Table of ContentsPREFACEvCONTENTSixLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSxiMAPSxiiiI.CHAPTER I: THE CIVILISATION OF MEXICO1The Civilisations of the New World1Evidence of Animal and Plant Life2Origin of American Man2Traditions of Intercourse with Asia3Legends of European Intercourse4The Legend of Madoc5American Myths of the Discovery6A Peruvian Prophecy7The Prophecy of Chilan Balam8The Type of Mexican Civilisation9The Mexican Race10Legends of Mexican Migration11The Toltec Upheaval12Artificial Nature of the Migration Myths13Myths of the Toltecs13Legends of Toltec Artistry14The House of Feathers15Huemac the Wicked15The Plagues of the Toltecs17King Acxitl17A Terrible Visitation18Fall of the Toltec State19The Chichimec Exodus19The Disappearance of the Toltecs20Did the Toltecs Exist?20A Persistent Tradition22A Nameless People22Toltec Art23Other Aboriginal Peoples23The Cliff-dwellers24The Nahua Race25The Aculhuaque26The Tecpanecs26The Aztecs27The Aztec Character27Legends of the Foundation of Mexico28Mexico at the Conquest29A Pyramid of Skulls31Nahua Architecture and Ruins31Cyclopean Remains31Teotihuacan32The Hill of Flowers33Tollan34Picture-Writing34Interpretation of the Hieroglyphs35Native Manuscripts36The Interpretative Codices36The Mexican “Book of the Dead”37The Calendar System38The Mexican Year39Lunar Reckoning39Groups of Years40The Dread of the Last Day41The Birth-Cycle41Language of the Nahua42Aztec Science43Nahua Government43Domestic Life44A Mysterious Toltec Book45A Native Historian46Nahua Topography47Distribution of the Nahua Tribes47Nahua History48Bloodless Battles48The Lake Cities49Tezcuco49The Tecpanecs50The Aztecs50The Aztecs as Allies51New Powers52II.CHAPTER II: MEXICAN MYTHOLOGY54Nahua Religion54Cosmology55The Sources of Mexican Mythology56The Romance of the Lost “Sahagun”57Torquemada57The Worship of One God58Tezcatlipoca59Tezcatlipoca, Overthrower of the Toltecs60Myths of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca60Tezcatlipoca and the Toltecs61The Departure of Quetzalcoatl64Tezcatlipoca as Doomster66The Teotleco Festival68The Toxcatl Festival69Huitzilopochtli, the War-God70The War-God as Fertiliser74Tlaloc, the Rain-God75Sacrifices to Tlaloc77Quetzalcoatl78The Man of the Sun81Various Forms of Quetzalcoatl82Quetzalcoatl’s Northern Origin83The Worship of Quetzalcoatl84The Maize-Gods of Mexico85The Sacrifice of the Dancer86An Antiquarian Mare’s-Nest88The Offering to Centeotl90Importance of the Food-Gods91Xipe91Nanahuatl, or Nanauatzin93Xolotl93The Fire-God95Mictlan95Worship of the Planet Venus96Sun-Worship97Sustaining the Sun98A Mexican Valhalla101The Feast of Totec101Tepeyollotl102Macuilxochitl, or Xochipilli103Father and Mother Gods103The Pulque-Gods104The Goddesses of Mexico: Metztli106Tlazolteotl106Chalchihuitlicue110Mixcoatl110Camaxtli111Iztlilton112Omacatl112Opochtli113Yacatecutli114The Aztec Priesthood114Priestly Revenues115Education115Orders of the Priesthood116An Exacting Ritual116III.CHAPTER III: MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE ANCIENT MEXICANS118The Mexican Idea of the Creation118Ixtlilxochitl’s Legend of the Creation119Creation-Story of the Mixtecs120Zapotec Creation-Myth121The Mexican Noah122The Myth of the Seven Caverns123The Sacrificed Princess123The Fugitive Prince124Maxtla the Fierce125A Romantic Escape126A Thrilling Pursuit126The Defeat of Maxtla127The Solon of Anahuac128Nezahualcoyotl’s Theology128The Poet Prince129The Queen with a Hundred Lovers129The Golden Age of Tezcuco132A Fairy