SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
BULLETIN 64
THE MAYA INDIANS OF SOUTHERN YUCATAN
AND NORTHERN BRITISH HONDURAS
BY
THOMAS W. F. GANN
[Illustration: decoration]
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1918
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
WASHINGTON, D. C., _November 4, 1916_.
SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith the manuscript of a memoir
entitled "The Maya Indians of Southern Yucatan and Northern British
Honduras," by Thomas W. F. Gann, and to recommend its publication as a
bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology.
Very respectfully,
F. W. HODGE,
_Ethnologist-in-Charge_.
Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT,
_Secretary, Smithsonian Institution_.
CONTENTS
PART 1. CUSTOMS, CEREMONIES, AND MODE OF LIFE
Page
Introduction 13
Habitat 14
Personal characteristics 15
Dress 18
Industrial activities 20
Agriculture 20
Procuring food; cooking 21
Hunting 23
Fishing 25
Construction of houses and furniture 26
Pottery making 28
Boat building 28
Spinning and weaving 29
Minor industries 30
Tobacco curing 30
Basket and mat weaving 30
Social characteristics 32
Villages 32
Marriage and children 32
Drunkenness 34
Chiefs 35
Diseases and medicines 36
Games 39
Religion 40