Sisimito III--Topoxte

by Henry W. Anderson

According to the IUCN, Baird’s tapir is in danger of extinction, and in 1996 it was officially classified as “Vulnerable“. There are two main contributing factors in the decline of the species; poaching and habitat loss. Though in many areas the animal is only hunted by a few humans, any loss of life is a serious blow to the tapir population, especially because their reproductive rate is so slow.

  In Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama, hunting of the Baird’s tapirs is illegal, but the laws protecting them are often unenforced. Furthermore, restrictions against hunting do not address the problem of deforestation. Therefore, many conservationists focus on environmental education and sustainable forestry to try to save the Baird’s tapir and other rainforest species from extinction.

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  Yich-che’ is Maya for ‘fruit’.

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  Imu’t is Maya for ‘mulberry’, Morns celtidifolia Kunth.

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  Tukan is Maya for ‘blackberry’.

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  Ch’iich’ is Maya for ‘bird’.

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  The island referred to is called Cante, which is Spanish for ‘flamenco singing’. Maya for ‘sing’ is ‘k’aay’.

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  Alaj is Maya for ‘little’.

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  Chio-Chio is Maya for ‘song of a bird’.

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  Alaj Chak, Chak, and Chompoxte are the names used in the Sisimito Series for three small lakes west of Lake Yaxha, running east to west. They are Coloradita, Colorada, and Chompoxte. Colorada is Spanish for ‘ruddy, florid, red. In the name Coloradita, ita is the diminutive i.e. little red’. The names used for Colorada and Coloradita are Maya substitutes, Alaj Chak meaning ‘Little Red’ and Chak meaning ‘Red’.

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  Military organization of the Maya is somewhat unclear. Leadership seems to have been embodied mostly in the Halach Uinic who was re

  sponsible for calling troops together and organizing the military effort. With respect to the number of men involved in a battle, one estimate puts it at 500-1000 men maximum on the battlefield, on each side of the conflict, based on estimates about logistics of the journey, such as amount of weight carried and how much food was needed.

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  At the end of the Early Classic Period, around 600 AD, seismic activity caused movement of the Yaxha Fault, resulting in damage to buildings in Yaxha, especially the East Acropolis which led to its temporary abandonment. The same earthquake appears to have caused damage throughout the region and in the neighboring city of Nakum.

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  Jumulaj Yaxche: Seibal is a corruption of the Spanish ceibal, meaning “place where many ceiba trees grow”. In the Sisimito Series, Jumulaj Yaxche is used for the city of Seibal. Jumulaj is Maya for ‘a great many; a group; a lot; a pile (of rocks, ears of corn)’. Yaxche is the Maya name for the ceiba tree, Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn-Kapok.

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  Kitam Ajchaq’e (El Dueño de los Kekeos) is a member of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full describtion.

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  Moimatik is Maya for ‘to become twilight’, ‘dusk’..

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  Huuh is Maya for ‘large lizard’.

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  Ahn doo nat tink ah wahn jos stan op ahn teke wahn bangin. Ah wahn lash yu madafok is Kriol for ‘And don’t think I’ll just stand up and take a licking. I’ll beat your mother fuck.’

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  Sorosi (Spanish), Momordica charantia L.is also known as Condflamor (Spanish).

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  Rum p ‘ok (Kekchi), Spodias radlkoferi Donn. Sm.is also known as Hog Plum (English), Jobo (Spanish), Puk (Mopan).

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  A storm suddenly blew over Teul’s face. “What?” he bellowed. “My children cuss in front of me! Cuss in front of me, their mother fuck father! They wouldn’t lose their mother fuck place! Never! I’d slap them right out of the house! Lose respect for me! No mother fuck way!” By then all of us stood around him, slack-jawed at his outburst. He glared at Robertson who was looking very sheep-like at him. “And coming from you! A superintendent of police in P. G.! My children cuss in front of me! Never!” he shouted as he stormed off into the jungle, still ranting and raving … “cuss … police … mother fuck … children …”

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  Tun taal le xaman ka’ano’ is Maya for ‘the north wind is coming’.