Villa133Disillusionment134The Noble Tlascalan136The Haunting Mothers138The Return of Papantzin139Papantzin’s Story141IV.CHAPTER IV: THE MAYA RACE AND MYTHOLOGY143The Maya143Were the Maya Toltecs?143The Maya Kingdom144The Maya Dialects145Whence Came the Maya?145Civilisation of the Maya146The Zapotecs147The Huasteca147The Type of Maya Civilisation148Maya History148The Nucleus of Maya Power149Early Race Movements150The Settlement of Yucatan151The Septs of Yucatan153The Cocomes153Flight of the Tutul Xius153The Revolution in Mayapan155Hunac Eel155The Last of the Cocomes156The Maya Peoples of Guatemala157The Maya Tulan157Doubtful Dynasties158The Coming of the Spaniards159The Riddle of Ancient Maya Writing159The Maya Manuscripts160The System of the Writing161Clever Elucidations162Methods of Study164The Maya Numeral System165Mythology of the Maya166Quetzalcoatl among the Maya167An Alphabet of Gods168Difficulties of Comparison168The Conflict between Light and Darkness169The Calendar169Traditional Knowledge of the Gods170Maya Polytheism171The Bat-God171Modern Research172God A172The Maize-God174The Sun-God174“The God with the Ornamented Nose”175The Old Black God176The Travellers’ God176The God of Unlucky Days177The Frog-God177Maya Architecture178Methods of Building178No Knowledge of the Arch179Pyramidal Structures180Definiteness of Design180Architectural Districts181Fascination of the Subject181Mysterious Palenque182An Architectural Curiosity185The Temple of Inscriptions185Aké and Itzamal186The House of Darkness186The Palace of Owls186Itzamna’s Fane187Bearded Gods187A Colossal Head188Chichen-Itza188The Nunnery189The “Writing in the Dark”190Kabah190Uxmal191The Dwarf’s House191The Legend of the Dwarf192The Mound of Sacrifice194The Phantom City195The Horse-God195Copan196Mitla197A Place of Sepulture197An Old Description of Mitla199Human Sacrifice at Mitla201Living Sacrifices203The Cavern of Death204Palace of the High-Priest205Furniture of the Temples206V.CHAPTER V: MYTHS OF THE MAYA207Mythology of the Maya207The Lost “Popol Vuh”207Genuine Character of the Work208Likeness to other Pseudo-Histories208The Creation-Story209Vukub-Cakix, the Great Macaw210The Earth-Giants213The Undoing of Zipacna215The Discomfiture of Cabrakan216The Second Book220A Challenge from Hades220The Fooling of the Brethren221The Princess Xquiq222The Birth of Hun-Apu and Xbalanque222The Divine Children223The Magic Tools223The Second Challenge224The Tricksters Tricked225The Houses of the Ordeals226The Reality of Myth228The Xibalbans229The Third Book229The Granting of Fire230The Kiche Babel231The Last Days of the First Men231Death of the First Men232American Migrations233Cosmogony of the “Popol Vuh”235Antiquity of the “Popol Vuh”236The Father-Mother Gods236Gucumatz236Hurakan237Hun-Apu and Xbalanque237Vukub-Cakix and his Sons237Metrical Origin of the “Popol Vuh”237Pseudo-History of the Kiche238Queen Móo239The Funeral Chamber240The Frescoes241The Soothsayers241The Royal Bride242Móo’s Refusal242The Rejected Suitor243Aac’s Fierce Wooing244Prince Coh244The Murder of Coh245The Widowhood of Móo246The Manuscript Troano246VI.CHAPTER VI: THE CIVILISATION OF OLD PERU248Old Peru248The Country248The Andeans249A Strange Site250Sacsahuaman and Ollantay250The Drama-Legend of Ollantay251The Love-Story of Curi-Coyllur252Mother and Child253The Races of Peru253The Coming of the Incas254The Quichua-Aymara254The Four Peoples255The Coming of Manco Ccapac255The Peruvian Creation-Story257Local Creation-Myths258The Character of Inca Civilisation259An Absolute