Note 969 — Chapter XXI · EDUCATION AND FAMILY MATTERS AMONG THE MAYAS.

Diaz, Itinéraire, in Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série i., tom. x., p. 13. 'Todos toman muchas mugeres, empero vna es la legitima,' says Gomara, Hist. Ind., fol. 263, in speaking of Nicaragua. 'Comunmente cada uno tiene una sola muger, é pocos son los que tienen más, exçepto los prinçipales ó el que puede dar de comer á más mugeres; é los caçiques quantas quieren.' Oviedo, Hist. Gen., tom. iv., p. 37. The word 'muger' evidently means women who lived with the man, the wife and concubines, for, on p. 50, it is stated that only one legitimate wife was allowed. The punishment for bigamy helps to bear this out. Villagutierre, Hist. Conq. Itza, pp. 310, 499. 'Nunca los yucataneses tomaron mas de una.' Landa, Relacion, pp. 142, 341. This view is also taken by Cogolludo, Hist. Yuc., p. 193, who adds, however: 'Contradize Aguilar en su informe lo de vna muger sola, diziendo, que tenian muchas;' but this may refer to concubines. Brasseur de Bourbourg, Hist. Nat. Civ., tom. ii., p. 55, says: 'La pluralité des femmes étant admises par la loi,' and gives Herrera, Hist. Gen., dec. iv., lib. x., cap. iv., as his authority; but this author merely refers to concubinage as being lawful.