The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British Honduras

Part 2 — INDEX

Reading edition

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Agriculture, most important occupation of Indians, 20

Alcohol, effect on Indian temperament, 34

Amulets, worn by women, 19

Animals—

Domestic, kept by ancient inhabitants, 55

kept for pets, 25

Arts of the ancients, fine examples discovered, 53

Baskets, making of, 30

Bleeding, favorite remedy, 37

Bones, measurements of, 51

Bristol Museum, objects from collection of, 13

British Honduras, Northern, geographical description of, 14

British Museum, objects from collection of, 13

Candles, method of making, 31

Canoes—

making of, 28

used for trading along rivers, 29

Ceremonies, the four principal, 42

Ceremony, Cha chac, at ripening of corn, description, 42

Charms worn by women, 19

Chief—

power practically absolute, 35

rarely dies natural death, 35

strongest subchief usually succeeds, 35

Childbirth, methods of facilitating, 38

Children, love for and disposition of, 33

Chronology, three periods of Mayan civilization, 58

Cigarettes—

making of, 30

smoked by women, 17

Cooking, native methods of, 22

Cooking utensils, description of, 27

Corn—

harvesting and storing of, 20

preparation of ground and planting of, 20

surplus sold or exchanged, 20

Corn husks, wrappers for cigarettes, 30

Corn plantation. See Milpa.

"Cuhun ridges"—

description of, 14

sites of ancient mounds, 14

sites of modern villages, 14

Death sentence, how executed, 35

Diet—

description of, 21

maize staple article of, among ancient inhabitants, 55

Diseases—

bleeding for, 37

eye trouble, remedy for, 38

intestinal parasites, 37

malaria, 36

smallpox, 37

venereal, 37

whooping cough, remedy for, 38

Dress—

ancient inhabitants, 52

ancient priests, 52

ancient warriors, 52

now principally English and American goods, 19

Drunkenness—

curse of the Indians, 34

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not considered a disgrace, 34

Fire, methods of making, 22

Fish—

methods of catching, 25

varieties of, 25

Fishing—

harpooning at night, 25

methods of, 25

torch used in, 25

Food—

animals used as, by ancient inhabitants, 55

kind and method of eating modified by contact with more civilized communities, 22

method of serving and eating, 22

preparation and serving of, 21

snakes used as, 24

turtles' eggs used as, 24

Fowls, use of, in Cha chac ceremony, 45

Furniture—

description of, 27

hammocks conspicuous articles of, 27

Game—

pursuit of, 23

traps used in capturing, 24

Game birds and animals—

list of, 24

preparation and curing of, for future use, 21

Games—

of the ancient inhabitants, 56

played by adults and children, 39

Hammocks—

conspicuous articles of furniture, 27

hiding places for "cooties", 27

Headdresses—

ancient warriors and priests, 52

animals carved in wood, 52

Henequen fiber—

method of cleaning, 30

uses of, 31

Homes, not particular as to cleanliness of, 16

Hookworms, prevalent, due to earth-eating habits of children, 37

Houses—

ancient, description of, 53

built with assistance of neighbors, 26

method of construction, 26

Hunting, torch used in, 24

Icaiche, estimate of population, 13

Immorality, brought about by cheapness of rum, 33

Indians, causes of early deaths, 34

Itzas, occupying western British Honduras, 13

Liverpool Museum, objects from collection of, 13

Macapal—

carried by children, causing bowlegs, 16

description of its use, 15

habits acquired by constant carrying of, 16

weighted with stones as counterpoise in traveling, 16

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Machete, used as tool and weapon, 28

Malaria—

chief scourge of Indians, 36

treated by sweating, 36

Marriage—

age of, 32

all degrees of racial mixture, 34

ceremony often delayed, 33

Maya women to Negro men common, 33

not legal among Santa Cruz unless performed by certain official, 33

obligation somewhat loose, 33

usually by Catholic priest, 33

Massage, practiced by midwives, 38

Maya, progenitors of present inhabitants, 15

Medicine, list of plants used as, 38

Men—

cruelty of, often in nature of reprisal, 18

dress of, 18

example of cruelty of master to servant, 18

have no desire to accumulate wealth, 18

mental characteristics of, 17

occupation of, 17

skillful in finding routes and in following tracks, 18

stoical in bearing pain, 18

Metate—

superseded by hand mills, 17

use of, 21

Milpa—

many fruits and vegetables grown in, 20

preparation of, 20

Moccasins, making of, 19

Mosquitoes, carriers of malaria, 36

Mounds—

abundant on fertile soil, 50

classification of, 49

contents indicate physical appearance of ancient inhabitants, 51

manner of construction, 65

Museum of the American Indian, objects from collection of, 13

Odor, peculiar, 16

Oils, for cooking and lighting, 31

Ornaments, worn by ancient inhabitants, 52

"Pine ridges," description of, 14

Plants, list of, used as medicine, 38

Pottery—

ancient, description of, 54

ancient, ornamentation of, 54

slight attempt at decoration, 28

Pottery making—

exclusively by older women, 28

no polish, glaze, or paint applied, 28

rendered unnecessary by iron pots and earthenware, 17

Property, disposition of, at death, 33

Punishment—

fine, flogging, and death only methods of, 35

for witchcraft or sorcery, 36

imprisonment as, unknown, 35

Religion—

ancient inhabitants, 56

Catholic priests not permitted for many years, 41

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Christianity a thin veneer, 42

four principal ceremonies, 42

human sacrifice by the ancient inhabitants, 57

Indian conception of, 40

native priests appointed, 41

Religious altars, draped and decorated, 28

Rum—

made locally, 34

women usually drink privately, 34

Sandals, worn by ancient inhabitants, 52

Santa Cruz tribe—

emigration of, 13

estimate of population, 13

measurements of, 15

physical description of, 15

policy of extermination of, by Mexican Government, 13

Smallpox—

terrible scourge, 37

treatment for, often disastrous, 37

Snakes used as food, 24

Spinning—

method of, 29

no longer practiced, 17

universal among ancient women, 55

Spirits, belief in, 40

Superstition, "Santa Cruz" oracle, 41

Surgery, practice of, 37

Teeth, filed and filled with plugs, 51

Tobacco—

curing of, 30

vanilla leaves mixed with, to give flavor and fragrance, 30

Torch used in fishing, 25

Tortillas, preparation and cooking of, 21

Traps used in capturing game, 24

Turkey, use of, in Cha chac ceremony, 45

Villages—

description of, 32

foreigners not permitted to reside in, 32

frequent changes of sites, 27

locations of, carefully concealed, 32

Weapons—

defensive, of ancient inhabitants, 53

offensive, of ancient inhabitants, 52

Weaving—

method of, 29

no longer practiced, 17

Women—

dress of, 19

in gala costume present attractive appearance, 16

industrious workers, 17

jewelry and ornaments worn by, 19

obscene and disgusting language used by, 16

occupation of, 17

personal cleanliness of, 16

physically and mentally superior to men, 16

social characteristics of, 16

Yucatan, geographical description of, 14

Yucatecan tribes, immigration into northern British Honduras, 13

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