Theocracy259A Golden Temple260The Great Altar261Planetary Temples261The Mummies of Peru262Laws and Customs264The Peruvian Calendar265The Festivals267The Llama268Architecture of the Incas268Unsurpassed Workmanship269The Temple of Viracocha270Titicaca270Coati270Mysterious Chimu271The Palace271The Civilisation of Chimu272Pachacamac273Irrigation Works273A Singular Discovery273The Chibchas275A Severe Legal Code277A Strange Mnemonic System278Practical Use of the Quipos278The Incas as Craftsmen279Pottery280Historical Sketch of the Incan Peruvians281The Inca Monarchs282The First Incas283Viracocha the Great284The Plain of Blood284The Conquest of Middle Peru285Fusion of Races285Two Branches of the Incas286The Laws of Pachacutic286Tupac-Yupanqui287Huaina Ccapac288The Inca Civil War289A Dramatic Situation290A Worthless Despotism290VII.CHAPTER VII: THE MYTHOLOGY OF PERU291The Religion of Ancient Peru291Totemism291Paccariscas292Worship of Stones292Huacas294The Mamas295The Huamantantac296Huaris296Huillcas296The Oracles of the Andes297Lake-Worship in Peru298The Lost Island299The Thunder-God of Peru299The Great God Pachacamac303Peruvian Creation-Stories303Pachayachachic304Ideas of Creation305Pacari Tampu305Worship of the Sea306Viracocha307Sun-Worship in Peru307The Sun’s Possessions308Inca Occupation of Titicaca309Pilgrimages to Titicaca310Sacrifices to the New Sun311The Citoc Raymi312Human Sacrifice in Peru313Methods of Medicine-Men314Death by Suffocation315The Obsequies of a Chief317Peruvian Myths317The Vision of Yupanqui317The Bird Bride318Thonapa319A Myth of Manco Ccapac Inca320Coniraya Viracocha321The Llama’s Warning323The Myth of Huathiacuri324Paricaca326Conclusion328BIBLIOGRAPHY335Mexico335Central America337Peru337INDEX AND GLOSSARY341INDEX AND GLOSSARY343
Table of ContentsPREFACEvCONTENTSixLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSxiMAPSxiiiI.CHAPTER I: THE CIVILISATION OF MEXICO1The Civilisations of the New World1Evidence of Animal and Plant Life2Origin of American Man2Traditions of Intercourse with Asia3Legends of European Intercourse4The Legend of Madoc5American Myths of the Discovery6A Peruvian Prophecy7The Prophecy of Chilan Balam8The Type of Mexican Civilisation9The Mexican Race10Legends of Mexican Migration11The Toltec Upheaval12Artificial Nature of the Migration Myths13Myths of the Toltecs13Legends of Toltec Artistry14The House of Feathers15Huemac the Wicked15The Plagues of the Toltecs17King Acxitl17A Terrible Visitation18Fall of the Toltec State19The Chichimec Exodus19The Disappearance of the Toltecs20Did the Toltecs Exist?20A Persistent Tradition22A Nameless People22Toltec Art23Other Aboriginal Peoples23The Cliff-dwellers24The Nahua Race25The Aculhuaque26The Tecpanecs26The Aztecs27The Aztec Character27Legends of the Foundation of Mexico28Mexico at the Conquest29A Pyramid of Skulls31Nahua Architecture and Ruins31Cyclopean Remains31Teotihuacan32The Hill of Flowers33Tollan34Picture-Writing34Interpretation of the Hieroglyphs35Native Manuscripts36The Interpretative Codices36The Mexican “Book of the Dead”37The Calendar System38The Mexican Year39Lunar Reckoning39Groups of Years40The Dread of the Last Day41The Birth-Cycle41Language of the Nahua42Aztec Science43Nahua Government43Domestic Life44A Mysterious Toltec Book45A Native Historian46Nahua Topography47Distribution of the Nahua Tribes47Nahua History48Bloodless Battles48The Lake Cities49Tezcuco49The Tecpanecs50The Aztecs50The Aztecs as Allies51New Powers52II.CHAPTER II: MEXICAN MYTHOLOGY54Nahua Religion54Cosmology55The Sources