fouthward, 
 " The Indians commence to fpeak a new language, which they call 
 " Cbontal. They are very rude," etc. He again affirms, that in 
 going from Chiquimula de la Sierra in Guatemala to Gracias a Dips in 
 Honduras, " we find the Cbontal Indians." 
 
 Herrara, probably following Oviedo, in enumerating the various na- 
 tions of Nicaragua, mentions the Chontals as " a rude people of the 
 " mountains." Copying Palacio, he fpeaks of the natives of Guazaca- 
 pan, as " practicing the rites of the Chontals of Honduras, their neigh- 
 " bors." He alfo ftates that in the Province of Tabafco there were 
 fpoken " three languages, the Cbontal abounding in words and ufed by 
 " a greater part (the maffes) of the people, the Zoque," etc. In the fame 
 chapter, however, Herrara declares that Cortez, in taking care of the 
 
 # Dr. Carl Scherzer, and after him the Abbe Brafleur, fpeak of a dialect, of the 
 Kachiquel fpoken in the mountains of Sacatapequez and near the town of Santa Maria 
 in Guatemala, called Pupuluka by the firft, and Pa-puluka by the latter. It would 
 feem from the very imperfefl: data given by thefe authorities, that the defignation was 
 really Puluta, .and quite local in its application. The Abbe Brafleur ftates that it 
 comes from the name of a ruined town, near the prefent San Juan de Sacatapequez. 
 
 t The term Bo/ales here fignifies limply perfons fpeakiiig an unknown tongue, 
 " muzzled," and is still applied in Cuba to freflily-imported negroes, incapable of un- 
 derftanding Spaniards, or being underftood by them. 
 
[ I0 4 ] 
 
 pacification of the various provinces on the North Sea, " no olvidodofe 
 " de la que llaman de Tabafco, como tomo el nombre del cazique afi 
 " llamado, fenor de Potonchan, que en lengua Caftellana fignifica Chon- 
 " tal, como fi fe dixefle barbara, porque lo mi/mo es Chontal en lenguage 
 Mexicana." — Decade, iii, lib. vii, cap. iii. 
 
 In Molina's Mexican Di&ionary (as I have already find) the word 
 Chontalli is defined as fignifying " eftrangero 6 foraftero." 
 
 It feems conclufive from the above references, that the term Chontal 
 was applied, in various places, in the fenfe of .foreigners, " outride bar- 
 barians," and favages, to the ruder Indian populations or tribes, and 
 was never ufed fpecifically to designate any particular family, and that, as 
 applied to languages, it was ufed vaguely by the Mexicans, and after 
 them by the Spaniards, to defignate the languages of the peoples' thus 
 contemptuoufly characterized. The Chontals are always a rude, bar- 
 barous people, the lowefl in rank of the aboriginal families ; and, accord- 
 ing to Qviedo, " differing among themfelves in language, as widely as 
 <r the Bafques and Italians." 
 
 Hervas has fallen into fome very grave errors in regard to a language 
 which he calls Chontal, and which he imagines extended from Nicar^ 
 agua to Tabafco, and predominated in Guatemala. His deductions, 
 however, as regards the diffufion of the language, are exclufively founded 
 on what is faid by Herrara, and above quoted ; and his conclufion as to 
 its having been the predominant language of Guatemala, refults from a 
 total mifapprehenfion of the fame hiftorian, and from a miftake in under- 
 ftanding what Herrara fays of the Province of Guazacapan Specially, as 
 applying to Guatemala as a whole. {Catalogue de las Lenguas Cono- 
 cidas, etc. vol. i, p. 300). He underftands Herrara to affirm, " que I05 
 " [Indies] de Guatemala tienen fu lengua particular, y sbedecian a los 
 " Chontales de Honduras ,-" whereas Herrara, following Palacio, and in 
 fad quoting from his ^.elacion, fays this : " Son los Indios delta Pro- 
 <c vincia [Guazacapan] humildes ; corre entre ellos la lengua Mexicana, . 
 " aunque la tienen particular. . Ufaban en fu gentilidad de los ritos que 
 " los Chontales, fus vezinos ; obedecian mucho a Jus fenores, valia el que 
 " mas podia, y el que era mas hombre de guerra," etc. 
 
 In difcuffing the Subject, Hervas adds, that " en Nicaragua y Tabafco 
 " fe habla la lengua Chontal, la qual feria la peculiar de los Guatemalafes, 
 " porque eftos eflaban fujetos a los Chontales de Tabafco," which is his- 
 torically the reverfe of the fadl ; the Quiches, Zutugils and JCachiquels 
 heing in no degree dependent upon the Tabafcans, but entirely indepen- 
 dent of them, and /mich the moll powerful. 
 
 I do not know on what authority it is ftated that the Chontal 
 language exifted in Qaxaca. It might poffibly be inferred from De 
 
[ "5 ] 
 
 Souza's notice of the Fray Domingo Grijelmo, who, he fays, went to 
 Mexico in 1528, deftined for the converiion " de la ferocifma nacion 
 " Chontal, cuyo lengua aprendib felizmente." He died in 1582, having 
 written fermons in the Zapoteca language. The Zapoteca was fpoken in 
 Oaxaca. 
 
 Note 4, page 23. 
 
 THE ancient province of Guazacapan, as defined by Palacio, is now 
 entirely embraced in the Corregimiento of Guatemala, in the re- 
 public of the fame name. The extent of coaft between the Rio 
 Michatoyat and the Rio Paz or Paza, the prefent boundary between 
 Guatemala and San Salvador, is about fifty ftatute miles. The ground 
 near the fea is low and full of creeks, correfponding with the defcription 
 in the text. This diftrift was reduced by Alvarado, who here fought 
 Several fevere battles with the various local chieftans ; thofe of the towns 
 of Aticniipaque, Taxifco and Guazacapan offering the moil determined 
 refinance. Near the town of Comapa, which itfelf is near the boundary 
 of San Salvador, are fome confiderable ruins, known as the ruins of Ci- 
 naca-Mecallo, for an account of which fee my States of Central America, 
 etc., p. 341. 
 
 Note 5, page 29. 
 
 THE falls in the river Michatoyat, here alluded to, are faid by 
 thofe who have feen them, to be among the fineft in the world. 
 They occur near the village of San Pedro Martyr, in the depart- 
 ment and republic of Guatemala. Mr. Stephens defcribes them as 
 " confxfting of four ftreams, feparated by granitic rocks, partly concealed 
 " by bullies, and precipitated from a height of about two hundred feet, 
 " forming, witli the wild fcenery around, a ftriking and romantic 
 " view." — Incidents of Travel in Central ^xwrovz, vol. i, p. 292. 
 
 Note 6, page 31. 
 
 IN a previous note I have alluded to the change which this important 
 paffage has undergone in its tranfmiffion through Herrara and Hervas, 
 and how it has been underftood by the latter to convey a fenfe en- 
 tirely difFerent from that exprefled in the original of Palacio.. 'Another 
 illuftration of the necelfity of following back the ftream of American 
 hiftory to its fource, is afforded in the fame chapters of Herrara and 
 Hervas, to which reference has already been made. Thus, what Palaciq 
 
 H 
 
[ io6] 
 
 fays generally of the languages of the provinces of the old Kingdom of 
 Guatemala as a whole, in the abridgment and paraphrafe of Herrara, is 
 made to apply fpecifically to the coaft of the Pacific, between Guaza- 
 capan and the Rio Lempa. Hervas, following Herrara is thereby led 
 quite aftray in his philological deductions. Thefe corruptions of the 
 original will beft appear from the following comparifon : 
 
 Original of P alack — 1576. Herrara 's Paraphrafe— 1601. 
 
 " Efta dividida en 1 3 provincias " Ella dividida en 1 3 provincias 
 
 principales, fin otras mas menudas principales, fin 'otras menudas, que 
 
 que en ellas fe incluyen ; fon Chia- fon Chiapa, Soconufco, etc. * * * 
 
 pa, Soconufco, etc. ; i en cada una Todas los deftas provincias hablan 
 
 dellas ay i hablan los naturales diferentes lenguas, comencando de 
 
 diferentes lenguas, etc., que fon : Guazacapan, hafta el rio de Lempa, 
 
 [Here follows an enumeration of que corre 50 leguas al Lefte, por la 
 
 languages, and Palacio refumes ;] cofta del mar del Sur, y a lo ancho 
 
 De las quales [provincias] comenze hafta Chiquimula de la Sierra," 
 
 a vifitar de la de Guazacapan hafta etc. — Dec. iv, lib. viii, cap. viii. 
 el rio de Lempa, que corre 50 
 leguas al Efte por la cofta del Sur, 
 i a. lo hancho hafta Chiquimula de 
 la Sierra," etc. 
 
 Note 7, page 33. 
 
