Near the place, lived some enemy towns
that did not accept their presence in that mountain. Therefore, the
main couples had to hide their kawabiles to protect them from the
attacks of the warriors. In this way, it was like they stayed living
in a secret place.
The four couples cared for and fed
their kabawiles with forest animals or with some of their own blood,
which they extracted from their ears or from the tips of their
fingers. But Tojil was very demanding and asked for the hearts of his
enemies. For that reason, sometimes, the four couples captured one of
their enemies, sacrificed and gave the heart to Tojil.
When the enemy towns saw that someone
had disappeared, they entered the forest to look for the missing and the four
couples imitated the jaguar's growl. Scared, the people thought that
the jaguar ate the person, but soon they realized that the
kabawiles were responsible for the disappearances... and wanted
revenge.
They gathered all the surrounding
villages for a council and agreed on a way to defeat them: they
decided to take the kabawiles to have their protection for them only!
The Bath of Tojil was a beautiful river
where Tojil, Awilix and Jaqawitz took the form of three handsome men
to bathe each morning. The lords of the villages sent two beautiful
young women there: "They have to conquer the kabawiles and bring
us a proof that they had contact," their parents demanded.
They wanted the kabawiles to fall in
love with the girls and leave the four main couples to join the
people, but can you defeat a spirit?
When they arrived at the Bath of Tojil,
the girls began to flirt, but nothing worked! They simply asked them
where they came from and what they wanted. "Our parents sent us
with you and we must bring them proof that we have met you,"
they replied.
"We do not want your parents to
scold you. We will give them a gift as proof that we met,"
replied the Kabawiles. Then, they were given three beautiful blankets
that the four main couples had specially painted as gifts.
The young women returned with the lords
of the villages and showed them the gift of the kabawiles. The
gentlemen admired the beauty of the blankets. One had several painted
jaguars. The First Lord grabbed it for him and put it on his
shoulders. "Hahaha! We have managed to seduce the kabawiles,
look what they sent us as a gift!" He said.
The Second Lord grabbed the other
blanket that was painted with large eagles, while asking: "How
do I look with this beauty? Is not it true that I look strong and
powerful?"
The Third Lord wrapped himself in the
last blanket, painted with hundreds of wasps. But the moment he was
going to talk and show off its beauty, the wasps came out of the
painting and attacked the gentlemen! Then they understood that Tojil,
Awilix and Jaqawitz had defeated them.
After a war and several more stories,
the four main couples were finally able to live in peace on their
mountain.
At the time of their death, the four
main fathers entrusted their children with a sacred bundle that
should never be opened because it was the memory of their parents.
The children grew up, they had children in turn, but they always took
care of the sacred bundle with great respect and love. Thanks to it,
they never forgot who their parents were or where they came from.
Many other adventures were narrated in
this book called Popol Vuh. Like the sacred bundle, these stories are
the memories of our Mayan past. And it is our duty to listen to them,
tell them and take care of them with a lot of respect and love,
because they are part of our culture, of what we are as Guatemalans.
*The Popol Vuh is the National Book of Guatemala
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