Table of Contents

       AUTHOR'S PREFACE

       INTRODUCTION

       CHAPTER I THE ANTILLES

       I. THE ISLANDERS6

       II. THE FIRST ENCOUNTERS9

       III. ZEMIISM13

       IV. TAÏNO MYTHS16

       V. THE AREITOS

       VI. CARIB LORE21

       CHAPTER II MEXICO

       I. MIDDLE AMERICA

       II. CONQUISTADORES25

       III. THE AZTEC PANTHEON27

       IV. THE GREAT GODS32

       V. THE POWERS OF LIFE37

       VI. THE POWERS OF DEATH

       CHAPTER III MEXICO (Continued)

       I. COSMOGONY47

       II. THE FOUR SUNS53

       III. THE CALENDAR AND ITS CYCLES55

       IV. LEGENDARY HISTORY

       V. AZTEC MIGRATION-MYTHS59

       VI. SURVIVING PAGANISM

       CHAPTER IV YUCATAN

       I. THE MAYA

       II. VOTAN, ZAMNA, AND KUKULCAN

       III. YUCATEC DEITIES

       IV. RITES AND SYMBOLS

       V. THE MAYA CYCLES92

       VI. THE CREATION

       CHAPTER V CENTRAL AMERICA

       I. QUICHÉ AND CAKCHIQUEL97

       II. THE POPUL VUH101

       III. THE HERO BROTHERS

       IV. THE ANNALS OF THE CAKCHIQUEL103

       V. HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA106

       CHAPTER VI THE ANDEAN NORTH

       I. THE CULTURED PEOPLES OF THE ANDES111

       II. THE ISTHMIANS112

       III. EL DORADO

       IV. MYTHS OF THE CHIBCHA119

       V. THE MEN FROM THE SEA

       CHAPTER VII THE ANDEAN SOUTH

       I. THE EMPIRE OF THE INCAS123

       II. THE YUNCA PANTHEONS

       III. THE MYTHS OF THE CHINCHA

       IV. VIRACOCHA AND TONAPA

       V. THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN

       VI. LEGENDS OF THE INCAS

       CHAPTER VIII THE TROPICAL FORESTS: THE ORINOCO AND GUIANA

       I. LANDS AND PEOPLES

       II. SPIRITS AND SHAMANS

       III.