 FUENTES, in his unpublifhed Hiftory of Guatemala, gives an ac- 
 count of fome curious ceremonies prafticed among the Kachiquels, 
 Zutugils, Quiches, etc., on the occafion of a childbirth. He fays : 
 " On the birth of a child they take an ear of maize, the kernels of 
 " which are of bright and diverfe colors, and utter over it myfterious 
 " and facred words, for the gbod of the infant. They cut the umbilical 
 " cord with a new knife of flint, which has neVer been ufed for any 
 " other purpofe, and catch the blood on an ear of maize, which is then 
 " flielled, planted, and carefully cultivated for the benefit of the child. 
 " The produce is again planted for the child, which is fupported from 
 " the crop — apart, however, is given to the prieft of the temple. Thus, 
 " they fay, they live, not by the fweat of their brows, but from their 
 " own blood. The knife ufed in the ceremony is regarded as a facred 
 " thing, and is afterwards thrown in a river, to prevent future defile- 
 " ment.'* He adds that in bringing up children " they faften them to a 
 " board, by means of ftraps wound around their body all the way from 
 " the feet to the moulders, in confequence of which all the Indians, 
 f< have the backs of their heads fmooth and flat," 
 
[ io 7 ] 
 
 Note 8, page 35. 
 
 A "jT^HE fo-called port of Iftapa or Iftapam, ftill anfwers to this def- 
 J[ cription. It is fimply a bad roadftead, without fhelter, and only 
 available, with difficulty, in the beft of weather. In 1853 the 
 government of Guatemala, formally abandoned Iftapa, for a place twelve 
 miles to the northward, called San Jofe, which however feems to offer 
 but a flight improvement on the former. Guatemala, unfortunately, 
 has no natural port or harbor on the Pacific. 
 
 Note 9, page 37. 
 
 CACAO beans ftill ferve for fmall change in the markets of Nicaragua, 
 where five kernels have the value of about one cent of our cur- 
 rency. They have the fame ufe in various parts of San Salvador 
 and Guatemala. But the produftion of cacao, in the diftricT; around 
 Sonfbnate and Izalco, has greatly fallen off fihce Palacio wrote, and it is 
 now quite a fubordinate branch of induftry. The natural adaptation of 
 the country for its cultivation is, neverthelefs, the fame, and with peace 
 and the introduction of capital, the ancient commerce in cacao may be 
 revived, with increafed amount and profit. 
 
 Note 10, page 39. 
 
 THE old friar, Thomas Gage, has left us a glowing account of the 
 cacao, to which he confefles an extraordinary predileftion. He 
 fays that " it contains the quality of the four elements, yet in the 
 " common opinion of phyficians, it is held to be cold and' dry, a praedo- 
 " mino. It is alfo in the fubftance that rules thefe two qualities, reftringent 
 " and obftru&ive, of the nature of the element of the earth. And- as it is 
 " thus a mfxed and not a fimple element, it hath parts correfpondent to 
 " the reft of the elements ; and particularly it correfponds with the element 
 " of air, that is heat and moifture, which are governed by unftious parts, 
 " there being drawn out of the cacao much butter," etc., etc., through four 
 pages. (A New Survey of the Weft Indies, etc., Englijh Ed. of 1 699, 
 p. 239.) " The Peruvians," remarks Von Tfchudi, " have fome fingu- 
 " lar prejudices on the fubjeft of eating and drinking. Every article of 
 " food is, according to their notions, either heating (caliente), or cooling 
 " (fri°) : an d tnev believe that certain things are in oppofition to each 
 " other, or, as they phrafe it, fe oponen." ( Travels in Peru, American 
 Ed., p. 105). The notion, it feems from the text, is as old as the days 
 of Palacio. 
 
[ io8 j 
 
 Note II, page 41. 
 
 THE city of La Trinidad de Sonfonate ftill exifts, and is one of the 
 moft thriving in the whole republic of San Salvador. It is fituated, 
 as defcribed in the text, not far from the foot of the great volcano 
 of Sta. Ana, formerly called Izalco — the latter name having lately been 
 given to a new volcano or cone of eruption, which fprung up in 1770, 
 and has fince reached an altitude of 4000 feet. The country around 
 Sonfonate is fertile, thickly populated, and profufely watered, in all 
 refpe&s anfwering the encomiums of Palacio. Juarros Hates that the 
 name of Sonfonate- is a corruption of the Nahuatl or Mexican word- 
 Cezontlatl, fignifying four hundred fprings of water — a name not un- 
 warranted by the multitude of fprings and brooks which flow from the 
 bafe of the volcano and the high lands near it, and give eternal frefhnefs 
 and vigor to, vegetation, and luxuriance and rich returns to the harveft. 
 Sonfonate is cluttered round by Indian villages, of which Izalco is largeft 
 and moft important, containing not lefs than 6000 inhabitants, moftly 
 Indians, who in part retain their native tongue and many of their original 
 cuftoms. No portion of the continent better deferves the title of Garden 
 of America, than the diftrift of Sonfonate. 
 
 Acajutla, as defcribed in the text, is a Ample roadftead, with no pro- 
 tection except what is afforded by a low ledge of rocks proje&ing into 
 the fea and called " Punta de los-Remedios." At low water, and in 
 calm weather, landing is eafy ; but at other times difficult, dangerous, and 
 almoft impoffible. It is. regarded as one of the moft infalubrious points, 
 on the whole Pacific coaft of Central America. Being however the only 
 means of accefs to a fertile and populous diftridl, it muft continue to be 
 a refort for commerce. Under the crown, it was one of the places of 
 call for the Acapulco Galleons. 
 
 Note 12, page 43. 
 
 A recent traveller in Chiapas and Tabafco, Mr. Morelet, fays of the 
 Rio San Pedro, a principal affluent of the great river Ufumafinta : 
 " Les eaux de cette riviere font douses a un haut degre de vertus 
 petrifiantes, et les ecueils dont fon cours eft obftrue, furtout aux environs 
 de Nojma&un, n'ont pas d'autre origine que l'encroutement et la folidifi- 
 cation des troncs d'arbres qui y font tombes." — Voyage dans l*ylmerique 
 Centrale, vol. i, p. 307. 
 
[ io 9 ] 
 
 Note 13, page 49. 
 
 THE original is not very clear ; but our author probably means to 
 defcribe a fpring, around which depofits and accretions have gra- 
 dually formed a mafs, like ftone, with an opening in the centre, 
 within which the water is conftantly boiling, and from which fmoke or 
 fteam conftantly rifes. Such fprings, thus built in by their own depofits, 
 are not uncommon. The one known as the Iodine Spring at Saratoga is 
 of fimilar character. The other fprings defcribed by Palacio are now 
 known by the name of Aufoles de Ahuachapam, and are among the moft 
 remarkable objefts of curiofity in the country. They occupy a conlider- 
 able tract of land, the largeft being not lefs than a hundred yards in cir- 
 cumference. They emit a denfe white fteam, from a femi-fluid mafs of 
 mud and water, in a ftate of violent ebullition, which conftantly throws 
 off large bubbles, three or four feet in height. The water of the different 
 fprings varies in color, but otherwife their features are the fame. The 
 ground near them is hot, and foon becomes infupportable to the feet ; 
 and around all of them, the water has formed depofits of fineft clays, of 
 almoft every variety of color, which, as fuggefted by Palacio, might be 
 made ufeful in the arts. {Gage's New View, etc., p. 41 5 ; Montgomery's 
 Narrative, p. 115; Stephens' Incidents of Travel in Central America, 
 vol. ii, p. 67). Not far from thefe fprings, on a high ridge, is a re- 
 markable volcanic lake called Laguna Verde, ftiut in by high precipitous 
 walls of rock. It is only about three hundred feet broad, nearly cir- 
 cular, and of great depth. It has no outlet, but its waters are neverthe- 
 lefs fweet and potable.. On the flope of the fame ridge is a large inter- 
 mittent fpring vulgarly called Agua Chfuca, which flows freely from 
 September to March, and is fufpended for the remaining months of the 
 year. Its water has a ftrongly fetid odor, and hence it derives its name. 
 
 Note 14, page 53. 
 
 THIS lake is diftant two leagues fo the fouthward of the prefent con- 
 siderable town of Cuatepeque, from which it takes its name, Laguna 
 de Cuatepeque. This name is derived from the Mexican Coat/, 
 (in Pipil coat or cuat), ferpent, and tepee or tepeque, mountain, i. e., 
 Mountain of the Serpent. A considerable part of the limeftone, for 
 making the lime ufed'in the town, is taken from the bottom of this lake, 
 by divers. It is furrounded by abrupt walls of volcanic rocks, and feems 
 to have been an ancient crater. The name of the town, as given in the 
 text, Coatan, is compounded of Coat/ as above, and t/an, place or lo- 
 cality of; i. e., Place of the Serpent. 
 
no 
 
 Note 15, page 55. 
 
