The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 2, Civilized Nations / The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 2

by Hubert Howe Bancroft

[1068] In Yucatan: 'These Barbarians eate onely their enemies, or such strangers as come vnto them, otherwise they abstaine from mans flesh.' Peter Martyr, dec. iv., lib. vi. In Guatemala the heads and tripe were seasoned with wine. Las Casas, Hist. Apologética, MS., cap. clxxvii.; Id., in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. viii., p. 147; Villagutierre, Hist. Conq. Itza, pp. 649, 651; Gomara, Hist. Ind., fol. 62; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. ii., lib. iv., cap. vii., dec. iii., lib. iv., cap. vi., vii., lib. vii., cap. iii., dec. iv., lib. x., cap. iv.; Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. iv., pp. 37, 51-2, 56, 108; Andagoya, in Navarrete, Col. de Viajes, tom. iii., p. 420; Benzoni, Hist. Mondo Nuovo, fol. 35, 104; Albornoz, in Icazbalceta, Col. de Doc., tom. i., p. 486; Helps' Span. Conq., vol. iii., p. 88; Pimentel, Mem. sobre la Raza Indígena, p. 23; Morelet, Voyage, tom. i., p. 191.

[1069] The Itzas, men and women, wore 'faxas' 4 varas long and 1/3 vara wide. Villagutierre, Hist. Conq. Itza, pp. 312, 402, 498. At Campeche, a strip of cotton one hand wide, twisted and wound 20 or 30 times about the body. Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. i., pp. 512-13. This garment called mastate. Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 2. Ends embroidered and decorated with feathers. Landa, Relacion, p. 116. Almayzares, called in New Spain mastil; otherwise naked. Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. i., lib. v., cap. v., dec. ii., lib. iv., cap. vii.; Cortés' Despatches, p. 4. The Chiapanecs naked except this cloth about the loins. Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, pp. 292, 302.

[1070] Plate showing the costume of an Indian of the interior. Waldeck, Voy. Pitt., pl. v. Trowsers of cotton in Salvador. Squier's Cent. Amer., p. 321.

[1071] Called tilmas or hayates, a yard and a half square. Cogolludo, Hist. Yuc., p. 187. Mantles called zuyen. Id., p. 2. 'Mantas pintadas.' Las Casas, in Kingsborough's Mex. Antiq., vol. viii., p. 147.

[1072] Cotton robes of bright colors. Squier's Cent. Amer., p. 551. 'Tuniques.' Ternaux-Compans, in Nouvelles Annales des Voy., 1843, tom. xcvii., p. 52. 'Sacks.' Fancourt's Hist. Yuc., pp. 284-5. 'Camisetas de colores.' Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. i., p. 497. 'Xaquetas de algodon.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 2. 'Camisette senza maniche.' Benzoni, Hist. Mondo Nuovo, pp. 98, 104.

[1073] Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. ii., p. 172. Mayas dress like the Mexicans. Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iii., lib. iv., cap. vii.

[1074] Landa, Relacion, pp. 148-50; Palacio, Carta, pp. 62-4; Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, p. 137; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iii., lib. iv., cap. vii., dec. iv., lib. viii., cap. x., dec. ii., lib. ii., cap. xvii.; Ximenez, Hist. Ind. Guat., p. 197; Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. ii., p. 54.

[1075] 'L'étoffe rayée d'une ou de plusieurs couleurs que les femmes se roulent encore autour du corps en la serrant à la ceinture comme un jupon, descendant plus ou moins bas au-dessous du genou, se trouve être exactement la même que l'on voit aux images d'Isis et aux femmes égyptiennes des époques pharaoniques.' Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. ii., p. 67. Skirt from the waist to feet, called pic. Cogolludo, Hist. Yuc., pp. 187-8, 699. 'Ropas de algodon, que llaman naguas.' Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 2; Andagoya, in Navarrete, Col. de Viajes, tom. iii., p. 414; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iv., lib. x., cap. iv.; Landa, Relacion, pp. 184-6, 16, 144-6, 180.

[1076] 'Es lo mas dificultoso en los Indios el reduzirlos à cortarles el pelo.' Villagutierre, Hist. Conq. Itza, pp. 498, 312. In Guatemala somewhat less attention seems to have been paid to the hair. 'Trayanlo encrespado, ò rebujado en la cabeça como estopas, à causa de que no se lo peynauan.' Remesal, Hist. Chyapa, p. 302; Cogolludo, Hist. Yuc., p. 187, speaks of straw and palm-leaf hats, but he probably refers to his own time. Hair of priests filled with blood. Id., p. 5; Bernal Diaz, Hist. Conq., fol. 3; Squier's Cent. Amer., pp. 321, 551. In Nicaragua 'traen rapadas las cabeças de la mitad adelante é los aladares por debaxo, é déxanse una coleta de oreja á oreja por detrás desde la coronilla.' Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. iv., pp. 38, 108; Landa, Relacion, pp. 112-14, 184; Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. ii., p. 68; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iv., lib. x., cap. iii., lib. viii., cap. x. Aguilar wore a 'corona y trença de cabellos, como los naturales.' Gomara, Hist. Ind., fol. 62; Id., Conq. Mex., fol. 23; Palacio, Carta, p. 62.

[1077] Benzoni, Hist. Mondo Nuovo, p. 35; Charnay, Ruines Amér., p. 341; Landa, Relacion, p. 114; Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iv., lib. x., cap. iii.; Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. iv., p. 111.