Story Cycles in Chol (Mayan) Mythology: Contextualizing Classic Iconography
with Nicholas A. Hopkins, Ausencio Cruz Guzmán, Ashley Kistler, and Kayla Price

Appendix I:  A Guide to Chol Narrative Literature
Published and Unpublished Sources for Chol Folktales and Stories, by Major Participants and Motifs. Compiled by Nicholas A. Hopkins, August, 2002

Black Man (Ijk’al)

• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 66-68 (Iyesomal ijk’al xñek) [Customs of the Black Man]
• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 101-104 (El Niek) [The Black Man]
• Pérez Chacón 1988: 167-168 (Jiñi wiñik x-ijk’albä o xñek, jiñi tyä’luñtyel) [The Black Man, Temptation]

Spiny Man (Ch’ix Winik)

• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 104-105, El Ch’ix winik [Spiny Man]

Big Hat (Sombrerón)

• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2

Feet on Backwards (Xwuluk ’ok)

• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3

Savage (Salvaje)

• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2

Lacandóns (Kichañob)

• Alvaro Montejo, Juan, Interview 2002-12
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 37-40 (Lak Kichan) [Our Uncles]

Don Juan

• Cruz et al. 1980 (The Cave of Don Juan)
• Mayo Jiménez 1985, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, 28 pp. (El cuento de una visita a don Juan) [The story of a visit to Don Juan]
• Vásquez, Sebastián, in Alejos 1988: 92-98 (I Yum Ch’en) [Lord of the Cave]

Our Grandfather (Lak Mam)

• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 14-15 (Aläjachaj) [Little Axe]
• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 115-116 (Ajaw) [Lord]
• Cruz Guzmán 1986, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, T’an ti Wajali 44-61 (T’an Lak Mam) [Story of Our Grandfather]

Chajk (Lightning)

• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2
• Montejo Vásquez 1994 (Jiñi Chajk yik’oty bajche’ tsa’ ajñi jiñi Xäx K’elambä Ja’) [Lightning and the Formation of the Río Agua Azul]

Flesh Dropper

• Pérez Chacón 1988: 169-172 (Juntyikil Xiba weñ ñoxixbä) [A Very Old Devil]

Transformers

• Arcos Alvarez et al. 1986, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, T’an ti Wajali 66-87 (T’an Jini Bajlum Winik) [Story of the Jaguar-Man], and 22 pp. of text with analysis (jaguar becomes man)
• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 53 (Xbäk’tyesa bajlum) [Frightening Jaguar] (jaguar becomes man)
• Attinasi 1979 (Do not talk to dogs, they might talk back to you) (dog becomes woman to care for master)
• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3 (Comadre story; jaguar becomes woman)
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Comadre story; jaguar becomes woman)
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (man becomes woman)
• Meneses Méndez 1997, Kolen Ik’ajel (La Gran Oscuridad) [The Great Darkness] (includes jaguar-man transformer)
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 92-96 (Venturas y desventuras de una mujer que se volvió tapir) [Adventures of a Woman Who Turned into a Tapir] (woman becomes tapir because of her sins)
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 31-36 (Winik-bajlum) [Man-Jaguar] (jaguar becomes man)
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 37-40 (Lak Kichan) [Our Uncle] (Lacandóns become jaguars)
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 65-67 (Xmeba’ winik) [The Orphan] (dog becomes woman to serve master; but stops when discovered)

Bouncing Head (Puk’puk’ Jol)

• Cristobalito, in Alejos 1988: 71-74 (Pu’pu’k jol) [Bouncing Head]
• Arcos M., Miguel, in Meneses López 1986: 64-66 (Ili xtiklaya ik’aba’ Xpuk’puk’jol) [The Menace Called Bouncing Head]

Flesh Eaters

• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 81-84 (Mu’bä i lok’el ti ak’lel) [Things that Come Out at Night]

Witches (Xibaj)

• Alvaro Montejo, Juan, Interview 2002-12
• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 87-90 (Bajche’ tsa’ koliyob lakpi’älob tyi Xiba); see also his X’etelob ti wajali, Josserand/Hopkins field notes [How People Protected Themselves from Demons]
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 96-101 (El manjar de los brujos) [The Witches’ Feast]
• Whittaker and Warkentin 1965: 98-101, Killed by the Spirits, a Messenger tale without the messenger motif but with the same episodes; 1965: 130-138; [The Devil and the Cave God, 130-133; How a Man Can Be a Devil, 134; The Cave God, 135-138]

Messengers (X’ak’ Jun)

• Cruz Guzmán 1986, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, T’an ti Wajali 98-131 (T’an jini Xibaj) [Story of the Devil]
• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 75-80 (Ak’jun) [Messenger]
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2
• Meneses Méndez 1994 (Che’ mi chämel amba i way lak pi’alo’b), a Messenger story featuring a traveling curer [How the One Who Is a Nagual of a Person Dies]
• Whittaker and Warkentin 1965: 98-101 (Killed by the Spirits), a Messenger tale without the messenger motif but with the same episodes.