 THE ftones called chakhiuites by the Mexicans (and written varioufly 
 cbalchibetes, chalchihuis, and calchihuis, by the chroniclers), were 
 efteemed of high value by all the Central American and Mexican 
 nations. They were generally of green quartz, jade, or the ftone known 
 as madre de Ejmeralda, and were often elaborably carved with relievo 
 figures of divinities, with hieroglyphics, etc. I have a number of thefe in 
 my pofleflion, obtained from the ruins of Ocofingo in Chiapas, not far from 
 Palenque, which are real gems, far furpaffing any works of aboriginal art 
 which have fallen under my notice.. The feated figure of Cuculcdn, 
 reprefented in bas relief, in one of the rooms of the palace at Palenque, 
 - and figured by Stephens, is reproduced in one of thefe Chakhiuites, in 
 miniature. Another is a cylinder, refembling.the Aflyrian or Babylonian 
 cylinders, engraved with hieroglyphics on its outer furface. Among, the 
 prefents which Montezuma gave to Cortez for the King of Spain, were 
 fome of thefe ftones. Bernal Diaz reports Montezuma as faying, in. 
 handing them over : " To this I will add a few- chalchihuis, of fuch 
 " enormous value, that I would not confent to give them to any one fave 
 " to fuch a powerful Emperor as yours. Each of thefe ftones is worth 
 " two loads of gold." (Lockbarts Tranflation, vol. i, p. 378). Diaz, 
 in another place, fpeaking of the fkill of the ancient Mexicans in the arts, 
 obferves : " After thefe came the very fkillful matters in cutting and 
 " poliftiing precious ftones, and the chalchihuis, which refemble the 
 " emeralds." {lb. vol. i, p. 233). And Fuentes, in his inedited hiftory 
 of Guatemala, defcribes the Indians of Quiche as wearing " head-dreffes 
 " of rich feathers and brilliant ftones, chalchiguites, which were large 
 " and of great weight, under which they danced without wearying." 
 The goddefs of water, amongft the Mexicans, bore the name of Chal- 
 cbiuikuye, the woman of the Chakhiuites, and the name of Chalchiuba- 
 fan was often applied to the city of Tlaxcalla, from a beautiful fountain 
 of water found near it, *' the color of which," according to Torquemada, 
 " was between blue arid green." Quetzalcoatl, the lawgiver, high-prieft, 
 and inftru&er of the Mexicans, was faid to have taught, amongft other 
 things, the art of working metals, and " en efpecial el arte de labrar pie- 
 " dras preciofas, que fon chakhiuites, que fon piedras verdes, que eftima- 
 " ban en mucho precio." {Torquemada, lib. vi, cap. xxiv). Quet 
 zalcoatl, himfelf, according to certain traditions, was begotten by one of 
 thefe ftones, which the goddefs Chimalma placed in her bofom. Torque- 
 mada ftates alfo, that chakhiuites were offered to the goddefs Matlalcueye, 
 together with the plumes of the Quetzal. When a great dignitary died, 
 
[ III ] 
 
 his corpfe was richly decorated with gold, and plumes of feathers for 
 burial, and " they put in his mouth a fine ftone refembling emerald, 
 " which they call cbakbihuitl, and which they fay, they place there as a 
 " heart." (Torquemada, lib. xiii, cap. xlv). 
 
 Note 1 6, page 55. 
 
 THIS balfam is beft known as " Balfam of Peru," from the circumftance 
 that the early commercial regulations on the coaft required it to be 
 fent to Callao, before tranfmiffion to Spain, and the place of its 
 origin being known to but few, it took the name of the country whence 
 it was laft received. The diftricl: in which it is obtained, known formerly 
 as the Coaft of Tonala, is now called Cofta del Balfimo. It extends 
 along the Pacific from the Port of La Libertad to that of Acajutla, a 
 diftance of fifteen leagues, and is exclufively inhabited by Indians, who 
 ftili fpeak the Nahuatl or Pipil language,' and retain their primitive habits 
 and cuftoms, little impaired. Their principal wealth is this balfam, of 
 which they fell annually about 20,000 pounds. The trees yielding the 
 balfam are very numerous in this privileged diftrift, and feem to be, 
 limited to it ; hardly a tree being found on other parts of the coaft, which. 
 are feemingly identical in foil and climate. It is a large tree, with fine 
 foliage, and its wood is of dole grain, handfomely veined, refembling 
 mahogany but of redder color. It takes a high polifh and gives out a 
 fragrant odor. The balfam is extracted by making incifions in the tree, 
 in which are placed balls of cotton rags, in order to abforb the juice as it 
 exudes. When thefe are faturated, they are replaced by others, and 
 thrown into boiling water. The heat detaches the balfam, which being 
 of lefs fpecific gravity floats on the furface of the water, whence it is 
 carefully ikimmed off, and gathered in calabalhes or hollow feftions of 
 bamboo, for market. It has always been highly prized for medicinal 
 purpofes. In 1562 Pope Pius IV, and in 1571, Pius V, granted permif- 
 fion for its ufe in the confecration of the holy chrifm. As ftated in the 
 text, it not only yields the black and white balfam, but alfo a nut, from 
 which the " oil of balfam" is obtained, and flowers from which the 
 " fpirit of balfam" is diftilled. The columns in the church of Guaymoco 
 are now of this wood — perhaps they are the very ones feen by Palacio. 
 
 Note 17, page 55. 
 
 THIS is the ravine or barranca of Guaramal, a narrow cleft in the 
 rocks, nearly a league in length, through which the road from 
 Sonfonate to San Salvador ftill pafles, It is traverfed with difficulty, 
 
[ »* ] 
 
 the path lying, for a great part of the way, in the bed of the ftream, 
 over flippery rocks, and rough heaps of driftwood. The fun never 
 reaches fome parts of the bottom of the barranca of Guaramal, and its 
 cavernous afpecl: is increafed by the trees and bullies which crown the 
 rocks on either fide, and in places form a complete arch of verdure. I 
 ^obferved amongft thefe, when paffing through the barranca, in 1853, a 
 number of fpecimens of the male or tree fern', of large fize and great 
 beauty; I believe it is found nowhere elfe in Central America. 
 
 Note 18, page 57. 
 
 M ALP ATS or malpais, literally bad country, is a name applied 
 throughout Central America to diftri&s overflowed by lava, or 
 covered with volcanic ftones and cinders. The lava-field crofled 
 by the high road between Mafaya and Managua in Nicaragua, is 
 known as the Malpais of Nindiri. 
 
 Note 19, page 59. 
 
 HERR AR A follows Palacio in his account of the ftream referred to," 
 in Chiapas. Juarros, who profefles to derive his information 
 from an eye witnefs, affirms that " it is fituated on the flank of a 
 " mountain, half a league from the city of Ciudad Real, and is called 
 " Teixhibuiat, a Mexican word fignifying * three years water.' At the 
 " expiration of the term of three years the fountain dries up, and the 
 " waters burft forth at a- point five leagues diftant, near the road of Teo- 
 " pifca. The natives of that village give it the name of Ohx-avilhu, 
 " which, in the Tzendal language, means the fame with the Mexican 
 " word. After flowing here for three years, the waters rife again in their 
 " former place." 
 
 Note 20; page 61. 
 
 THE city of San Salvador was founded in 1528 by George de Alva- 
 rado, brother of the conqueror, at a point called las Bermudas, in 
 the vicinity of the prefent town of Suchitoto. About ten years 
 after it was transferred to its prefent fite. Under the crown it was the 
 capital of the Province of San Salvador, and after the independence it 
 became the capital of the State. For a Ihort time it was the feat of 
 government of the Federal Republic of Central America. It Was almoft 
 
[ "3 ] 
 
 entirely deftroyed by an earthquake in April, 1854, when it was refolved 
 to change its fite to the plain of Santa Tecla, about three leagues dtftant, 
 and near the head of the barranca of Guaramal. • The attempt was not 
 fucceffful, and in January, 1859, it was again eftablifhed as the feat of 
 government, on its ancient foundations. Befides the earthquake men- 
 tioned by Palacio, the city fuffered greatly by others which occurred 
 fubfequently, and of which thofe of 1575, 1593, 1625, 1656, 1798, 
 and 1839, are recorded as having been the moft violent. The latter 
 mattered the city, and led the people to think of abandoning it ; but 
 none of thefe convulfions feem to have been fo fevere as that of 1854. 
 For a detailed account of the city and of this earthquake, fee my " States of 
 Central America, etc.," pp. 300-307. 
 
 Note 21, page 63. 
 
 THIS lake, named Ilopango (written anciently Gilopango) is about 
 ten miles long, by perhaps five broad in its wideft part, and is 
 clearly of volcanic origin. It is furrounded on every fide by high 
 abrupt hills, compofed of fcoriae, and volcanic ftones. It receives no 
 tributary ftreams of importance, although it has a fmall outlet, flowing 
 through a deep, dark ravine, into the Rio Jiboa, near the bafe of the 
 volcano of San Vicente. The water when taken up is remarkably 
 pellucid, but it is not confidered good for ufe. In calm weather it 
 refle&s the blue color of the Iky, but when its furface is ruffled by 
 winds it aflumes a green color, appropriately called verde de ferico, parrot- 
 green. It then emits a ftrong and difagreeable fulphurous odor. At 
 prefent, large quantities of the mojarras, referred to by Palacio, are caught 
 by the Indians, and fold in San Salvador, where they are greatly prized. 
 The lhores are divided out among the people of the furrounding villages, 
 as their peculiar fifliing grounds. 
 
 Note 22, page 63. 
 
