That the work had been so planned as to embody practically all information extant on what I had come to regard as an important subject, and that the plan had been faithfully executed, I thoroughly believed. But that others would, to any great extent, share my opinion; that the subject would interest so many classes of readers; that mine would be so quickly and cordially recognized by men of science and letters throughout the world as a work worth doing and well done; and that it would be at once accorded a place in literature, I had not dared to hope. The leading journals of England, France, Germany, and the United States, have deemed the volumes as issued worthy of extended reviews; and criticism for the most part has been liberal, and just—save a tendency to what might seem, to a mind less prejudiced than mine, extravagant praise. Minor defects have been fairly pointed out; and in the few instances where fault has been found, either with the plan or its execution, one critic condemns what another approves, so that I am led to believe no serious error of judgment has been committed.

I cannot here make proper acknowledgments to all to whom they are due; but let those who have manifested their kind good-will, and those who have not, so long as they feel it, accept my grateful thanks.

San Francisco, November, 1875.

CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICANS.
PAGE.
Spirit of Inquiry in the Middle Ages—Unity of Origin—Flood Myths—AboriginalTraditions of Origin—Culture Heroes—China—Japan—Hindustan—Tartary—TheEgyptian Theory—The Phœnicians—Votan'sTravels—The Carthaginians—The Hebrew Theory—TheMormon Story—The Visits of the Scandinavians—CelticOrigin—The Welsh—Scotch—Irish—The Greeks and Romans—TheStory of Atlantis—The Autochthonic Theory[1]
CHAPTER II.
INTRODUCTORY TO ABORIGINAL HISTORY.
Origin and Earliest History of the Americans Unrecorded—The DarkSea of Antiquity—Boundary between Myth and History—PrimitiveAnnals of America compared with those of the Old World—Authoritiesand Historical Material—Traditional Annals and theirValue—Hieroglyphic Records of the Mayas and Nahuas—SpanishWriters—The Conquerors—The Missionaries—The Historians—ConvertedNative Chroniclers—Secondary Authorities—Ethnology—Arts,Institutions, and Beliefs—Languages—Material Monumentsof Antiquity—Use of Authorities and Method of treatingthe Subject[133]
CHAPTER III.
THE PRE-TOLTEC PERIOD OF ABORIGINAL HISTORY.
Subdivision of the Subject—Tzendal Tradition of the Votanic Empire—Votan'sBook and its Contents as reported by Nuñez de laVega, Cabrera, and Ordoñez—Testimony of Manners and Customs,Religion, Languages, and Monuments of the CivilizedNations respecting the Primitive Maya Peoples—The QuichéRecord, or Popol Vuh—Civilizing Efforts of Gucumatz and hisFollowers—Exploits of Hunahpu and Xbalanque—Conquest ofXibalba—Migration from Tulan Zuiva, the Seven Caves—Meaningof the Quiché Tradition—Nahua Traditions—The Toltecs inTamoanchan according to Sahagun—The Codex Chimalpopoca—Pre-ToltecNations in Mexico—Olmecs and Xicalancas—TheQuinames—Cholula and Quetzalcoatl—The Totonacs—Teotihuacan—Otomís,Miztecs, Zapotecs, and Huastecs—The Toltecs inHuehue Tlapallan—Migration to Anáhuac—The Chichimecs inAmaquemecan—Ancient Home of the Nahuatlacas and Aztecs—PrimitiveAnnals of Yucatan—Conclusions[156]
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOLTEC PERIOD.
