Page:The Annals of the Cakchiquels.djvu/111

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ANNALS OF THE CAKCHIQUELS.
105

it was far to the tree where he was shot at, on the hill Qakbatzulu, where they shot at him and where all the arrows fell. At length the arrow of our ancestor Gagavitz was discharged. It passed rapidly over the place named Cheetzulu, and pierced Tolgom. All the warriors then slew him, some arrows piercing him from near and others from afar. The man being thus killed, a great stream of blood came forth behind the tree. His body was cut in pieces and divided among all the seven towns. This gift and this sacrifice of his death were what founded the festival of (the month) Uchum. At that festival all were equal; there was eating and drinking; little children were killed by being shot with arrows, their heads being adorned with elder flowers, as his substitute, as if they were Tolgom, as say our fathers of yore, oh my children. In this manner we obtained power with the Zotzil Tukuches, by knowledge and occult science, by power and majesty; thus did our fathers and ancestors, we the Cakchiquels, lift our heads above others, nor our ancestors lower their glory and their birth.

38. When they were on the hill Qakbatzulu, they threw a part of the body of Tolgom into the lake. Thus began the festival of "throwing the nose of Tolgom." Then, it is said, there was heard a noise in the waters, and at its passage all were terrified when there were these movements in the waters of the lake. Many on these occasions assembled at the spot called "the common baths" (Payanchocol). They practiced many magic arts. Nine zapotes were found at the spot called Chitulul. At that time the warriors began their passage over the lake. Gagavitz followed them with his sister, named Chetehauh. They established themselves, and settled on the point called after the god Abah. A little while after the arrival of Gagavitz, truly a fearful thing took place when he entered the water, having changed himself into Zutzucumatz. It suddenly darkened on the water, a wind rose, and a white cloud rested on the surface, making a circuit of the water in the lake. They desired to remain there; but it was first necessary to reduce the power of the