 I have already given my reafons for believing that the term Chontal 
 was ufed not as a fpecific but as a general defignation, in the fenfe of 
 favage or barbarian, and applied by the Mexicans indifcriminately to 
 all frontier or uncivilized tribes with which they were acquainted, and 
 often taken up and adopted by the Spaniards. There is no doubt of the 
 faft that the ancient diftrift of Chaparriftique, now San Miguel, inter- 
 vening between the river Lempa and the Bay of Fonfeca, was occupied 
 by a tribe or number of tribes and families, differing in language cer- 
 
 15 
 
[ "4 ] 
 
 tainly, and probably in origin and charafter from the Pipiles. Palacio 
 ftates that they fpoke three languages, the Taulepa, Poton, and TJlua — 
 the latter probably the fame with the Ulba, which he alfo affirms was 
 fpoken in Honduras, where we can hardly fail to recognize it in the 
 Gaula of Juarros, and Woolwa of modern times. It may be prefumed 
 that the name is alfo perpetuated in that of the great river Ulua, the 
 principal ftream in Honduras, on the banks of which, according to the 
 ancient chroniclers, lived the aboriginal family of the Uluas. The name 
 Taulepa feems to be preferved in that of the principal lake in Honduras, 
 Lake Tauleb'e or Yojoa. The Poton is without doubt the fame with 
 the Ponton which Palacio mentions as having been fpoken in Nicaragua. 
 The teftimony of the early writers indicates very clearly that the rela- 
 tions of the aborigines of the diftrift of Chaparriftique or San Miguel 
 were with the Indians of Honduras. The faft that many names of places 
 in that diftrift are traceable etymologically to the Nahuatl, may eafily be 
 overvalued. When Cortez undertook his expedition through Yucatan 
 into Honduras, he was accompanied by feveral thoufand Mexican Indians, 
 of whom many were left at the various fettlements which he founded. 
 The fame was true of Alvarado. When he undertook the conqueft of 
 Guatemala, he had a very fmall force of Spaniards, but a large body of 
 Mexican auxiliaries. After the conqueft was efFefted, lands were affigned 
 to the latter in the vicinity of the conquered capitals, as well as in the neigh- 
 borhood of the new eftablifhments that were founded by the Spaniards 
 themfelves. It was thus that- Almolonga and Mixcp in the environs of 
 the old city of Guatemala received their names ; thofe places having been 
 affigned to a portion of the Mexicans in Alvarado's army. But this was 
 not all. The Mexicans thus eftablifhed in the country often tranflated 
 the native names, in cafes where they characterized, as they generally did, 
 fonw peculiarity of pofition or vicinage ; and in fgme inftances it is not 
 to be doubted* they fubftituted names of their own for the native and, to 
 their tongues, often unpronounceable names in ufe in the country. Thus' 
 the capital of the Zutugil kingdom was called Atziquinixai (home of the 
 Eagle) by the Zutugils. The Mexicans, Pipils, or Nahuatls called it 
 Atitlan (place by the water), it being fituated on a lake. Zetulul they 
 called Zapotitlan, and Xelahub, Quetzaltenango. Examples of this kind 
 might be greatly multiplied; but enough has been faid to fhow that great 
 caution- is requifite, efpecially in Central America, in making deductions 
 from the etymology of the names of places. 
 
 The language of the ancient inhabitants of the diftrift of San Miguel, 
 as far as can be afcertained from the limited vocabularies of the Indians 
 who ftill fubfift within its borders, was clofely allied with the Lenca, as 
 fpoken by the Indians of Guajiquero, Similaton, etc., in Honduras, with 
 
L "5 ] . 
 
 whom, as members of the fame family, a confiderable portion confolidated 
 themfelves, when they abandoned their ancient feats on the Pacific, in 
 confequence of the oppreffions of the Spaniards and the incurfions of the 
 buccaneers. It»is therefore certain, both from diredt and inductive 
 evidence, that the aboriginal inhabitants of Chaparnftique, at the time of 
 the Conqueft, were a diftinft race from the Pipils of Cufcadan, and fpoke 
 a different language. 
 
 Note 23, page 65. 
 
 IiHE lake referred to in this paragraph is now known as lake Guija 
 (written formerly Guixar), and is the largeft in the republic of San 
 Salvador, being not lefs than twenty leagues in circumference. It 
 abounds in fifh, the traffic in which is a fource of confiderable profit to 
 the people living on its mores. According to tradition, the lake was 
 formed by an eruption of the neighboring volcanos of San Diego and 
 Mafatepeque. By thefe eruptions the channels of the rivers Oftiia and 
 Langue were blocked up, aud many ancient towns fubmerged, the ruins 
 of which the fifhermen aver, they can ftill difcover at the bottom. On 
 one of the iflands in this lake, are the ruins of an aboriginal city, called 
 Zacualpa or Old Town. There are alfo ruins of ancient edifices on 
 the borders of the lake, and various treafures have been taken from its 
 depths ; the laft by an Indian fifherman named Nicolas Santos, in 1 848, 
 who found in the crevices of a promontory of lava, left uncovered at 
 low water, a large number of pieces of filver of round form, weighing 
 altogether upwards of twenty-five pounds. 
 
 Note 24, page 65.* 
 
 OUETZ4JL or tregan refplendens, the imperial bird of the Quiche, 
 Zutugil, and Kachiquel nations. It has a fplendid plumage of a 
 bright, metallic green color, and its tail feathers are often a yard in 
 length. They were ufed by the civil and prieftly dignitaries for pur- 
 pofes of ornament, and are reprefented as worn by the leading figures in 
 all the fculptures and paintings. The Quetzal is only found in the high 
 and fecluded mountains of Honduras, Guatemala, Chiapas, and perhaps 
 in Oaxaca. Quetfaltenango, a department of Guatemala, has its defigna- 
 tion from this bird ; and the name combined with coatl, ferpent, was 
 that applied by the Mexicans to their great lawgiver, teacher, and demi- 
 god, Quetzalcoatl, who coincided with the Cuculcafi of Chiapas and 
 Yucatan. 
 
[ "6] 
 
 " Note 25, page 71. 
 
 CEREZADA, contador of the crown, who accompanied Gil Gon- 
 zales de Avila in his conqueft of Nicaragua, gives a correfponding 
 account of the rites and practices of the people of the Nahuatl ftock, , 
 which were found around the lake of Nicaragua. Their mode of facri- 
 fice was the fame ; and they alfo pundtured their bodies " rubbing the 
 " blood from their wounds on the faces of their idols." They further- 
 more fprinkled blood, drawn from the organs of generation, upon maize, 
 which was afterwards diftributed and eaten with great folemnity. This 
 fcenical rite, under one form or another, may be traced through' the 
 rituals of moft of the femi-civilized nations of America, in ftricT: parallel- 
 ifm with certain Bhallic rites of the Hindus, and of thofe other numerous 
 nations of the old world, devoted to a iimilar primitive religion. 
 
 Cerezada ftates that the temples of thefe Nicaraguans were built of 
 timber and thatched, of large fize, and containing many low, dark, inner 
 chapels. Thefe, it feems, were furrounded by large courts, beyond which 
 none but priefts and cazique dared to pafs. Befides thefe, there were 
 what the Indians called tezarits, or " high places," conical or pyramidal 
 in form, and afcended by fteps, on which the facrifices were made. They 
 were flat at their fummits, which varied in area, fome being broad enough 
 to give room for ten men. " In the middle of this fpace," continues 
 Cerezada, " ftandeth a ftone higher than the reft, equalling a man's body 
 " in length ; and this accurfed ftone is the altar of their miferable facri- 
 " fices. On the appointed day of facrifice, the prieft, in full view of 
 " all, from this eminent place, performeth the office of preacher, and 
 " lhaking a fliarp knife of ftone which he holds in his hand, proclaims 
 " that a facrifice isTro be made, and alfo whether it be a prifoner, one 
 " who is a flave, or one who has been referved from infancy for the 
 " purpofe. * * * Thofe to be facrificed are ftretched out flat on 
 " the ftone aforefaid, and the prieft cutting open the breaft, plucks out 
 " the heart, wherewith he anoints the mouths of the idols. The body 
 " is then cut in pieces, and diftributed among the priefts, nobility and 
 " people. But the head is hung as a trophy, upon the branches of cer- 
 " tain fmall trees, which are preferved for that purpofe near the place of 
 " facrifice. The portions which are diftributed they partly bury before 
 " their doors, but the reft they burn, leaving the allies in the field of 
 " facrifice." 
 
 Juarros, quoting from the MS. Hiftory of Guatemala, by the chronicler 
 Fuentes, denies that human facrifices exifted among the Pipils of Cuf- 
 catlan. Fuentes bafes his ftatement on a Pipil MS., to which he had 
 
[ "7 ] 
 
 accefs, which gives, however, a very apocryphal not to fay abfurd 
 account of the origin of the Pipils, and which affirms that the attempt to 
 introduce human facrifices by the great cazique Cuauemichin, refulted in 
 a general infurredlion of his people, and his depofition and death. I, 
 however, attach but little authority to the ftatements of this Pipil MS., 
 and have no doubt of the exiflence of human facrifices among the people 
 of Cufcatlan, as affirmed by Palacio, and after him by Herrara. The 
 praftice feems to have been univerfal among all nations of the Nahuatl or 
 Mexican flock, whether in Anahuac, Cufcatlan, or Nicaragua. Theirs 
 was a bloody ritual, contrafling ftrongly with that of the various families 
 of the great and more highly civilized Tzendal or Maya flock. 
 
 Note 26, page 75. 
 
