Page:The Annals of the Cakchiquels.djvu/77

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ANNALS OF THE CAKCHIQUELS.
71

came to where the Zotzils were at the gates of Tullan; arriving we were born, coming we were produced, coming we gave the tribute, in the darkness, in the night, oh our sons." Thus spoke Gagavitz and Zactecauh, oh my sons, and what they said has not been forgotten. They are our great ancestors; these are the words with which they encouraged us of old.

6. Then we were ordered to come by our mothers and fathers, we the thirteen divisions and the seven tribes, the thirteen divisions of warriors; and we came to Tulan in the darkness and the night, and coming gave our tribute; they took tribute from the warriors of the seven tribes; they were drawn up in order on the left of Tulan where were the people of the seven tribes; on the right-hand of Tulan were arranged the warriors. First the tribute was taken from the seven tribes, next the tribute was taken from the warriors. But it was only jade and silver, and green feathers worked and sewed together, together with articles painted and articles sculptured, and for gifts, flutes, songs, astrological calendars and reckoning calendars, fine and common cacao; only such riches were paid in Tulan, and the only riches the warriors bore from Tulan were their bows, their bucklers and their rounded shields.

7. Then to our mothers and fathers it was commanded and said: "You, my sons, you, my daughters, these are your burdens which you shall sustain and maintain." So spoke the Obsidian Stone. "There are your hills and plains; there, beyond the ocean, are your hills and plains, oh you my sons, there it is that you shall lift up your faces. These are the burdens which I shall give you, your riches, your majesty;" thus it was said to the thirteen divisions, the seven tribes, to the thirteen divisions of warriors, and then was given them the wood and stone which deceive; as they descended from Tulan and Xibalbay, were given to them the wood and stone (idols), as related those our first fathers and ancestors Gagavitz and Zactecauh. These, in truth, were their burdens, and these were their very words.