Yucatan Before and After the Conquest

Diego de Landa

Relación de las cosas de Yucatán was written by Diego de Landa around 1566, shortly after his return from Yucatán to Spain. In it, de Landa catalogues Mayan words and phrases as well as a small number of Maya hieroglyphs.

Table of contents

• Dedication
• Introduction
• Map
• 1. Description Of Yucatan. Variety Of Seasons
• 2. Etymology Of The Name Of This Province. Its Situation
• 3. Captivity Of Geronimo De Aguilar. Expedition Of Hernandez De Cordoba And Grijalva To Yucatan
• 4. Expedition Of Cortes To Cozumel. Letter To Aguilar And His Friends
• 5. Provinces Of Yucatan. Its Principal. Ancient Structures
• 6. Cuculcan. Foundation Of Mayapan
• 7. Government, Priesthood, Sciences, Letters And Books In Yucatan
• 8. Arrival Of The Tutul-Xius And The Alliance They Made With The Lords Of Mayapan. Tyranny Of Cocom, The Ruin Of His Power And Of The City Of Mayapan
• 9. Chronological Monuments Of Yucatan. Foundation Of The Kingdom Of Sotuta. Origin Of The Chels. The Three Principal Kingdoms Of Yucatan
• 10. Various Calamities Felt In Yucatan In The Period Before The Conquest By The Spaniards: Hurricane, Wars, Etc
• 11. Prophecies Of The Coming Of The Spaniards. History Of Francisco De Montejo, First Admiral Of Yucatan
• 12. Montejo Sails For Yucatan And Takes Possession Of The Country. The Chels Cede To Him The Site Of Chichen Itzá. The Indians Force Him To Leave
• 13. Montejo Leaves Yucatan With All His People And Returns To Mexico. His Son, Francisco De Montejo, Afterwards Pacifies Yucatan
• 14. State Of Yucatan After The Departure Of The Spaniards. Don Francisco, Son Of The Admiral Montejo, Re-Establishes The Spanish Rule In Yucatan
• 15. Cruelties Of The Spaniards Toward The Indians. How They Excused Themselves
• 16. State Of The Country Before The Conquest. Royal Decree In Favor Of The Indians. Health Of The Admiral Montejo. His Descendants
• 17. Arrival Of The Spanish Franciscan Friars In Yucatan. Protection They Gave To The Natives. Their Contests With The Spanish Military Element
• 18. Vices Of The Indians. Studies Of The Friars In The Language Of The Country. Their Teachings To The Indians. Conversions. Punishments Of Apostates
• 19. Arrival Of Bishop Toral And Release Of The Imprisoned Indians. Voyage Of The Provincial Of San Francisco To Spain To Justify The Conduct Of The Franciscans
• 20. Construction Of The Houses Of Yucatan. Obedience And Respect Of The Indians For Their Chiefs. Headgear And Wearing Of Garments
• 21. Food And Drink Of The Indians Of Yucatan
• 22. Painting And Tattooing Of The Indians. Their Orgies, Wines And Banquets. Their Comedies, Music And Dances
• 23. Industry, Commerce And Money. Agriculture And, Seeds. Justice And Hospitality
• 24. Method Of Counting Of The Yucatecans. Genealogies. Inheritances And Tutelage Of The Orphans. The Succession Of The Chiefs
• 25. Divorces Frequent Among The Yucatecans. Nuptial Customs
• 26. Method Of Baptism In Yucatan; How It Was Celebrated
• 27. Kind Of Confessions Among The Indians. Abstinences And Superstitions. Diversity And Abundance Of Idols. Duties Of The Priests
• 28. Sacrifices And Self-Mortifications, Both Cruel And Obscene, Among The Yucatecans. Human Victims Slain By Arrows, And Others
• 29. Arms Of The Yucatecans. Military Chieftains. Militia And Soldiers. Customs Of War
• 30. Penalties And Punishments For Adulterers, Homicides And Thieves. Education Of The Young Men. Custom Of Flattening The Heads Of Children
• 31. Clothing And Ornaments Of The Indian Women
• 32. Chastity And Education Of The Indian Women Of Yucatan. Their Chief Qualities And Their Household Economy. Their Devotion And The Special Observances At The Time Of Childbirth
• 33. Funerals. Burials Of The Priests. Statues To Preserve The Ashes Of The Chiefs, And The Honors They Paid To Them. Their. Belief Regarding A Future Life, With Rewards And Punishments
• 34. Count Of The Yucatecan Year. Characters Of The Days. The Four Bacabs And Their Names. Gods Of The 'Unlucky' Days
• 35. Festivals Of The 'Unlucky' Days. Sacrifices For The Beginning Of The New Year Kan
• 36. Sacrifices For The New Year Of The Character Muluc. Dances Of The Stilt-Walkers. Dance Of The Old Women With Terracotta Dogs
• 37. Sacrifices For The New Year With The Sign Ix. Sinister Prognostics, And Manner Of Conjuring Their Effects
• 38. Sacrifices Of The New Year Of The Letter Cauac. The Evils Prophesied And Their Remedy In The Dance Of The Fire
• 39. The Author's Explanation As To Various Things In The Calendar. His Purpose In Giving These Things Notice
• 40. Months And Festivals Of The Yucatecan Calendar
• 41. Cycle Of The Mayas. Their Writings
• 42. Multitude Of Buildings In Yucatan. Those Of Izamal, Of Merida, And Of Chichen Itzá
• 43. For What Other Things The Indians Made Sacrifices
• 44. The Soil And Its Products
• 45. The Waters And The Fishes Found In Them
• 46. How There Are Serpents And Other Poisonous Animals
• 47. Of The Bees And Their Honey And Wax
• 48. Of The Plants, Flowers And Trees; Of The Fruits And Other Edibles
• 49. Of The Birds
• 50. Of The Larger Animals, And Of The Smaller Ones
• 51. The Author's Conclusion And Appeal
• 52. Criticism And Correction Of Certain Statements
• Letter In Maya To The King
• Letter Of Francisco De Montejo Xiu
• Letter Of Diego Rodríguez Bibanco
• The Xiu Family Papers
• The Map, And The Meeting At Maní
• The 1685 Page By Juan Xiu
• Yucatan In 1579 Showing The Pre-Spanish Maya Chiefdoms
• Yucatan In 1549 And 1579
• The Ordinances Of Tomás López
• Proclamation
• Identification Of Plant Names Mentioned In Landa's Text