 THE name Calpul was applied by the Mexicans to what may be 
 called the municipal edifices of their cities and villages. Thefe 
 were placed around the public fquare of the various towns, frequently 
 flanking or facing the principal temple or cue. Among the remains of 
 ancient flrudlures, on the fites of the abandoned aboriginal towns of 
 Central America, we almofl always find a feries of truncated, terraced 
 mounds of earth or flone, difpofed in the form of a fquare, which to this 
 day are called calpules by the common people. A fine group 'of thefe 
 remains exifls in the immediate vicinity of the town of Sonfonate ; another 
 on the plain of Sta. Tecla or Nueva Salvador ; and flill another by the 
 fide of the camino real defcending from the heights of Jiboa, near the city 
 of San Vicente. 
 
 Note 27, page 79. 
 
 THE Fray Diego Duran, in his as yet unpublifhed " Hiftoria Antigua 
 de la Nueva EJpana, con Noticias de les Ritas y Coftumbres de las 
 Indios, etc." written in 1585, gives very interefting accounts of the 
 facrifices practiced by the Nahuatls of Mexico. He fays that one of the 
 " greatefl and moft folemn feafls was that of the idol called Texcatlipoca, 
 " which this fuperflitious people folemnized with many Angular rites and 
 " facrifices, equalling thofe performed in honor of Huitzlipocbtli. It was 
 " called Toxcatl, a feafl relating to the number of their calendar which 
 " was Toxcatl; but there was alfo another at this time in honor of 
 " Tezcatlipoca — which idol, in the city of Mexico, was of a flone of 
 " very fhining black (obfidian, itzli or divine flone) like jet — a flone of 
 " which they make arrows and knives. In fome of the cities the idol 
 
[ n8 ] 
 
 " was compofed of a tree carved in the figure of a man, all over black 
 " from the face down, with the forehead, nofe and mouth white, or of the 
 " color of the Indians, clothed in gay drefs, after the Indian fafhion. In 
 " its ears were rings of gold and filver, in the lower lip a bezoar ftone, 
 " and on its head plumes of red and green feathers. Back of the head 
 " was the fign of fmoke, indicating that he heard the prayers of finners, 
 " around the neck was a collar of gold fo large as to cover the breaft ; 
 " on the arms two bracelets of gold; at the navel a rich green ftone; in 
 " the left hand a fan of rich feathers, furrounding a circular plate of 
 " gold, highly polilhed like a mirror, by which was meant that in this 
 " was reflected all the doings of the world ; it was called' Itlachia, 
 " Viewer. In the right hand fome darts which fignified that he puniftied 
 " fins; for which reafon he was held in great fear. At his feafts every 
 " four years was granted remiffion of fins, on which occafion they flew. 
 " and ate an effigy of this idol. On the top of his feet he had 20 bells 
 " of gold, and on the right foot the fore foot of a deer to fignify his 
 " lightnefs arid, agility in his works. It had alfo a cloak well worked, 
 " black and white, with a fringe of red, black and white rofettes, and 
 " adorned with feathers. 
 
 " The temple in which was this idol was very high and beautiful, 
 " afcended by 80 fteps, and at the top was a level fpace 12 or 14 feet 
 " broad, and adjoining it a dark chamber, lined with rich cloths, of 
 " various colors, with fringes of feathers, after the manner of ornament- 
 " ing their temples, fo that the chamber was obfcure, and the idol dark 
 " and myfterious. None except the priefts dared enter here. In front 
 " of the entrance to this chamber was an altar of the height of a man, 
 " above which was placed a pedeftal for the 'idol. The altar was like 
 " thofe ufed by the Chriftians, and was covered with rich cloths. Above 
 * " the head of the idol was a coftly canopy, adorned with feathers, gold 
 •" and precious ftones. 
 
 " They celebrated the feaft of this idol on the 1 9th of May, according 
 " to our reckoning, and according to theirs it was the 4th feaft of their 
 " calendar and called Toxcatl. On the eve of this feaft came the lord of 
 " the temple, and put on new robes and ornaments, fo as to refemble 
 " the deity they were about to worfhip. Each idol had its peculiar 
 " infigns. When all was ready, they came to the temple called Titla- 
 " cauan, and blew on a flute, firft to the north, then to the eaft, fouth 
 " and weft — whereupon all knelt to the earth and taking up a little in their 
 " fingers ate the fame. When the thieves and other criminals heard the 
 " flutes they were in great fear of vengeance from the gods, and fought 
 " pardon. The foldiers and valiant men fpent the day in liftening to 
 " the mufic, celebrating Tezcatlipoca, Huitxlipocbtli, Cihuacoatl, £>uet- 
 " zalcoatl and the Sun, which are the principal gods whom they adore." 
 
C "9 ] 
 
 Note 28, page 81. 
 
 ACCORDING to Oviedo, the Fray Francifco de Bobadilla got 
 together a number of leading perfons among the Nahuatls of 
 Nicaragua, immediately after the conqueft, and queftioned them 
 concerning their religion, their rites of burial, etc., thereby eliciting many 
 curious and interefting fafts, which illuftrate, in no fmall degree, the text 
 of Palacio. they teftified that when their legitimate children died, they 
 wrapped them in cotton cloth, and buried them before their doors. If 
 a man died without children, his perfonal property was buried with him ; 
 if he had children, it was divided among them. On the death of a chief 
 or cazique, " a portion of all his eflefts, cotton cloth, plumes, hunting 
 " horns, gold and filver, etc., etc., was burned with his body, and, with 
 " the afh.es, gathered together and buried in an earthen vafe in the houfe 
 " of the dead man." They believed that the julio or foul of the departed, 
 if he had lived well, went on high, with the gods ; if he had lived badly, 
 it perifhed with his body and was no more. Fuentes ftates that in Guate- 
 mala, moft of the perfonal property of the dead was buried with them, 
 and adds, that in fome parts they raifed over the corpfe " un cerillo, mas 
 " 6 menos alto, fegun la calidad del difunto ; y efte fe fabricaba de piedra 
 " y lodo, de que fe vean hoy infinitos por todas las llanpras de eftos 
 " excelentes- y fecundifimos valles, que llaman cues." 
 
 Note 29, page 83. 
 
 AMONG the Nahuatls of Nicaragua, according to Oviedo, marriage 
 was a civil rite, performed by the cazique, and the ceremonies 
 were much the fame as thofe practiced among the Mexicans. The 
 matches were arranged by the parents of the' parties ; and as foon as the 
 bargain was concluded, two fowls and a rula (a kind of houfe-dog) were 
 killed, fome cacao prepared, and the friends and neighbors invited to the 
 feaft. This finifhed, the cazique led the couple into a fmall houfe, 
 devoted to that purpofe, in which a fire of refin was kindled, where, after 
 giving them a lefture, he left them to themfelves. When the fire was 
 burned out, the rite was complete. If it proved that the woman was not 
 a virgin, fhe was fent back to her parents, and permanently difgraced, 
 while the man was at liberty to marry again. The couple, after mar- 
 riage, received from their parents a piece of land and certain fruit trees, 
 which, if they died childlefs, reverted to their refpe&ive families. But 
 one wife was permitted to any man except the cazique, although concu • 
 
[ 120 ] 
 
 binage was pra&iced by thofe who could afford it. Bigamy was punifhed 
 by exile, and by confifcation of property for the benefit of the firft wife 
 or hufband, who was then at liberty to marry again. This privilege was 
 not however extended to women having children. Adultery on the part 
 of the wife, fubjetted her to fevere flogging, and to be fent back' to her 
 family ; but me ftill retained her effefts. It liberated the hufband from 
 his marital obligations ; the woman, however, could not marry again. 
 Relationfhip, beyond the firft degree, was no Bar to marriage. Marriages 
 within families, on the contrary, were encouraged as " tightening the 
 bonds of relationfhip." Inceft was unknown; but the man who debauched 
 the daughter of his mailer or cazique, was buried alive, with the partner 
 of his guilt. The man who committed rape was feized, confined, and 
 unlefs he could make reparation, by large prefents, to the injured woman 
 or her parents, became her or their flave. Sodomites were (toned to 
 death. Proftitutes were tolerated, and the price of their favors limited 
 to ten amands of cacao. • They were accompanied by bullies, who 
 however, did not fhare their gains. Eftablifhments, or houfes of 
 proftitution, were kept publicly. On the occafion of a certain annual 
 feftival, it was permitted that all the women, of whatever condition, might 
 abandon themfelves to the arms of whomfoever they pleafed. (Rigid 
 fidelity, however, was exafted at all other times. 
 
 Parents might traffic with the perfons of their daughters, without fub- 
 j effing themfelves to punifhment. Proftitution was fometimes reforted 
 to by^girls, whofe parents were unable to provide for them a proper 
 marriage portion. When one of thefe, having by this means, fecm;ed a 
 competence, defired to withdraw from that mode of life, fhe procured a 
 piece of ground whereon to build a houfe, and collefting her lovers, 
 announced to them, that thofe defirous of having her for a wife, mult 
 unite and build a houfe, after the plan which fhe fhould furnifb, and that 
 when completed, fhe would felecT; her hufband from amongft them. The 
 houfe being built and flocked, a feaft was prepared, at the clofe of which 
 the girl took the man of her choice by the arm and led him away, ex- 
 ulting to be preferred over his rivals. The rejected lovers, fays the 
 chronicler, " generally take it patiently, but occafionally one fufpends 
 " himfelf from a tree, in order that the devil may have his part in the 
 " wedding, and is eaten for his pains." 
 