of Mexican Mythology56The Romance of the Lost “Sahagun”57Torquemada57The Worship of One God58Tezcatlipoca59Tezcatlipoca, Overthrower of the Toltecs60Myths of Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca60Tezcatlipoca and the Toltecs61The Departure of Quetzalcoatl64Tezcatlipoca as Doomster66The Teotleco Festival68The Toxcatl Festival69Huitzilopochtli, the War-God70The War-God as Fertiliser74Tlaloc, the Rain-God75Sacrifices to Tlaloc77Quetzalcoatl78The Man of the Sun81Various Forms of Quetzalcoatl82Quetzalcoatl’s Northern Origin83The Worship of Quetzalcoatl84The Maize-Gods of Mexico85The Sacrifice of the Dancer86An Antiquarian Mare’s-Nest88The Offering to Centeotl90Importance of the Food-Gods91Xipe91Nanahuatl, or Nanauatzin93Xolotl93The Fire-God95Mictlan95Worship of the Planet Venus96Sun-Worship97Sustaining the Sun98A Mexican Valhalla101The Feast of Totec101Tepeyollotl102Macuilxochitl, or Xochipilli103Father and Mother Gods103The Pulque-Gods104The Goddesses of Mexico: Metztli106Tlazolteotl106Chalchihuitlicue110Mixcoatl110Camaxtli111Iztlilton112Omacatl112Opochtli113Yacatecutli114The Aztec Priesthood114Priestly Revenues115Education115Orders of the Priesthood116An Exacting Ritual116III.CHAPTER III: MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE ANCIENT MEXICANS118The Mexican Idea of the Creation118Ixtlilxochitl’s Legend of the Creation119Creation-Story of the Mixtecs120Zapotec Creation-Myth121The Mexican Noah122The Myth of the Seven Caverns123The Sacrificed Princess123The Fugitive Prince124Maxtla the Fierce125A Romantic Escape126A Thrilling Pursuit126The Defeat of Maxtla127The Solon of Anahuac128Nezahualcoyotl’s Theology128The Poet Prince129The Queen with a Hundred Lovers129The Golden Age of Tezcuco132A Fairy Villa133Disillusionment134The Noble Tlascalan136The Haunting Mothers138The Return of Papantzin139Papantzin’s Story141IV.CHAPTER IV: THE MAYA RACE AND MYTHOLOGY143The Maya143Were the Maya Toltecs?143The Maya Kingdom144The Maya Dialects145Whence Came the Maya?145Civilisation of the Maya146The Zapotecs147The Huasteca147The Type of Maya Civilisation148Maya History148The Nucleus of Maya Power149Early Race Movements150The Settlement of Yucatan151The Septs of Yucatan153The Cocomes153Flight of the Tutul Xius153The Revolution in Mayapan155Hunac Eel155The Last of the Cocomes156The Maya Peoples of Guatemala157The Maya Tulan157Doubtful Dynasties158The Coming of the Spaniards159The Riddle of Ancient Maya Writing159The Maya Manuscripts160The System of the Writing161Clever Elucidations162Methods of Study164The Maya Numeral System165Mythology of the Maya166Quetzalcoatl among the Maya167An Alphabet of Gods168Difficulties of Comparison168The Conflict between Light and Darkness169The Calendar169Traditional Knowledge of the Gods170Maya Polytheism171The Bat-God171Modern Research172God A172The Maize-God174The Sun-God174“The God with the Ornamented Nose”175The Old Black God176The Travellers’ God176The God of Unlucky Days177The Frog-God177Maya Architecture178Methods of Building178No Knowledge of the Arch179Pyramidal Structures180Definiteness of Design180Architectural Districts181Fascination of the Subject181Mysterious Palenque182An Architectural Curiosity185The Temple of Inscriptions185Aké and Itzamal186The House of Darkness186The Palace of Owls186Itzamna’s Fane187Bearded Gods187A Colossal Head188Chichen-Itza188The Nunnery189The “Writing in the Dark”190Kabah190Uxmal191The Dwarf’s House191The Legend of the Dwarf192The Mound of Sacrifice194The Phantom City195The Horse-God195Copan196Mitla197A