The Nahua Occupation of Mexico in the Sixth and Seventh Centuries—Conditionof Anáhuac—The Mixcohuas and Chichimec Culhuas—TheToltecs at Tulancingo and Tollan—Establishment of aMonarchy and Choice of a King, 710-720 A.D.—Kingdoms ofCulhuacan and Quauhtitlan—The Teoamoxtli—Prophecies andDeath of Hueman—Birth of Quetzalcoatl—Foundation of theEmpire, 856 A.D.—Alliance between Culhuacan, Otompan, andTollan—Reign of Topiltzin Ceacatl Quetzalcoatl at Tollan—Excessesof Huemac II., or Tecpancaltzin—Xochitl, the King'sMistress—Fulfillment of the Prophet's Predictions—Toveyo'sAdventures—Plagues sent upon the Toltecs—Famine and Pestilence—Reignof Acxitl, or Topiltzin—Debauchery of King,Nobles, and Priests—Tokens of Divine Wrath—Foreign Invaders—FinalOverthrow of the Toltec Empire[237]
CHAPTER V.
THE CHICHIMEC PERIOD.
The Chichimecs in Amaquemecan—Migration to Anáhuac underXolotl—The Invaders at Chocoyan and Tollan—Foundation ofXoloc and Tenayocan—Xolotl II., Emperor of the Chichimecs—Divisionof Territory—The Toltecs at Culhuacan—Rule of Xiuhtemocand Nauhyotl III.—Pochotl, Son of Acxitl—Conquest ofCulhuacan—Death of Nauhyotl—Huetzin, King of Culhuacan—Migrationand Reception of the Nahuatlaca Tribes—The Acolhuasat Coatlichan and the Tepanecs at Azcapuzalco—Nonohualcatl,King of Culhuacan—Revolt of Yacanex—Death of Xolotl II.—Nopaltzin,King of Tenayocan, and Emperor of the Chichimecs—Reignsof Achitometl and Icxochitlanex at Culhuacan—Tendenciestoward Toltec Culture[289]
CHAPTER VI.
THE CHICHIMEC PERIOD.—CONTINUED.
Migration of the Aztecs—Nations of Anáhuac at Beginning of theThirteenth Century—The Aztecs submit to the Tepanecs—Reignof the Emperor Tlotzin—Quinantzin, King of Tezcuco and ChichimecEmperor—Transfer of the Capital—Tenancacaltzin usurpsthe Imperial Throne at Tenayocan—The Usurper defeated byTepanecs and Mexicans—Acolnahuacatl proclaimed Emperor—Quinantzin'sVictories—Battle at Poyauhtlan—Quinantzin againEmperor—Toltec Institutions at Tezcuco—Events at Culhuacan—Mexicansdriven from Chapultepec—Alliance between Mexicansand Culhuas—Religious Strife—Foundation of Mexico—Reign ofthe Emperor Techotl—Political Changes—Ruin of the CulhuaPower—Tezozomoc, King of Azcapuzalco—Separation of Mexicansand Tlatelulcas—Acamapichtli II., King of Mexico—Quaquauhpitzahuac,King of Tlatelulco[321]
CHAPTER VII.
THE CHICHIMEC PERIOD—CONCLUDED.
Aztec History—Reigns of Acamapichtli II. and Quaquauhpitzahuac—Rebuildingof Culhuacan—Huitzilihuitl II., King of Mexico—Tlacateotzin,King of Tlatelulco—Chimalpopoca Succeeds in Mexico—Funeralof Techotl—Ixtlilxochitl, Emperor of the Chichimecs—Symptomsof Discontent—Plans of Tezozomoc, the TepanecKing—Secret Council of Rebels—Religious Toleration inTezcuco—Conquest of Xaltocan and Cuitlahuac—Birth of Nezahualcoyotl—Warbetween Tezcuco and Azcapuzalco—Victories ofIxtlilxochitl—Siege and Fall of Azcapuzalco—Treachery of Tezozomoc—Fallof Tezcuco—Flight and Death of Ixtlilxochitl—Tezozomocproclaimed Emperor—Re-organization of the Empire—Adventuresof Nezahualcoyotl—Death of Tezozomoc—Maxtla usurpsthe Imperial Throne—Murder of the Mexican Kings—Nezahualcoyotl'sVictory—Itzcoatl, King of Mexico—Acolhua and AztecAlliance—Fall of Azcapuzalco—The Tri-partite Alliance, or theNew Empire[359]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE AZTEC PERIOD.
Outline of the Period—Revolt of Coyuhuacan—Nezahualcoyotl onthe Throne of Tezcuco—Conquest of Quauhtitlan, Tultitlan, Xochimilco,and Cuitlahuac—Conquest of Quauhtitlan—Destructionof the Records—Death of Itzcoatl and Accession of Montezuma I.New Temples at Mexico—Defeat of the Chalcas—Troubles withTlatelulco—Conquest of Cohuixco and Mazatlan—Flood and SixYears' Famine—Conquest of Miztecapan—The Aztecs conquerthe Province of Cuetlachtlan and reach the Gulf Coast—FinalDefeat of the Chalcas—Campaign in Cuextlan—Birth of Nezahualpilli—Improvementsin Tenochtitlan—Embassy to Chicomoztoc—Deathof Montezuma I. and Accession of Axayacatl—Raidin Tehuantepec—Chimalpopoca succeeds Totoquihuatzin on theThrone of Tlacopan—Nezahualpilli succeeds Nezahualcoyotl atTezcuco—Revolt of Tlatelulco—Conquest of Matlaltzinco—Defeatby the Tarascos—Death of Axayacatl[400]
