THE PRE-TOLTEC PERIOD OF ABORIGINAL HISTORY.
Subdivision of the Subject -- Tzendal Tradition of the Votanic Empire -- Votan's Book and its Contents as reported by Nuñez de la Vega, Cabrera, and Ordoñez -- Testimony of Manners and Customs, Religion, Languages, and Monuments of the Civilized Nations respecting the Primitive Maya Peoples -- The Quiché Record, or Popol Vuh -- Civilizing Efforts of Gucumatz and his Followers -- Exploits of Hunahpu and Xbalanque -- Conquest of Xibalba -- Migration from Tulan Zuiva, the Seven Caves -- Meaning of the Quiché Tradition -- Nahua Traditions -- The Toltecs in Tamoanchan according to Sahagun -- The Codex Chimalpopoca -- Pre-Toltec Nations in Mexico -- Olmecs and Xicalancas -- The Quinames -- Cholula and Quetzalcoatl -- The Totonacs -- Teotihuacan -- Otomís, Miztecs, Zapotecs, and Huastecs -- The Toltecs in Huehue Tlapallan -- Migration to Anáhuac -- The Chichimecs in Amaquemecan -- Ancient Home of the Nahuatlacas and Aztecs -- Primitive Annals of Yucatan -- Conclusions.
In order to render more vivid than it would otherwise have been a picture of Nahua and Maya institutions as they were found in the sixteenth century, I have devoted one chapter of a preceding volume to an outline view of aboriginal history; to fill in so far as possible its details, is my remaining task. The sketch alluded to will prove convenient here, since it will enable me at various points to refer intelligibly and yet briefly to events somewhat in advance of their chronologic order. As has been stated, the sixth century is the most remote period to which we are carried in the annals of Anáhuac by traditions sufficiently definite to be considered in a strict sense as historic records. Prior to the sixth century there were doubtless other periods of Nahua greatness, for there is little evidence to indicate that this was the first appearance in Mexico of this progressive people, but previous development cannot be definitely followed--in a historical sense--although affording occasional glimpses which supply interesting matter for antiquarian speculation.
In the southern regions, where the Maya culture flourished, or what may be considered geographically as Central America, we have seen that the chronologic record is much less extensive and perfect even than in the north, taking us back in an oft-broken line only a few centuries beyond the Conquest. Yet we have caught traditional glimpses far back in the misty past of a mighty aboriginal empire in these tropical lands, of the earlier and grander stages of Maya culture, of Votan, of Xibalba, of even the early periods of Nahua civilization and power. Palenque, Copan, and their companions in ruin, the wonderful material monuments of the ancient epoch, proving it to be no mere creation of the imagination, have been described and pictured. With the breaking-up of the Maya empire into separate nations at an unknown date, the aboriginal history of Central America as a whole ceases, and down to a period closely preceding the Conquest, we have only an occasional event, the memory of which is preserved in the traditions of two or three nations.