 Note 30, page 93. 
 
 ARCHAEOLOGISTS are aware that the early monkifh writers 
 placed great ftrefs . on the fail that crofTes were . difcovered in 
 various parts of America, at the time of the Conqueft, whence 
 
[ 121 ] 
 
 they deduced fome very extraordinary conclufions. Don Carlos de 
 Siguenza y Gongora fpeaks of one taken from the cave of Mixteca-baxa, 
 and venerated in his day, in the convent church of Tonola, dedicated to 
 St. Dominic. This crofs, he avers, was " difcovered by the mufic of 
 " angels being heard in • faid cave, on every vigil of the apoftle St. 
 " Thomas,"- who, according to this pious hypothecs, introduced Chrif- 
 tianity into America, immediately after the era of Chrift. Gomara, 
 Bernal Diaz, and others mention crofles in Yucatan, and Boturini tefti- 
 fies to having frequently met with them ,in the paintings. His error 
 however, confifts in miftaking the fymbolical Tonacaquabuitl, or Tree of 
 Life, for a crofs. This is not the place to attempt an explanation of the 
 ideas connected with this fymbol, which has lately been taken as one of 
 the evidences of Phoenician eftablifhments in America ! It may be 
 obfefved however that the facred tree was varioufly reprefented, always 
 ofcourfeina conventional fpirit. In fome cafes its branches took the 
 form of a crofs, furmounted by a bird, and furrounded by various fym- 
 bols. This form was retained in a few of the monuments, as well as in 
 the paintings, as will be feen by reference to the principal tablet dif- 
 covered by Mr. Stephens at Palenque, in what he denominates Cafa 
 No. 2. I alfo found monolithic figures, fculptured in the form of 
 crofles, among the ruins in the ifland of Zapatero, in Lake Nicaragua. 
 {Nicaragua, its People, Scenery, Monuments, etc., vol. ii, pp. 58-62). 
 
 Note 31, page 96. 
 
 THIS paragraph is omitted in Terneaux Compan's tranflation. Mr. 
 Stephens obtained a brief vocabulary at Zacapa, thirty miles' to 
 the northweft of Copan, which he communicated to Mr. Gallatin, 
 by whom it was publilhed {Trans. Am. Ethnological Soc, vol. i, p. 9). 
 Of this dialeft Mrs Gallatin obferves {lb., p. 6) that " It appears to be 
 " the general language of the department of Chiquimula, and extends 
 " eafterly, as far at lead as the fite of the ancient Copan." The Chorti 
 however, as given in the vocabulary of Stephens, is only a dialedl of the 
 fame mother tongue, of which the Maya, Kachiquel, etc., are varieties. 
 This is perfectly confident with the hypothefis that it is the fame with 
 that denominated by Palacio the Apay, and which he affirms coincided 
 in all eflential refpefts with the languages current in Yucatan, and in the 
 provinces of Vera Paz and Chiquimula. 
 
 16 
 
[ I22 ] 
 
 Note 32, page 96. 
 
 TO the teftimony of Cortez, Bemal Diaz, Gomara, and Torquemada, 
 as. to the extent and fplendor of the temples and public edifices of 
 Mexico and Yucatan, I may add that of Las Cafas in regard to thofe 
 of Central America, conftituting part of Chapter lii of his Hijioria 
 Apologetica, as yet unpublifhed. The original MS. is not very clear, and 
 there are evident miftakes by the copyift, but I prefer to give the text 
 verbatim et literatim, without any attempt at emendation or improvement. 
 
 " En el Reyno de Guatemala, en la parte que va por la Sierras, eftaban 
 " ciudades de caba muy grandes, como era lo que fe llamaba Guatemala, 
 " y otra que era como la cabeza del Reyno, llamada Utlatan, con mara- 
 " villofos edificios de cal y canto, de los c.uales yo vi muchos ; y otros 
 " pueblos fin numero de aquellas fierras. 
 
 " Por la parte de los llanos de la cofta de la Mar del Sur, toda tierra 
 " felicifima, cuando al principio entraron en aquella tierra los Efpagnoles, 
 " eran tantos y tan grandes los pueblos y lugares y de tan immenfas 
 " gentes poblados, que los que iban delante volvian muchas veces atras al 
 " capitan, pidiendole albricias que habian hallado otra ciudad como la de 
 " Mexico ; y efto cuafi a cada pafo, como los veian tan grandes. 
 
 "El Reyno de Yucatan que dura mas que dos cientas y cincuenta 
 " leguas fus contornos, los edificios admirables que tenia y hoy eftan harto 
 " claro's no parece que fon menos dignos de admiracion, que las pira- 
 " mides. Habia los tantos y tales y tan grandes, y en ellos.cofas fenaladas 
 " y de notar que parece haber fido impofible por hombres edificarlos. 
 
 " Entre otras cofas memoralifimas que alii habia eran que como toda 
 " aquella provincia 6 reyno fea todo llano, y el fuelo cubierto de las laxas 
 " 6 penas lianas de que arriba, en el Cap. 30, digimos fer la provincia 
 " de Hyguey de efta ifla como naturalmente folada y toda de arboladas 
 " cubierta, eftaban hechos unos como grandes montes 6 fierras de tierra, 
 " y fobre ellos edificios de piedra y canteria, labrados y fundados fobre 
 " fortifimos y eftrafios cimientos fu cima de lo alto, de los cuales habia 
 " hechos de boveda otros mas artificiofos y fuertes y pulidos, que folo en 
 " un cuarto de cuartro pueden caber cien hombres bien apofentados. 
 
 " Tienen algunos de circuito media legua y no mucho menos, y vanfe 
 " hacia lo alto enfangoftado cuafi como las pyramides. Parece que 
 " millares de gente no podian haberlos edificado en cicuenta anos. 
 " Tienen efculpidas en las piedras muchas imagenes y antiguallas ; y aun 
 " dicefe que parecen tener letreros que digan algo de ciertos caraileres. 
 " Prefiimefe haber fido fepulturas de Reyes y Senores grandes. 
 
 " La Provincia que llamamos de Honduras tenia pueblos innumerables y 
 
[ I2 3 ] 
 
 " una vega de treinta leguas y mas, toda muy poblada. La provincia dc 
 " Naco y de Zula, la ciudad de Naco, que tenia fobre dos cientos mil 
 " animas, y muchos edificios de piedra, en efpecial los templos en que 
 " adoraban. 
 
 " La Regia y felicifima provincia de Nicaragua ? quien numerara fus 
 " poblaciones tantas y tan grandes ? Y como Tea tan anciana y de fructas 
 " fuavifimas tan abundante, primero ponian los arboles y frutales que los 
 " pueblos edificafen. 
 
 " La de Nicoya que es en el mifmo Reyno de Nicaragua, hacia el 
 " Golfo que entra en la tierra bien doce leguas, lleno de iflas pobladas, 
 " toda a la Mar del Sur; fus pueblos y numerofidad de vecinos eran 
 " grandes, puefto que las cafas no eran de piedra lino de madera muy 
 " bien hechas y cubiertas de paja. Comunmente donde la tierra es 
 " fria todas las cafas de los pueblos fon de madera y paja, „y en muchas 
 " partes las cubren de hojas de palmas por que las hay tan anchas como 
 " una rodela y cuafi en partes como una adarga. Siempre los templos 
 " edificaba de piedra 6 de adobes por lo alto cubiertos de paja, puefto 
 " que no en todos, pero en muchas partes." 
 
 Fuentes (peaks of the numerous large towns and cities found in Guate- 
 mala as proof that its aboriginal fovereignties were fcarcely lefs powerful 
 than thofe of Guatemala and Peru. He mentions particularly the public 
 buildings of Gueguetenango, Chialchitan, and others found in the depart- 
 ment of Vera Paz and " la fabrica marabillofa y fubterranea del pueblo 
 " de Puchuta que fiendo de firmifima y folida argama fe camina y corre 
 " por lo interior de la tierra por diftancia prolongada de *nueve leguas, 
 " hafta el pueblo de Tecpan Goatemala, que es argumento y prueba del 
 " foberano poder de aquellos reyes, y numerofidad fin calculo de los 
 " vafallos que los obedician." He fpeaks alfo of the great fortrefs of 
 Parrafquin, " la memorable y prodigifa fortaliza," which is feen defcend- 
 ing from Totonicapan, on the South coaft. Looking at all things, he 
 fays, " me hace creer que aun no podre comprender para efcribir todo lo 
 " que hay de marabillas fingulares en eftas nuevas y apreciables pro- 
 " vincias." 
 
