the people of Cocom, and some of the Itzas then went away to Peten. But there came a time, early in the 15th century, when the power of the Cocoms was greatly diminished. He who was then reigning realized it, and sent one of his sons to Mexico to negotiate for more soldiers. Before any help could arrive all the people came together to crush out the objectionable monarch, Tutul Xiu being the leader. Cocom, his family, and the greater number of his adherents were put to death, Mayapan, his city and stronghold, being laid waste and burned (in 1446, according to Landa). The young Cocom, who was fortunate enough to be absent, on his return established himself, with the few of his father's people who had escaped, in the province of Zaci or Kupul, in the east part of the peninsula; his party afterward became very strong, and was known as that of the Kupuls. Battles occurred every now and then between the three pow ers-Kupuls, Chels, and Tutul Xius—not to mention many smaller parties that warred against each other. On the north coast were the Pechs,* descendants of those Mexicans introduced by the Cocoms; they seem to have been disliked by all, the other inhabitants not mingling with them. These people befriended the Spaniards on their arrival, and helped them to make their way into the country, having a personal motive in so doing.

The various historians, principally Spanish friars, who have written about the conquest of Yucatan, differ in their way of telling the story, some showing marked partiality for their countrymen, others evidently sympathizing with the natives. Upon one point they agree, that the invaders were a handful of men compared with those who resisted them. In every battle, according to said writers, the odds against the Spaniards were so great that one can hardly comprehend why they were not crushed out of existence. It is well, however, to remember a few important facts: the armor of the Europeans made them almost invulnerable to arrows; while the natives, when they did not dispense with all clothing save a loin cloth, were scantily clothed in garments of cotton. Although when the country was discovered some warriors on the coast had shields and padded tunics— as described in a former article in the accounts of the conquest no mention is made of such things, while the nudity of the natives is more than once alluded to. Even admitting that a few wore tunics padded with cotton and salt, this would be a poor protection against firearms. Again, the superiority of weapons made one Spaniard equal to several aborigines. The horses, too, also partly covered with armor, trampled many of the natives under their feet. Then there was always some traitor ready to cau* Pech is the Maya word for tick. Possibly this name was given to the cannibal Mexicans because, like ticks, they were addicted to human as well as other blood.

tion the white men against any unexpected danger or surprise. Over and over again the strangers were saved by one of the people whose liberty they were menacing.

Those of Mexican descent, dwelling on the coast, hated and despised by the other inhabitants, regarded the foreigners as possible allies against their enemies, so made friendly advances to the white men as soon as they landed, offering presents to propitiate them. This statement is made by one of themselves.

At the beginning of the 16th century Yucatan was by no means a terrestrial paradise, for though there were many happy homes, civilization was then in an advanced state of decadency, the country divided into many principalities, the inhabitants continually at war with each other. All prisoners of war were held as serfs, whereas in earlier times that lot. fell only to foreign captives and those convicted of theft. When the conquest was ultimately effected, it was owing to the want of union—a majority having voluntarily rendered obedience and joined the new foe, the other portion was finally overcome by force.

Before examining the Spanish records of events that occurred in Yucatan between the years 1527 and 1560, it will be well to glance at a manuscript written on the same subject by one of the Pechs. The Spanish statements are probably exaggerated, to make the unquestionably brave Spaniards appear as marvels of valor and strength, for a very different light is thrown on the matter by Pech's manuscript, now in possession of Don Pedro Regil, of Merida. It is in the Maya language. Its author, Nakuk Pech, was son of a batab (a nobleman, a chief), ruling on the north coast when the Spaniards arrived. This makes the document particularly interesting and trustworthy.

According to Nakuk, the Adelantado and his people landed in 1527, twenty-five miles east of what is now Progreso, and remained some time on that part of the coast, going as far as Ɔilan, thirty miles farther east. Then they went to Ekab, on the Atlantic coast of the peninsula, to Kaua, Tinun, and Chichen, to Champoton and Campeche, thence to Tihò (Merida).

Pech speaks of the Spaniards as being "terrible to the country." That they were kindly received the following lines show: "On the arrival of the Spanish gentlemen all the nobility (among the Pechs), hastened to welcome them with manifestations of pleasure, serving them abundantly with choicest viands, and offering tributes them with presents even before they entered the city."

.

They met

Nevertheless they were meanwhile, according to the Spanish writers,

sending runners to neighboring settlements to make known the coming of the strangers, and warn them to be armed and ready to assemble. So it is evident that if they preferred peace, they were also prepared for war. The white men soon made themselves obnoxious. Pech calls them, in derision, the kul uinicob (holymen). Kul is holy, cul is the Maya word for goblet, and this name may have been given to the Spaniards because they drank very freely, for in the same sentence Nakuk states that they abandoned themselves to drunkenness and other excesses.