Naguals (Wäy)

• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 85-90 (Tsi’ ts’aka i yijnam); a man kills neighbor’s wäy because he made his wife sick [He Cured His Wife]
• Meneses Méndez 1994 (Che’ mi chämel amba i way lak pi’alo’b); death of a person with a nagual [How the One Who Is a Nagual of a Person Dies]
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 92-96, Venturas y desventuras de una mujer que se volvió tapir [Adventures of a Woman Who Turned into a Tapir]
• Pérez Chacón 1988: 175-181 (Jiñi x-ixik tza’bä sujtyi tyi tzimiñ); wife becomes prostitute, dies and becomes tapir, because husband never questioned her behavior [The Woman Who Turned into a Tapir]
• Torres A., Pedro, in Meneses López 1986: 60-61 (Ili wiñik ambä ich’ujlel bajche’ tentzun); man with goat nagual bested by man with peacock [pavo real] nagual [The Man Whose Nagual Was a Goat]
• Whittaker and Warkentin 1965: 90-98 (The Spirit of Man, 90-95; The Men With Two Spirits, 95-98); 1965: 110 (The Woman With a Fox Spirit).

Eagles (Xiye’)

• Arcos, Francisco, in Alejos 1988: 25-30 (Kolem ba xiye’); man is carried off by eagle [The Big Eagle]
• Sánchez Díaz, Juan, in Meneses López 1986: 62-63 (Ili xiye’ tzabu ik’uxu wiñikob); man is carried off by eagle; escapes, taking eagle’s wings [The Eagle That Ate a Man]

Jaguars (Bajlum)

• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 53 (Xbäk’tyesa bajlum); jaguar-man transformer [Frightening Jaguar]
• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 41-43 (Meba’ alälob); tiger wants to marry orphaned woman [The Orphan Children]
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Comadre story; tiger wants to eat woman)
• Meneses Méndez 1997 (Kolen Ik’ajel); man versus jaguar [La Gran Oscuridad]. La mujer y el jaguar, 105-106 (Comadre story; woman hides from jaguar in zapote, leaving her odor)
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 31-36 (Winik-bajlum); tigers teach man how to survive in the woods [Man-Jaguar]
• Sánchez Díaz, Juan, in Meneses López 1986: 57-59 (Jiñi bajlum yombu mantyar yik’ot wiñikob); tigers wanted to rule over people, but God helped people [The Jaguar Who Wanted to Rule Over Man]

Dog Stories

• Attinasi 1979 (Do not talk to dogs, they might talk back to you); dog becomes woman to care for master.
• López Velázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Dog Informer; dog informs on cheating wife)
• Meneses Méndez 1998 (Xu’ok); a dog, Little Foot, transports his master to a strange land to deliver a message from a priest who has taken his wife; (the priest and wife turn into horses and die) [Little Foot]
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 65-67 (Xmeba’ winik); dog becomes woman to serve master; but stops when discovered [The Orphan]

Tricksters

• Arcos, Francisco, in Alejos 1988: 47-50 (Bajlum yik’ot uch) [Jaguar and Possum]
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 51-59 (T’ul yik’ot i ko’); rabbit versus crocodile and jaguar [Rabbit and His Grandmother]
• Sánchez Meneses 1998 (Jiñi bajlum yik’oty uch) [The Jaguar and the Possum]

See also Black Man, Spiny Man, Savage, Sombrerón, and Kichañob stories (Man versus Beast)

Races

• Alvaro López 1986, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, T’an ti Wajali 136-145 (T’an ajk yik’ot me’) [Story of Turtle and Deer]; see also SIL Primer (Jini me’ yik’ot jun kojt ajk); turtle wins over deer [The Deer and a Turtle]
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Deer versus Toad; toads win over deer)

Morals and Morality

• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 75-80 (Ak’jun) (Mensajeros)
• Díaz, Margarita, in Alejos 1988: 85-90 (Tsi’ ts’aka i yijñam) (Man kills neighbor’s wäy because he made his wife sick)
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Mensajeros)
• Meneses Méndez 1998 (Xu’ok) (Little Foot, a dog, transports his master to a strange land to deliver a message from a priest who has taken his wife [priest and wife turn into horses and die])
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 85-89, Cómo llegan los hombres a la otra vida
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 89-92, Las tribulaciones del anciano (Christ visits, rewards the generous)
• Morales Bermúdez 1999: 92-96, Venturas y desventuras de una mujer que se volvió tapir
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 60-64 (Lak Ña’ yik’ot i yalobil) (Son rejects mother; dies)
• Moreno, Nicolás, in Alejos 1988: 65-67 (Xmeba’ winik) (Dog becomes woman to serve master; stops when discovered)
• Pérez Chacón 1988: 175-181 (Jiñi x-ixik tza’bä sujtyi tyi tzimiñ) (Wife becomes prostitute, dies and becomes tapir, because husband never questioned her behavior)
• Vásquez, Sebastián, in Alejos 1988: 99-102 (Pantiyel ti alä ch’iton) (Tricked into eating bad food, men die)

