Page:The Annals of the Cakchiquels.djvu/23

Rh primary sense, "to paint;" ahꜯib, is "the scribe," and was employed to designate the class of literati in the ancient dominion. Painted or written records were called ꜯibanic.

They had a literature beyond their history and calendars. It consisted of chants or poems, called bix, set orations and dramas. They were said or sung in connection with their ceremonial dances. These performances were of the utmost importance in their tribal life. They were associated with the solemn mysteries of their religion, and were in memory of some of the critical events in their real or mythical history. This will be obvious from the references to them in the pages of their Annals.

These chants and dances were accompanied by the monotonous beating of the native drum, tun, by the shrill sound of reed flutes, xul, by the tinkling of small metal bells, ꜭalakan, which they attached to their feet, and by rattles of small gourds or jars containing pebbles, known as zoch. Other musical instruments mentioned, are the chanal, the whistle (pito, Dicc. Anon.), and tzuy, the marimba, or something like it.

These nations were warlike, and were well provided with offensive and defensive weapons. The Spanish writers speak of them as skilled archers, rude antagonists, but not poisoning their weapons. Besides the bow and arrow, ꜭha, they