Notwithstanding the friendship shown them by the Pechs, the soldiers sacked Maxtunil, their city, the granaries as well as the habitations, seized the domestic animals, and robbed even the nobles who had received them with unbounded hospitality, giving tributes freely and unasked. “Having, in their weakness, because unwilling to go to war, given tributes to the Spaniards, they afterwards loved them," writes Nakuk, showing that some became foolishly infatuated with the blue-eyed men in spite of their misdeeds. Was Pech himself among the number, or is it in irony that he says, "these adorable Spanish men?" The people in Yucatan were remarkable for their wit and sarcasm, and considering the behavior of the invaders the word "adorable" was probably used as suggested.

A second document by another member of the Pech family begins thus: "I, Don Pablo Pech, iast Governor of Chicxulub (near Maxtunil), here record the wanderings of my fathers and all the suffering they endured during the conquest of the place by those strangers."

This writer likewise tells of the generous way in which the Spaniards were received and presented with the best of everything in the land. He says they remained near Oilan, on a sandbank forming an island, during three years, products of the land being always taken to them. The Kupuls then came to attack the intruders, who, seeking safety, at once set out to establish themselves at Ekab. When in the vicinity of that place several were taken ill with yellow fever, and at about the same time the people of Ekab declared war against them. So they fled inland to Kaua, Cuncuul, Tinun, at last reaching Chichen, high land, where they could regain health and strength.

While there Montejo made known his wish to have an interview with Cocom, king of the Kupuls, and was told that he was not there, but on the frontier. Thither the Adelantado and his men determined to go. They were quite near to Jonot-Akè when Princess Ixcuet Cocom sent a trusty messenger to say to them, "Come not hither, for you will perish!" Whereupon they made their way back to Kaua, and thence to Ɔilan. They * Don Pablo was a name given by the priests when they baptized Pech.

embarked in their ships and went to Tzelebna, at which place they constructed fortifications for their greater safety, and "there they indulged in drunkenness and gluttony." After some time they went to a place adjoining Champoton, remained there seven years, then settled in Campeche. There the Adelantado, with a fresh lot of men, exacted tributes of all who were friendly to him, and after a while went to Tihò. "Then came the men of quality, Encomendadores. All the population, even comprising the inheritance of my father, were given to Julian Doncel, he being the first to exercise control over the city of Chicxulub. He was married in presence of Don Francisco de Montejo. Then he began to exact tributes from my father."

This little information is from the first part of the Pech manuscript, which, unhappily, is not now within our reach. Here we find no account of desperate battles fought by a handful of Spaniards against thousands of natives. On the contrary, it is plain that those on the coast received the Spaniards in friendship, and that, in the early part of the conquest, Montejo and his followers shifted from place to place, to avoid meeting hostile multitudes. Later, they had native allies, as well as others sent from Mexico by the Spanish authorities there. In telling of their own exploits the Spanish soldiers were sure to exaggerate, and each time the story or adventure was retold, something would be added to it. We cannot help coming to this conclusion when we read of the conquest as given by the priests, who wrote on the subject several years after the events had transpired.

From these historians we learn that when, in 1527, the Adelantado landed, taking formal possession of the country in the name of God and for His Majesty, Carlos V., he was accompanied by four hundred soldiers, foot and horse, supplied with weapons, ammunition, and provisions. The ships remained at anchor in care of the seamen. It is stated that Montejo and his men did not advance into the country for some time for want of an interpreter, and because many of them were made ill by the heat, which was greater than they had been accustomed to. But on the north coast of Yucatan the heat is not excessive, less so than in Cuba, and little more than in southern Spain. It is, therefore, likely that they tarried on the coast, not in consequence of ill health, but to acquire the language, and in order that the people in general might gradually become reconciled to their presence. The Pechs, meanwhile, provided them with the products of the land.

After some time had elapsed the lord of Choaca* sent some of his *Said to have been a city of 10,000 houses.

principal people to visit the Adelantado, who received them with all due courtesy. But it would seem that one of their number was charged with a difficult undertaking-nothing less than to kil! the chief of the white men, for having cautiously approached a black slave, who was in attendance on Montejo, he wrested from his waist a dagger and with it tried to stab the Adelantado, who defended himself with a similar weapon. Soldiers rushed to the rescue, and the man was immediately put to death. This was but the first of several attempts on the life of Montejo, the people believing that if he perished his followers would depart.

MAP OF

YUCATAN

The Spaniards now resolved to go to Choaca.

On the way they rested a day or two at a place called Coba, and there so gorged themselves with the delicious sweet fruit called anona that the villagers always afterwards spoke of them as the Ahmak opob or anona eaters. The journey inland was slow and painful, over very rough paths, through dense forests. The adventurers also suffered greatly for want of

Now and again they passed through deserted villages, the inhab itants having gone to unite themselves with the larger populations of other