 To the fame effeft is the teftimony of Dr. Alonzo de Zurita, Auditor 
 of Mexico, who wrote before Palacio, in 1554. He vilited Utlatan and 
 Guatemala, and has left us fome interefting particulars concerning thofe 
 regions in a MS. relation which formerly exifted in the library of the 
 college of San Pedro y San Pablo in Mexico, where it was feen and 
 copied by Boturini : 
 
 " En Utlatan habia muchos y muy grandes cues 6 templos de fus 
 " Idolos, de marvillofos edificios, y yo vi algunos aunque muy arruina- 
 " dos ; y alii tenian cues otros pueblos comarcanos, y el mas principal 
 
L I2 4 ] 
 
 de eftos el de un pueblo que llaman Chiquimula, y tenian a efte pueblo 
 de Utlatan como fantuario, y a efta caufa habia en el tantos y tan 
 principales cues. El Seilor de Chiquimula folia tener mucha gente y 
 pueblos, y quando alii eftube lo vi rriuy pobre y miferable." 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A CACEBASTLAN, Valley of, 
 
 Jr *~ 21. 
 
 Acajutla, Port of, 39. 
 
 Accoijchment, Indian Practices con- 
 cerning, 32, 79. 
 
 Achi, Language, 21. 
 
 Adultery, how punifhed, 85. 
 
 Aguachapa, Town, 47. 
 
 River, 23, 35, 53. 
 
 Ahuachapam, Aufoles of, 109. 
 
 Alligators, Numbers and Mode of 
 Capture, 25. 
 
 Alvarado, Pedro de, 33. 
 
 Amatitan, Lake, 29. 
 
 Ants, eaten by the Indians, 51. 
 
 Ant-eaters, 45. 
 
 Apaneca, Town, 43. 
 
 A pay, Language, 21, 96, 1 21. 
 
 Ataco, Town, 43. 
 
 Atacmizaya, Town, 51. 
 
 Atempamacegua, Town, 61. 
 
 Axin, a medicinal Pafte, 5 1 . 
 
 "DALSIMO, Cofta de, in. 
 *~* Balfam of Peru, 55, ill. 
 Bats, a mifchievous Variety, 29. 
 
 Bees, 29. 
 
 Benjamin, a Gum, 65. 
 Bezoar Stone, 43. 
 Bermudas, las, old Site of San Sal- 
 vador, 112. 
 Birth, extraordinary, 91. 
 Bifhops, Statues of, 93. 
 BobadiJla, Fray Francifco de, 119. 
 Bole of Armenia, 47. 
 Book, ancient, 95. 
 Burial Rites of Nicaraguans, 119. 
 Burial alive, attempt at, 89. 
 
 PJACAO, Tree and Fruit, 35, 63. 
 Cultivation of, 37. 
 Ceremonies in Planting 
 
 »» 37- 
 
 Production of, 39. 
 
 Mode of counting it, 39. 
 
 As Money, 107. 
 
 Qualities of, 107. 
 Caechicolchi, Language, 21. 
 Calpules, or aboriginal Barracks, 75, 
 
 .117. 
 Catherwood, his Drawings, 8, 9. 
 Caymans, Size of and Ferocity, 25. 
 
[ "6 ] 
 
 Centipedes, 27. 
 
 Cerezada, Andres, his Account of 
 
 Nicaragua, 116. 
 Cezori, Town, 87. 
 Cbalrbibites, 53, 73, no. 
 Cbakhiulcuye, Mexican Goddefs, 
 
 no. 
 Chaparriftique, 113. 
 Chiapas, Province of, 21 ; 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Chiapaneca, Language, 21.* 
 Chienanteca, Language, 21. 
 Chiquimula de la Sierra, 21, 23, 87. 
 Chirichota, Language, 21. 
 Childbirth, Ceremonies of, 79. 
 Chdluteca, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Chontal, Language, 21, 100, 103. 
 Indians, 31, 63, 65, 87, 
 
 113- 
 Chorti, Language, 121. 
 Circumcifion, Praftice of, 87. 
 Coatan, Village and Lake of, 53, 
 
 109. 
 Confanguinity, Laws concerning, 
 
 8 3 - 
 Copan, Ruins of, 91; their Extent, 
 
 93- 
 Cofta Rica, Province, 2 1 . 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 
 Cotes or Joco'tes, 29. 
 
 Cotton Mather, on the Origin of 
 
 the Indians, 100. 
 
 Croffes, fuppofed, 120. 
 
 Cuahtemalteca, Language, 21. 
 
 Cuatpeque, Town and Lake of, 109. 
 
 Cueulcan, Divinity, no, 115. 
 
 Cues, or aboriginal Temples, 65. 
 
 Cuzcadan, 59. 
 
 TRANCES, religious, 79. 
 ^ Duran, FraySDiego, 1 1 7. 
 
 "PARTHOUAKE, in San Salva- 
 
 ■^ dor, 59. 
 
 Errata, Page 1 o, 8th Line from the 
 Top, read Ocofingo for 
 Olofingo. 
 Page 102, 15 th Line from 
 the Top, read Nueva Se- 
 govia for Nueva Segoria. 
 
 Eftapa or Iftapa,tPort of, 33, 107. 
 
 "pALLS, extraordinary, 29. 
 *■ Feftivals, Mexican, 117, 118. 
 Flies, vencmous Varieties of, 27. 
 Fuentes, Hiftorian, 99, 106, no, 
 
 123. 
 Funeral Rites, 81. 
 
 /^AGE, Fray Thomas, 107. 
 ^"^ Galindo, Col., his Account of 
 
 the Ruins of Copan, 8. 
 Gilopango, or llopango, 61, 113. 
 Gotera, Town, 87. 
 
 Cazique of, 87. 
 Gracias a Dios, Town, 87. 
 Guaramal, Barranca of, 55, m. 
 Guatemala, Audiencia of, 19. 
 
 Commiffion for Explor- 
 ation of, 19. 
 
 Extent of, 19. 
 
 Boundaries of, 19. 
 
 Provinces in, 21. 
 
 Languages' ipoken in, 
 
 21. 
 
 Origin of Name .of, 99. 
 Guaymoco, Town of, 35, 55. 
 Guazacapan, Coaft of, Extent and 
 Productions, 23. 
 Climate, 27. 
 Charadler of Inhabit- 
 , ants, 3L 
 Reduftion of, 105. 
 Guija, or Guijar, Lake, 1 1 5. 
 
[ I2 7 ] 
 
 UERRARA, Hiftorian, 6, ioi. 
 Hervas, Philologift, Errors of, 
 104, 105. 
 Honduras, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Hunaphu, or Volcan de Agua, 99. 
 Hurateca, Language, 21. 
 
 JCELACA, Idol, 87. 
 
 Sacrifices to, 87. 
 
 Ilopango, Lake of, 61, 113. 
 
 Intermittent Springs, 57, 112. 
 
 Inceft, Punifliment of, 1 20. 
 
 Incenfe, Copal and Caoutchouc, 69. 
 
 Iflands, facred, 53. 
 
 Itzqueye, Female Divinity, 69, 73, 
 75- 
 
 Iximche, Indian Name of Guate- 
 mala, 99. 
 
 Izalco, Province of, 21. 
 Languages of, 21. 
 Defcription of, 35. 
 
 Iztepeque, Town, 63. 
 
 JIBOA, Plain of, 63. 
 Juarros, Hiftorian, 7. 
 Juitemal, firft King of the Kachi- 
 quels, 99. 
 
 TZ'ACHIQUEL Indians, 99, 101. 
 
 TA CENIZA, River, 41. 
 
 Laguna Verde, 109. 
 Las Cafas, Bifliop, his Account of 
 aboriginal Cities and Temples, 
 122. 
 Lake on Top of a Mountain, 89. 
 La Trinidad, Cities of, 41, 109. 
 Volcano near, 41. 
 Lava Fields, 57, 112. 
 
 Lempa, River, 23. 
 Liars, how punifhed, 85. 
 
 y^ALPATS, 57, 1.2. 
 
 Mamey, Language, 21. 
 
 ■ Mangue, Language, 21, 23. 
 
 Marabio, Language, 21. 
 
 Marriages, how arranged and cele- 
 brated, 83, 119. 
 
 Mexican, Language, 21. 
 
 Mexicans, Eftablifliment of, in Cuf- 
 catlan or San Salvador, 5. 
 
 Michatoyat, River, 23. 
 
 Falls in, 29, 105. 
 
 Michoacan, a medicinal Root, 63. 
 
 Micla, a facred Village, 65. 
 
 Miracle of an old Woman giving 
 Suck, 45. 
 
 Mitote, religious Dance, 81, 95. 
 
 Mojarras, a kind of Fifh, 61, 113. 
 
 Mourning for the Dead, 81. 
 
 Muficians, Indians, 65. 
 
 Mufioz, Royal Hiftoriographer, 3. 
 
 XTAHUATL or Mexican Lan- 
 
 _ guage, 100, 114. 
 Nefticpac, fulphureous Lakes of, 31. 
 Nicaragua, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Nicoya, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Nixapa, Town, 57. 
 Nunualco,. Indians, 63. 
 Numeration, Indian Syftem of, 39. 
 
 QAKS, great, S i. 
 
 ^"^ Ocofingo, Relics from, 1 1 o. 
 
 pALACIO, Dr. Don Diego Gar- 
 cia, Life and Writings of, 13. 
 Petrifications, .. extraordinary, 43, 
 108. 
 
[ ™8 J 
 
 Pipil, Language, 21, 100. 
 
 Indians and their Cuftoms, 
 31,65. 
 