CHAPTER IX.
THE AZTEC PERIOD—CONCLUDED.
Reign of Tizoc—Nezahualpilli defeats the Huexotzincas—Ahuitzotl,King of Mexico—Campaigns for Captives—Dedication of Huitzilopochtli'sTemple—Seventy Thousand Victims—TotoquihuatzinII., King of Tlacopan—Mexican Conquests—Conquest of Totonacapan—AztecReverses—Successful Revolt of Tehuantepec andZapotecapan—Conquest of Zacatollan—Anecdotes of Nezahualpilli—New Aqueduct, and Inundation of Mexico—Montezuma II. on theThrone—Condition of the Empire—Montezuma's Policy—UnsuccessfulInvasion of Tlascala—Famine—Conquest of Miztecapan—Tying-upof the Cycle in 1507—Omens of coming Disaster—TheSpaniards on the Coast of Central America—Trouble betweenMexico and Tezcuco—Retirement and Death of Nezahualpilli—Cacama,King of Acolhuacan—Revolt of Ixtlilxochitl—Final Campaignsof the Aztecs—The Spaniards on the Gulf Coast—Arrivalof Hernan Cortés[436]
CHAPTER X.
HISTORY OF THE EASTERN PLATEAU, MICHOACAN, AND OAJACA.
Early History of the Eastern Plateau—The Chichimec-Toltecs—Arrivalof the Teo-Chichimecs in Anáhuac—They Conquer and Settle theEastern Plateau—Civil Wars—Miscellaneous Events—Wars betweenTlascala and the Nations of Anáhuac—Early History ofMichoacan—Wars between Wanacaces and Tarascos—Foundingof Tzintzuntzan—Metamorphosis of the Tarasco Princes—Encroachmentsof the Wanacaces—The King of the Isles—Murder of Pawacumeand Wapeani—Reigns of Curatame, Tariacuri, TangaxoanI., Ziziz Pandacuare, Zwanga, and Tangaxoan II.—Origin of theMiztecs and Zapotecs—Wixipecocha—Rulers of Oajaca—TheHuaves and Mijes—Later Kings and History of Oajaca—Warswith Mexico[483]
CHAPTER XI.
THE QUICHÉ-CAKCHIQUEL EMPIRE IN GUATEMALA.
No Chronology in the South—Outline View—Authorities—Xbalanqueat Utatlan—The Migration from Tulan—Balam-Quitzéand his Companions—Sacrifices to Tohil—The Quichés on MountHacavitz—The Tamub and Ilocab—First Victories—QocavibFounds the Monarchy at Izmachi—The Toltec Theory—ImaginaryEmpire of the East—Different Versions of Primitive History—TheCakchiquel Migration—Juarros and Fuentes—Lists ofKings—Cakchiquels under Hacavitz—Reigns of Balam-Conache,Cotuha, and Iztayul, at Izmachi—War against the Ilocab—TheStolen Tribute—Gucumatz, Quiché Emperor at Utatlan—Changesin the Government—Reigns of Cotuha II., Tepepul, and IztayulII.—Cakchiquel History—Conquests of Quicab I.—Revolt of theAchihab—Dismemberment of the Empire—Cakchiquel Conquests—Reignsof the last Guatemalan Kings—Appearance of the Spaniardsunder Alvarado in 1524[540]
CHAPTER XII.
MISCELLANEOUS TRIBES OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
Scarcity of Historical Data—The Tribes of Chiapas—The Foundersand Heroes of the Chiapanec Nation—Wars with the Aztecs—ThePeople of the Southern Coast—They are vanquished by the Olmecs—TheirExodus and Journey—They settle and separate—Juarros'Account of the Origin and later History of the Pipiles—PipileTradition—The Founding of Mictlan—Queen Comizahual—Acxitl'sEmpire of the East—The Cholutecs—VariousTribes of Nicaragua—Settlements of the Isthmus[603]
CHAPTER XIII.
HISTORY OF THE MAYAS IN YUCATAN.
Aboriginal Names of Yucatan—The Primitive Inhabitants from theEast and West—Zamná the Pontiff-King—The Itzas at Chichen—Rulesof Cukulcan at Chichen and Mayapan—His Disappearanceon the Gulf Coast—The Cocome Rule at Mayapan—Appearanceof the Tutul Xius—Translation of the Maya Record by Perez andBrasseur—Migration from Tulan—Conquest of Bacalar and Chichen—ItzaAnnals—Tutul Xius at Uxmal—Overthrow of theCocome Dynasty—The Confederacy, or Empire, of Tutul Xius,Itzas, and Cheles—Fable of the Dwarf—Overthrow of the TutulXius—Final Period of Civil Wars[614]

NATIVE RACES
of the
PACIFIC STATES
Map of
CENTRAL MEXICO
TO ILLUSTRATE
PRIMITIVE HISTORY.

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