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210 effect of inaugurating the public sacrifice of prisoners. It is interesting to note that one of their early kings, whose name Gukumatz is the equivalent of the Nahua Quetzalcoatl, is credited with the performance of many miraculous feats; but the first kings important from a historical point of view were Quicab and Cavizimah. Under them the Kakchiquel and Rabinal were conquered, colonies and garrisons were placed in subject towns and, on their own account, continued to extend the Quiché power by conquest, though many of the leaders broke away from the main stock and set up as independent chieftains. In this reign we first hear of prisoners of war being executed by the shooting sacrifice as practised by the Mexicans. Quicab appears to have been by far the most important of the Quiché rulers, but the power which he gained was not maintained even throughout his reign. For the events which commenced the decline of the Quiché domination we must go to the annals of the Kakchiquel, in which it is stated that two of Quicab's sons, who no doubt occupied the position of sub-chiefs, took advantage of certain discontent among his subjects to refuse the tribute due to their father and overlord. 'The sedition seems to have succeeded to the extent that Quicab's authority was considerably weakened, and it was followed by a more serious defection in the form of a revolt on the part of the Kakchiquel as related below. None of Quicab's successors wielded the power which he exercised in his most prosperous years, and at the time of the conquest the Kakchiquel, Tzutuhil and other tribes had regained their independence.

In the Kakchiquel annals we find again a list of kings, though five fewer than the corresponding list of Quiché chiefs, but dates are for the most part lacking, though the revolt of a subtribe in the reign of the sixth ruler can be fixed as the starting-point of the chronological system current at the discovery. Again we find Tulan