abouil, the Chay Abah, Xibilbay, etc., have been discussed in the Introduction. The passage corresponds to the first chapter of the third book of the Popol Vuh.
Tulan, Tullan; these variations are in the original.
[5.] The particle tan, with which the paragraph opens, throws the narrative into the “historical present,” for the sake of greater vividness. The verb
ak, as at present used, means to make bricks, etc., out of earth.
xtiho; translated by Brasseur, “the trial was made;” but it is the imperfect passive of tih, which means “to give to another something to eat or drink.”
xaki, plural of xak, generic word for leaf.
utiuh, koch; besides these, two other animals are named in the Popol Vuh.
achak is the general word for excrement, either of men or brutes; also, refuse, waste products in general.
tiuh tiuh is the name of a small variety of hawk. “El gavilan pequeño.” Guzman, Compendio de Nombres en Lengua Cakchiquel. MS.