remained rendering however a very unwilling obedience. A secure footing having now been obtained, Montejo extended the occupation of Yucatan; and on the 28th of May, 1543, founded the city of Valladolid, in the province of Choáca, which he dedicated "to the glorious Virgin Mary;" but its site was subsequently changed from Choáca to Zaqui, the situation of the latter place affording greater advantages. To subjugate Bakhalal was the next proceeding, and on this mission Gaspar Pacheco was sent from Merida, with the titles of Captain-General and Lieutenant-Governor, accompanied by a sufficient force. After overcoming great difficulties, Pacheco succeeded in conquering the province, and in 1544 founded the city of Salamanca.

But though conquered, the Indians were not pacified. They cherished an inveterate hatred to the Spaniards, which manifested itself on every available occasion; and it required the utmost watchfulness, energy, and concert, to suppress the insurrections which from time to time. broke out, nor was it until the commencement of the year 1547 that the final pacification of Yucatan can be said to have been accomplished.

CHAPTER VIII.

FIRST POPULATION OF YUCATAN.-FORM OF GOVERNMENT.-THE LAWS OF THE MAYAS, THEIR FORMS OF WORSHIP, AND SUPERSTITIOUS OBSERVANCES.-WITCHCRAFT.-PAINTED RECORDS.-CALENDAR OF THE CEREMONIES.-IDOL

MAYAS.-HISTORICAL

ERAS.-RELIGIOUS

WOR

SHIP. CELEBRATED SHRINES.-BLOOD SACRIFICES.-PRIESTCRAFT.

THE military subjugation of the northern districts of the peninsula having now been effected, its more absolute pacification by the aid of the Christian religion became the main object of the conquerors. Previously however to entering upon the narrative of conversion, it may be desirable to give an outline of the moral condition of the Natives, together with some indication of their early history.

Opinion is divided with regard to the manner in which Yucatan was first peopled, some writers affirming that the early settlers came from the East, and others, with, we think, a much greater show of probability, from the West. Tradition tells that from the western land came a large tribe, headed by a priest named Zamná, who gave names to all the seaports, headlands, and other remarkable features of the country; but it is more likely that the first influx of population is attributable to the great victory that was gained by the nation of the Teo

chichimecas over the Huexotzincas, by which the former became masters of the province of Tlascala, and, making peace with the surrounding tribes, gradually extended their migrations eastward till they entered the peninsula of Yucatan.

But the language of Yucatan is widely different from that of Mexico, and on this fact the supporters of an Eastern immigration ground their belief.

The Padre Lizana affirms that the inhabitants of the eastern and western shores were quite distinct from each other, calling the former "Cenial," and the latter "Nohhuial," words which signify the "lesser" and "greater descent" or "irruption." No records however exist to guide us with any certainty towards the actual source from whence the population proceeded, and we are compelled to fall back on the only known account of the nation's origin.

It resolves itself simply into this, that the country of Yucatan, which the natives called Máya, was first governed by a single ruler, in whose family the supreme authority remained, and whose last descendant was Tutul Xiu, Cacique of Mani,--the same who, with a number of dependent chiefs, came voluntarily, in the year 1541, to proffer friendship and submission to the Spanish invaders.

This cacique, or king,—for the form of government is stated to have been monarchical,-reigned in a populous city called Máyapan, which continued to be the capital of the country until the year 1520 of our era, or two hundred and seventy years from its foundation, according to the computation of the Indians. At this period the various caciques who rose to power during the intestine wars which had long disturbed the kingdom, united for

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[СНАР.

CHAP. VIII.

the purpose of putting an end to the absolute sway of one, and resolved on the destruction of Máyapan, a resolution which they carried out, leaving the king no other possessions than the territory of Mani with its dependencies.

The country was thus broken up into numerous lordships, in each of which the same form of government and the same customs continued to prevail.

Of these the most worthy of notice are such as affected the general principles of the laws of the Máyas, their forms of worship, and the superstitions which they practised.

The code of laws by which the natives of Yucatan were governed appears to have been of very simple form. The relative conditions of debtor and creditor were not recognized; but for such crimes as theft and adultery, the offender, when caught in flagrante delicto, was seized, his hands tied behind his back, a collar of wood was fastened on his neck, and he was thrown into a strong cage, until again brought out for judgment. In these cages were also confined the prisoners whom they took in battle. If they were of the common order, slavery was their portion; if men of rank, they were sacrificed to the idols, though in some cases ransom was allowed. One particular cage was painted of different colours, and in it were placed the children destined for sacrifice, as well as those of mature age condemned to the same fate. There was no appeal from the decrees of the judges, and in certain cases the punishment was of the severest kind. Adultery was looked upon as the greatest offence that could be committed, and both sexes were punished alike, being shot to death with arrows, or, according to Aguilar, impaled'. Rape and seduction also entailed the

1 Aguilar, fol. 81. col. 1, cited by Cogolludo.

punishment of death, and it is recorded that a cacique of the city of Mayapan, the capital of the kingdom, caused his own brother to be put to a terrible death for having seduced a virgin. He who slew another was also capitally punished, but in what manner is not stated; he was not, however, made a target for arrows1. If the homicide was accidental, the price of blood was compounded for by the delivery of a slave; and if a minor killed a man, his punishment was slavery. Death was inflicted on traitors and incendiaries, and thieves were condemned to be slaves till they were able to buy back their liberty; and, failing to do this, were slaves for life. In cases of adultery, when the crime was not actually witnessed, but only strongly suspected, the presumed offender was punished by having his hands tied behind his back for a certain number of days or hours, or was stripped naked, or had his hair cut off (which was considered a mark of great disgrace), according to the gravity of the circumstances that weighed against him. In a declaration of innocence, or the affirmation of any particular fact, oaths were not taken, but in their stead curses were launched against the supposed false witness, in the belief that the fear of being cursed would prevent a lie being uttered. It was not the custom to flog delinquents, this kind of punishment being unknown to the Indians before they were reclaimed from infidelity.

"The abuses and superstitions," observes Cogolludo, 'which the Indians of Yucatan inherit from their fathers, are many and various. They believe in dreams, and interpret and accommodate them to the nature of affairs which they have on hand. If they hear the cry of a bird which they call kipchch, they derive a bad augury 'Aunque no moria flechado."-Cogolludo.

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