 Origin of Name, 1 01. 
 Poconchi, Language, 21. 
 Popoluca, Language, 21, 31, 100, 
 
 103, 
 Poton, Language, 21, 114. 
 Pottery, Manufacture of, 47. 
 Prifoners of War, how facrificed, 
 
 73- 
 Proftitution, how regarded, 1 20. 
 
 QUETZAL, a facred Bird, 65, 
 
 Quetzakoatl, Divinity worfhiped by 
 the Indians, 69, 73, 75, no, 
 
 US; 
 Quiche Indians, 99. 
 
 R 
 
 APE, how puniftied, 85. 
 ■ Reffiraderos, 49. 
 Ruins of Copan, 9 1 . 
 
 Traditions concerning, 
 
 95- . . ' 
 
 Probable Origin, 96. 
 
 CACRIFICES, Indian Mode of, 
 ° 67.69.75>77> 
 
 87. 
 Human, 71, 116. 
 For planting, 75. 
 For hunting, 77. 
 On occafion of 
 Childbirth, 79. 
 For the Dead, 8 1 . 
 Mexican, 117. 
 Sacrilege, Punilhment of, 85. 
 San Miguel, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 
 San Salvador, Province, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 
 Volcano of, 57. 
 
 City of, 59, 
 
 When Founded, 1 1 2. 
 
 Deftruftion of, by 
 Earthquakes, 59. 
 Salt, Indian Manufacture of,' 23; 
 Santa Tecla, 113. 
 
 Ruins in, 1 1 7. 
 Savannahs, great, 27. 
 Scarabsus, extraordinary Variety of, 
 
 Scorpions, 27, 51. 
 Soconufco, Province of, 21. 
 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Sonfonate, City of, 41, 109. 
 Sodomy, Punilhment of, 120. 
 Spices, 87. 
 Springs of "hot Water, 47, 49, 61 , 
 
 63, 87, 109. 
 Sta. Ana, Town, 53. 
 Stephens, his Account of Copan, 8. 
 Suchitoto, Town, 1 1 2. 
 Suchitepequez, Province of, 21. 
 Languages in, 21. 
 
 HpAGUZ-GALPA, Province of, 
 21. 
 Languages in, 21. 
 Tapirs, 45, 89. 
 Taulepa, Language, 21, 114. 
 Tauleba, Lake, 1 1 4. 
 Teccacuangos, Mountains, 59. 
 Tecpa, Town, 43. 
 Teffi, facerdotal Chief or Pope, 65. 
 
 Mode of his Burial, 67. 
 
 Eleftion of, 67. 
 Temples,, aboriginal, 116.. 
 Teupas, or Indian Priefts, 65, 69, 
 
 73- 
 Teupixquis, fubordinate Priefts, 65. 
 
[ I2 9 ] 
 
 Temeaux-Compans, M., 3. 
 Tlacacebaftleca, Language, 21. 
 Tloque, Language, 21; 
 Toads, 51. 
 
 Tonola, Coaft of, 35, ill. 
 Tree of Life, 121. 
 
 T JBETLATECA, Language, 21. 
 
 Ulua, Language, zi, 114. 
 Uxaca, Lake, 63. t 
 
 T7"ERA PAZ, Province of, 21. 
 
 Languages, 21. 
 Victory, Mode of celebrating, 73. 
 Volcanoes, 41, 57. 
 
 "^nr^AR, Mode of making, 71. 
 ~ v Wounding, Punilhment of, 
 85. 
 
 YUCATAN, 96. 
 Yojoa, Lake, 1 1 4. 
 
 '7APOTECA, Language, 105. 
 
 Zeldal-quelen, Language, z 1 . 
 Zozil, Language, 21. 
 Zurita, the Chronicler, 123. 
 Zutugil Indians, 99, 114. 
 
 Ceremonies of Childbirth 
 among, 106. 
 
 "7 
 
SPANISH ERRATA. 
 
 " 22, 
 
 It tt 
 
 " 24, 
 
 Page 18, line 1, for r variadades i read *va- 
 
 ridades. 
 " 9, for mucko, read muckos. 
 ** 16, a comma after han mene- 
 
 fier. 
 " 18, for gafta, read gaftan. 
 " 26, for alliende f read aliende. 
 " 5, for admira, antique, read 
 
 admira aun 9 que, etc. 
 " 28, for feparan t read fe paran. 
 " 7, for el t read <r//<z, 
 " 9, forfe, read Ji. 
 " 20, for /#, read /o. 
 " o.^yfowuel'van read vuetoen. 
 " 24, for Jeparan, read Jepdran. 
 " 1, for herattj read / heran. 
 " 2, after poderofos, put femi- 
 
 colon. 
 "" 3, fupprefs fecond »&«. 
 " 11, comma aiter/er^Vo, and 
 
 for fepafe, read _/e ^>a/«. 
 *' 1 8, comma after t/rVAo. 
 " 25, for mudarfe, read mudaffe. 
 " 4, for remarfoy read remanfo. 
 " 5, for entra t read entrado. 
 " 10, comma after kacer. 
 11 11, dele comma«fter corricntc. 
 " 14, infert « after ,4Jj«. 
 ** 20, for comunamentty read co- 
 
 munmente. 
 " 25, for *0(£z.r, read fWcj. 
 " 27, for quartro } read quatro. 
 " 29, for con/o, read con/e. 
 " 15, for ha, read &j». 
 " 25, for ' poficioTiy fuftentarfe, 
 read pojicion ,■ fuflen- 
 
 • ton/tf, etc. 
 " I, for/alto de otro tdly e toda 
 
 ejia comarca, read falta 
 de otro tal en toda efia 
 comarca ; etc: 
 " 9, for Efpedidoy read Efpe- 
 
 lido. 
 " 4, for ifertilidady read /_/er- 
 
 tilidad. 
 " 20, for enga&andasy read f»- 
 
 ganadas. 
 44, " 4, for mamada wveriguey read 
 
 mamaba y awcriguty etc. 
 " " 9, for y«j/f, read que fe. 
 
 a 
 
 26, 
 
 it 
 
 28, 
 
 tt 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 ti 
 t( 
 
 3°, 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 3 2 > 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 tt 
 
 It 
 
 it 
 it 
 
 34, 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 tt 
 
 " 36, 
 
 tt tt 
 
 " 38, 
 
 tl ti 
 
 " 40, 
 
 it it 
 
 " 4*. 
 
 Page 44, 
 
 46, 
 
 48, 
 5°, 
 
 a 
 
 54, 
 
 56, 
 58, 
 
 " 60, 
 
 « M / 
 
 <( U 
 
 " 64, 
 
 « 68, 
 
 a ti 
 
 " 7°, 
 
 " 72, 
 
 it (C 
 
 " 74, 
 
 " 78, 
 
 84, 
 
 it 
 a 
 
 38, 
 
 ti 
 
 «c 
 
 88, 
 
 tt 
 
 9°, 
 
 ft 
 
 line 1 3, put comma after miferi-' 
 - cordia. 
 " I, femicolon after medico. 
 " ■ 3, colon after mucho. 
 " 7, for £af r'<z read baria. 
 " 20, put y«c after kumo. 
 " 8, forfa/e, read fabc. 
 " 3, for *#c^c, read die ha. 
 " 5, for «, read «. 
 ** 10, for Con, read £«. 
 " 20, for aufiy read **«£ 
 " 22, dele comma after fu&go. 
 " 23, put femicolon after •volcan. 
 " 24, for que manda t read que- 
 
 mada. 
 " 10, for otra, read ofro. 
 u 16, 17 ; put period after Ef- 
 
 pantada, and read £n /as 
 arrabales de la Cuidad y 
 jalen tres hojos 9 etc. e 
 " x, for'que, read <&. 
 " 10, for ellay read ellos. 
 " 22, for tienarty read tienen. 
 " 8, for color adosy read co/o- 
 
 radas. 
 " 18, for habia, read habian. 
 " 7, for ktcha-y read hechas a. 
 " 21, for cerra, read certaban. 
 " 1, former, read para. 
 11 2, colon after manos, 
 " 4, for manay read mano, 
 11 1 , after facer dotes y putfe. 
 " 29, for c&amufcado, read cha- 
 
 mujeada. 
 " 16, femicolon afteriizne, and 
 
 dele comma after jigni-* 
 jicara. 
 tg 19, for cortarbatiy read £or* 
 
 taban, 
 " 29, dele femicolon after rip, 
 and infert comma a«fter 
 ambos. 
 " 2, after gentilidadeSy infert 
 
 * s , 22, for delloSy read deltas 
 lt 1, for. trae j read traen. 
 " 6, for 1764, read 1564. 
 (< 28, for mitroy read mitra. 
 * * 1 , for gradoSy read gradas. 
 11 5, for «^z, read e/?«». 
 
ENGLISH ERRATA. 
 
 Page 10, line 8 from top, for Olqfingo^ read Ocqfingo. 
 " 51, line 3 from bottom, for f venemous J read 'vonomous. 
 11 100, line 1 from bottom, for auxiliaircSj read auxiliaries. 
 " 102, line 15 from top, for Nucva Segoria, read Nucva Segovia. 
 " " lines 24 and 25 from top, for barbcro, read barbaro. 
 
£H 
 
 i*$0 -<a 
 
 
 
 ,', l&* 
 
 
 ?r 
 
 /. v*