Origins and Creation

• Alvaro Montejo, Juan, Interview 2002-12 (Genesis)
• Arcos Mendoza 1987, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, 18 pp. of analyzed text (K’in askunálbä y k’in x’ijtz’inälbä) (the Moon and her children)
• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 75-76 (Lakch’ujuña’) (the Moon and her children)
• Arcos Mendoza 1999: 151 (Yotyoty Uw, K’iñ yik’oty Lakmam) (the Moon and her children)
• Cruz Guzmán 1986, in Hopkins and Josserand 1994, T’an ti Wajali 12-39 (T’an Lak Ch’ujul Na’) (the Moon and her children)
• Guzmán Sánchez, Mateo, in Anderson 1957 (How Monkeys Came Into Being; How Snakes Came Into Being)
• Meneses Méndez 1997, Kolen Ik’ajel (La Gran Oscuridad)(Man versus Jaguar)
• Morales Bermúdez 1999 [Spanish only]: (El Gran Diluvio, 57-63; La formación del Sol y de la Luna, 63-74); Cómo le fue dado el maíz al hombre, 75-78; Del origen del fuego, 79-81; Cómo viene al mundo el hijo de Ch’ujtiat, 82-85;… La historia de Ajal, 106-109 [creation of the Tulijá River system]
• Whittaker and Warkentin 1965: Creation Stories, 13-61 (Our Holy Father, the Sun, is Born, 13-17; The Older Brother Tries to Kill the Sun, 17-20; The Sun Kills the Older Brother, 21-29; The Sun Creates Animals, 30-35; Why the Sun Decided to Go Up Into the Sky, 35-42; The Younger Brother Becomes the Sun, 43-45; The Death of a Son of the Holy Mother, 46-49; How the Rat Received Two Eyes, 49-51; How Snakes Came Into Being, 51-54; How Monkeys Came Into Being, 55-57; Why the Sky Was Made So High, 58-60; Where the Buzzards Came From, 60-61)

Witches, Spirits and Curers

• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3 (Bad curers, false saints)
• López Vázquez, Rafael, Interview 2002-2 (Bad curers, false saints)
• Whittaker and Warkentin 1965: 102-109 (The Woman With a Spirit to Raise up Corn), 1965: 122-129; (Communing With the Dead), 1965: 139-154; (The Witch Doctor, 139-148; How the Witch Doctor Offers a Sacrifice, 148-149; When a Child Falls, 149-151; The Evil Eye, 151-153; When the Baby’s Birth is Overdue, 153-154)

The Good Girl and the Dead

• Cruz Guzmán, Ausencio, Interview 2002-16
• Díaz Vázquez, Crescencia 1998 (Jiñi wembu shi choc yicot jiñi chumeñobu) (the good girl and the dead)

Lost in the Woods, Lost in a Strange Land

• López Méndez, Abelardo, Interview 2002-3 (Lost in the deep woods, as a child, for three months)
• Martínez 1994 (El dueño del cerro) (a little girl lost in the woods, spends three months in a cave)
• Meneses Méndez 1998 (Xu’ok) (Little Foot; a dog transports his master to a strange land to deliver a message from a priest who has taken his wife [priest and wife turn into horses and die])
• Pérez Chacón 1988: 173-175 (Jiñi x-ixik tza’bä letzi yik’ot tyi käyle tyi matye’el) (a woman lost in a strange land where all ropes are snakes)
• Torres López, Juana, Interview 2002-3 (lost in the woods until an aunt regaled the mountain)

History

• Arcos, Francisco, in Alejos 1988: 103-107 (Juan Sol) (formation of the first ejido)
• Arcos Torres, Lucas, Interview 2002-5 (the Mexican Revolution in Chiapas)
• Arcos M., Miguel, in Meneses López 1986: 67 (when the church at San Miguel [Tumbalá] was burned)
• Arcos M., Miguel, in Meneses López 1986: 68-69 (Relato de cómo fueron quemados los santos de las iglesias de Yajalón y Tumbalá) (when the saints were burned in the churches)
• Meneses P., Miguel, in Meneses López 1986: 69-73 (Ch’ujulbä xämbal ili ch’en cha’an Joloñel) (Santa Cruz prayers, visits to the cave)
• Oleta Lara 1994 (Bajche’ tsa’ ipäsbä jini ch’ujulbä laktyaty tyu Tila) (visions and dreams lead to the discovery of the Señor de Tila; the town was previously called Ts’isa)

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