It is usual to speak of America as "a continent without a history." The folly of such a statement is extreme. For centuries prior to European occupation Central America was the seat of civilisations boasting a history and a semi-historical mythology second to none in richness and interest. It is only because the sources of that history are unknown to the general reader that such assurance upon the lack of it exists.
Let us hope that this book may assist in attracting many to the head-fountain of a river whose affluents water many a plain of beauty not the less lovely because bizarre, not the less fascinating because somewhat remote from modern thought.
In conclusion I have to acknowledge the courtesy of the Bureau of American Ethnology, which placed in my hands a valuable collection of illustrations and allowed me to select from these at my discretion. The pictures chosen include the drawings used as tailpieces to chapters; others, usually half-tones, are duly acknowledged where they occur.
I. The Civilisation of Mexico 1 II. Mexican Mythology 54 III. Myths and Legends of the Ancient Mexicans 118 IV. The Maya Race and Mythology 143 V. Myths of the Maya 207 VI. The Civilisation of Old Peru 248 VII. The Mythology of Peru 291 Bibliography 335 Glossary and Index 341
The Princess is given a Vision Frontispiece The Descent of Quetzalcoatl xiv Toveyo and the Magic Drum 16 The Altar of Skulls 26 The Guardian of the Sacred Fire 30 Pyramid of the Moon: Pyramid of the Sun 32 Ruins of the Pyramid of Xochicalco 34 The Spirit of the dead Aztec is attacked by an Evil Spirit who scatters Clouds of Ashes 38 The Demon Izpuzteque 40 The Aztec Calendar Stone 44 A Prisoner fighting for his Life 48 Combat between Mexican and Bilimec Warriors 53 Priest making an Incantation over an Aztec Lady 54 The Princess sees a Strange Man before the Palace 62 Tezcatlipoca, Lord of the Night Winds 66 The Infant War-God drives his Brethren into a Lake and slays them 70 Statue of Tlaloc, the Rain-God 76 The Aged Quetzalcoatl leaves Mexico on a Raft of Serpents 80 Ritual Masks of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca; and Sacrificial Knife 84 The so-called Teoyaominqui 88 Statue of a Male Divinity 90 Xolotl 94 The Quauhxicalli, or Solar Altar of Sacrifice 98 Macuilxochitl 102 The Penitent addressing the Fire 106 Cloud Serpent, the Hunter-God 110 Mexican Goddess 114 Tezcatlipoca 117 "Place where the Heavens Stood" 120 A Flood-Myth of the Nahua 122 The Prince who fled for his Life 126 The Princess and the Statues 130 The King's Sister is shown the Valley of Dry Bones 140 Mexican Deity 142 The Prince who went to Found a City 156 "The Tablet of the Cross" 160 Design on a Vase from Chamá representing Maya Deities 166 The House of Bats 172 Part of the Palace and Tower, Palenque 182 The King who loved a Princess 186 Teocalli or Pyramid of Papantla: The Nunnery, Chichen-Itza 188 Details of the Nunnery at Chichen-Itza 190 The Old Woman who took an Egg home 192 Great Palace of Mitla: Interior of an Apartment in the Palace of Mitla 198 Hall of the Columns, Palace of Mitla 202 The Twins make an Imitation Crab 214 The Princess and the Gourds 220 The Princess who made Friends of the Owls 222 In the House of Bats 226 How the Sun appeared like the Moon 230 Queen Móo has her Destiny foretold 240 The Rejected Suitor 242 Piece of Pottery representing a Tapir 247 Doorway of Tiahuanaco 248 Fortress at Ollantay-tampu 250 "Mother and child are united" 252 The Inca Fortress of Pissac 254 "Making one of each nation out of the clay of the earth" 258 Painted and Black Terra-cotta Vases 280 Conducting the White Llama to the Sacrifice 312 "The birdlike beings were in reality women" 318 "A beautiful youth appeared to Thonapa" 320 "He sang the song of Chamayhuarisca" 322 "The younger one flew away" 324 "His wife at first indignantly denied the accusation" 326 "He saw a very beautiful girl crying bitterly" 328