Place of Sepulture197An Old Description of Mitla199Human Sacrifice at Mitla201Living Sacrifices203The Cavern of Death204Palace of the High-Priest205Furniture of the Temples206V.CHAPTER V: MYTHS OF THE MAYA207Mythology of the Maya207The Lost “Popol Vuh”207Genuine Character of the Work208Likeness to other Pseudo-Histories208The Creation-Story209Vukub-Cakix, the Great Macaw210The Earth-Giants213The Undoing of Zipacna215The Discomfiture of Cabrakan216The Second Book220A Challenge from Hades220The Fooling of the Brethren221The Princess Xquiq222The Birth of Hun-Apu and Xbalanque222The Divine Children223The Magic Tools223The Second Challenge224The Tricksters Tricked225The Houses of the Ordeals226The Reality of Myth228The Xibalbans229The Third Book229The Granting of Fire230The Kiche Babel231The Last Days of the First Men231Death of the First Men232American Migrations233Cosmogony of the “Popol Vuh”235Antiquity of the “Popol Vuh”236The Father-Mother Gods236Gucumatz236Hurakan237Hun-Apu and Xbalanque237Vukub-Cakix and his Sons237Metrical Origin of the “Popol Vuh”237Pseudo-History of the Kiche238Queen Móo239The Funeral Chamber240The Frescoes241The Soothsayers241The Royal Bride242Móo’s Refusal242The Rejected Suitor243Aac’s Fierce Wooing244Prince Coh244The Murder of Coh245The Widowhood of Móo246The Manuscript Troano246VI.CHAPTER VI: THE CIVILISATION OF OLD PERU248Old Peru248The Country248The Andeans249A Strange Site250Sacsahuaman and Ollantay250The Drama-Legend of Ollantay251The Love-Story of Curi-Coyllur252Mother and Child253The Races of Peru253The Coming of the Incas254The Quichua-Aymara254The Four Peoples255The Coming of Manco Ccapac255The Peruvian Creation-Story257Local Creation-Myths258The Character of Inca Civilisation259An Absolute Theocracy259A Golden Temple260The Great Altar261Planetary Temples261The Mummies of Peru262Laws and Customs264The Peruvian Calendar265The Festivals267The Llama268Architecture of the Incas268Unsurpassed Workmanship269The Temple of Viracocha270Titicaca270Coati270Mysterious Chimu271The Palace271The Civilisation of Chimu272Pachacamac273Irrigation Works273A Singular Discovery273The Chibchas275A Severe Legal Code277A Strange Mnemonic System278Practical Use of the Quipos278The Incas as Craftsmen279Pottery280Historical Sketch of the Incan Peruvians281The Inca Monarchs282The First Incas283Viracocha the Great284The Plain of Blood284The Conquest of Middle Peru285Fusion of Races285Two Branches of the Incas286The Laws of Pachacutic286Tupac-Yupanqui287Huaina Ccapac288The Inca Civil War289A Dramatic Situation290A Worthless Despotism290VII.CHAPTER VII: THE MYTHOLOGY OF PERU291The Religion of Ancient Peru291Totemism291Paccariscas292Worship of Stones292Huacas294The Mamas295The Huamantantac296Huaris296Huillcas296The Oracles of the Andes297Lake-Worship in Peru298The Lost Island299The Thunder-God of Peru299The Great God Pachacamac303Peruvian Creation-Stories303Pachayachachic304Ideas of Creation305Pacari Tampu305Worship of the Sea306Viracocha307Sun-Worship in Peru307The Sun’s Possessions308Inca Occupation of Titicaca309Pilgrimages to Titicaca310Sacrifices to the New Sun311The Citoc Raymi312Human Sacrifice in Peru313Methods of Medicine-Men314Death by Suffocation315The Obsequies of a Chief317Peruvian Myths317The Vision of Yupanqui317The Bird Bride318Thonapa319A Myth of Manco Ccapac Inca320Coniraya Viracocha321The Llama’s Warning323The Myth of Huathiacuri324Paricaca326Conclusion328BIBLIOGRAPHY335Mexico335Central America337Peru337INDEX AND GLOSSARY341INDEX AND GLOSSARY343