The Maya Chronicles / Brinton's Library Of Aboriginal American Literature, Number 1

by Unknown

Great Cycle.	Katun.
I.	8	They leave Nonoual (I.)
	6
	4
	2
II.	13	They arrive at Chacnouitan (I.)
	11
	9
	7
	5
	3
	1
	12
	10
	8	Chichen Itza heard of (II.)
	6	Bacalar and Chichen Itza discovered (I, II, III.)
	4	Ahmekat Tutulxiu arrives (I?, II.)
	2
III.	13	Pop first counted (i. e. calendar arranged) (II, III.)
	11	Remove to Chichen Itza (I.)
	9
	7
	5
	3
	1	Abandon Chichen Itza; remove to Champoton (I, II.)
	12
	10	Abandon Chichen Itza; remove to Champoton (III.)
	8
	6	Champoton taken (I, II.)
	4	Champoton taken (III.)
	2
IV.	13
	11
	9
	7
	5
	3
	1
	12
	10
	8	Champoton abandoned (I, II, III.)
	6	The Itzas houseless (I. II, III.) The welldressed” driven out (IV.)
	4	Return to Chichen Itza (I, II.)
	2	Uxmal founded (I.) The League in Mayapan begins (I.)
V.	13	Mayapan founded (V.)
	11
	9
	7
	5	Chichen Itza destroyed by Kinich Kakmo (IV.)
	3
	1	The last of the Itzas leave Chichen Itza (IV.)
	12
	10	Uxmal founded (II.)
	8	Plot of or against Hunac Ceel (I, II, III.)
		Zaclactun Mayapan founded (IV.)
		Chakanputun burned (IV.)
	6	War with Ulmil (I.)
	4	The land of Mayapan seized (II, III.)
	2
VI.	13
	11	Mayapan attacked by Itzas under Ulmil and depopulated by foreigners (I.)
	9
	7
	5	Naked cannibals came (IV.)
	3
	1	Tancah Mayapan destroyed (IV.)
	12
	10
	8	Mayapan finally destroyed (I, II, III, V.)
	6	The Maya league ended (V.)
	4	The pestilence (II, III, IV.)
	2	Spaniards first seen (I, II.) Smallpox (III.)
VII	13	Ahpula died (I, II, III.) The pestilence (I.)
	11	Spaniards arrive (I, II, III, IV, V.) Ahpula died (IV.)

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I. THE SERIES OF THE KATUNS.

From the Book of Chilan Balam of Mani.

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The first chronicle which I present is the only one which has been heretofore published. On account of its comparative fullness it deserves especial attention. It is taken from the Book of Chilan Balam of the town of Mani.

This town, according to a tradition preserved by Herrera, was founded after the destruction of Mayapan, and, therefore, not more than seventy years before the arrival of the Spaniards. Mayapan was destroyed in consequence of a violent feud between the two powerful families who jointly ruled there, the Cocoms and the Xius or Tutul Xius. The latter, having slain all members of the Cocom family to be found in the city, deserted its site and removed south about fifteen miles, and there established as their capital a city to which they gave the name Mani, “which means ‘it is past,’ as if to say ‘let us start anew.’”[89-1]

At the time of the Conquest the reigning chief of the Tutulxius was friendly to the Spaniards, and voluntarily submitted to their rule, as we are informed with much minuteness of detail by the historian Cogolludo.[90-1] We may reasonably suppose, therefore, that this chronicle was brought from Mayapan in the “Books of Science,” which Herrera refers to as esteemed their greatest treasure by the chiefs who broke up their ancient confederation when Mayapan was deserted. Hence the records ran a better chance of being preserved in this province than in those which were desolated by war. As I have already said (page [65]) a large number were destroyed precisely at Mani by Bishop Landa, in 1562.

I find among the memoranda of Dr. Berendt reference to four “Books of Chilan Balam,” of Mani. These dated from 1689, 1697, 1755 and 1761, respectively, but I have not learned from which of these Pio Perez extracted the chronicles he gave Mr. John L. Stephens. Dr. Berendt adds that it was from one which was in possession of a native schoolmaster of Mani, who, having the surname Balam, claimed to be descended from the original Chilan Balam![91-1]