since they recognized the Quiché ruler, now Quicab, as their overlord. But freedom was in sight, and an opportunity was offered by the troubles which marred the final years of Quicab's reign. 'The actual excuse of the Kakchiquel revolt was slender enough, a woman selling bread had her wares seized by certain Quiché soldiers, and the Kakchiquel espoused her cause. Quicab appears to have failed to recognize the real nature of the movement, and neglected to take immediate steps to suppress it, with the result that the Kakchiquel were able to declare their independence and now appear as a rival power. Hostilities between the peoples continue, and finally the Kakchiquel under Cablahuh Tihax and Oxlahuh Tzii defeat the Quiché in a pitched battle, capturing their joint rulers Tepepul and Iztayul, who have meanwhile succeeded Quicab.[1] The description of the battle is given in part on p. 292. The power of the Kakchiquel now appears at its zenith, but their expansion aroused the jealousy of their neighbours. A revolt occurred of the Tukuchi subject tribe, which was however suppressed, and with such slaughter that the incident became a landmark in history. From this point in the annals the number of days which elapsed subsequent to the revolt is given, with the result that the revolt itself can be attributed almost with certainty to the year 1494. The rest of the history until the arrival of the Spaniards consists in accounts of fights with neighbours, which the annals usually characterize as the suppression of revolts. Two items of information however are of importance. Before the death of Oxlahuh Tzii, which occurred in 1509 or 1510, we read that certain "Yaqui" (i.e. Mexican traders) were put to death
- ↑ At this point the Kakchiquel annals prove a useful check upon the account given by the Popol Vuh. Tepepul and Iztayul, according to the latter, preceded Quicab, and Quicab was succeeded by 'Tepepul and Xtayub. It is evident that some duplication has taken place in the Quiché legend, that Tepepul and Iztayul are the same as Tepepul and Xtayub, and that they succeeded Quicab.
