The Maya Chronicles Brinton's Library Of Aboriginal American Literature, Number 1   By: Daniel Garrison Brinton (1837-1899)

A number of typographical errors and inconsistencies have been maintained in this version of this book. They have been marked with a [TN ], which refers to a description in the complete list found at the end of the text. One error that was corrected is also listed at the end of the text.

Oe ligatures used in the original text have been expanded. The following codes are used for characters that are not able to be represented in the text format used for this version of the book.

[c] small open o [C] capital open o [=h] h with stroke [)o] o with breve [)u] u with breve [k] tresillo

LIBRARY

OF

ABORIGINAL AMERICAN LITERATURE.

No. 1.

EDITED BY

D. G. BRINTON

BRINTON'S LIBRARY OF ABORIGINAL AMERICAN LITERATURE. NUMBER 1.

THE MAYA CHRONICLES.

EDITED BY DANIEL G. BRINTON

AMS PRESS NEW YORK

Reprinted from the edition of 1882, Philadelphia First AMS EDITION published 1969 Manufactured in the United States of America

Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 70 83457

AMS PRESS, INC. New York, N.Y. 10003

TO THE MEMORY OF CARL HERMANN BERENDT, M.D.,

WHOSE LONG AND EARNEST DEVOTION TO THE ETHNOLOGY AND LINGUISTICS OF AMERICA HAS MADE THIS WORK POSSIBLE, AND WHOSE UNTIMELY DEATH HAS LOST TO AMERICAN SCHOLARS RESULTS OF FAR GREATER IMPORTANCE,

THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.

PREFACE.

The belief that the only solid foundation for the accurate study of American ethnology and linguistics must be in the productions of the native mind in their original form has led me to the venturesome undertaking of which this is the first issue. The object of the proposed series of publications is to preserve permanently a number of rude specimens of literature composed by the members of various American tribes, and exhibiting their habits of thought, modes of expressions, intellectual range and æsthetic faculties.

Whether the literary and historical value of these monuments is little or great, they merit the careful attention of all who would weigh and measure the aboriginal mind, and estimate its capacities correctly.

The neglect of this field of study is largely owing to a deficiency of material for its pursuit. Genuine specimens of native literature are rare, and almost or quite inaccessible. They remain in manuscript in the hands of a few collectors, or, if printed, they are in forms not convenient to obtain, as in the ponderous transactions of learned societies, or in privately printed works. My purpose is to gather together from these sources a dozen volumes of moderate size and reasonable price, and thus to put the material within the reach of American and European scholars.

Now that the first volume is ready, I see in it much that can be improved upon in subsequent issues. I must ask for it an indulgent criticism, for the novelty of the undertaking and its inherent difficulties have combined to make it less finished and perfected than it should have been.

If the series meets with a moderate encouragement, it will be continued at the rate of two or three volumes of varying size a year, and will, I think, prove ultimately of considerable service to the students of man in his simpler conditions of life and thought, especially of American man.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.