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  U-hatz’il-cháak is Maya for ‘lightning bolt’.

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  Ya’ax is Maya for ‘blue’.

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  Taken from a Papyrus card.

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  Patzapik (Cadejo) is a creature of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Xwáay Mulibal-k’ux’ (La Sigua) is a creature of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Xwáay Éek’ is a creature of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Tata Ponopik (Tata Duende) is a creature of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Alaj Ponopiks (Duenditos) are creatures of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Alaj Chaj-r-ijs (Hashishi Pampis) are creatures of the Kechlaj Komon. Please see Appendix for a full description.

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  Etzelal Iq’ (Mozon) is an evil wind. For a full description, please see the Appendix.

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  Q’osibal is the Ke’kchi noun for ‘club, mallet; hammer; stick used for beating grain; cudgel’.

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  The leader of the Tzitzimimeh was the Goddess Itzpapalotl who was the ruler of Tamoanchan, the paradise where the Tzitzimimeh resided. Some sources state that Sisimita comes from the Nahuatl word

  Tzitzimitl, so a Sisimita may be a Tzitzimitl. They were also regarded as a deity of the stars.

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  In the year 632 CE, the year of Sisimito II - Xibalba, there were two annular solar eclipses. One was on January 27 (Wo’), the other July 23 (Sak’). There was also a partial on December 17(Kumk’u).

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  U-k’is-ch’imil is the Maya noun for ‘shooting star’.

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  Mam Kutach is the Maya name for the Ursa Major constellation, The Big Dipper.

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  Mutz is the Maya noun for ‘cluster of stars’. It is also the name for the Pleiades Constellation.

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  Amoxtli is a Nahuatl unisexual name meaning ‘book’.

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  Ihicamina is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘he shoots arrows in the sky’. It is also the name of a great Mexica king.

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  Nopaltzin is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘cactus’ or ‘king’.

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  Tezcacoatl is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘reflecting serpent’ or ‘king’.

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  Sheg is the Belizean name for the Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus, also known as Comordn

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  Teoxihuitl is a Nahuatl unisexual name meaning ‘turquoise’ or ‘precious’.

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  Xipil is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘noble of the fire’.

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  K’iáqbal is Maya for ‘sling stones’. Here it is used for ‘darts’ as well.

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  Yolotli is a Nahuatl unisexual name meaning ‘heart’.

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  Temple of the Porobal Awaj means ‘Temple of the Sacrificial Altar’. In the Sisimito Series, the city of Altar De Sacrificios is called Porobal Awaj.

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  ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ is the motto of the Belize Defence Force.

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  Forward Area is an area where mi
litary combat is taking place. It is referred to as ‘Combat Zone’ by the US Military.

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  Dama de la Noche orchid is ‘Lady of the Night’, Brassavola nodosa. It is believed that when Taat Duende (Tata Ponopik) comes, there is a whistling sound along with the fragrance of the Dama de la Noche flower.

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  Coyopa is the God of Thunder.

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  Sutul-q’um is Maya for ‘hurricane’ or ‘tornado’; here it refers to a tornado.

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  Xaman ka’an is Maya for ‘north wind’.

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  Ya ‘a-chich Mayul: In the Sisimito Series, Ya ‘a- chich Mayul refers to the green luminance or mist that grew out of the Raax Ch’ayom Puag. It was the color of jade. Ya ‘ax-chich is ‘jade’ and mayul means ‘fog; mist; haze’. The Maya believed that mists carried divine knowledge.

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  Debellatio is the Latin term for ending a war by complete destruction of a hostile state. It is more severe than a ‘sack’.

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  Coaxoch is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘serpent flower’.

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  A ‘picquet’ or ‘picket’ is a soldier, a sentry, or lookout who is specifically tasked with early warning of contact with the enemy.

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  Ch’ukcua is a ‘sweet tortilla’.

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  Köj is Maya for ‘mountain lion’ or ‘puma’.

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  Tlacelel is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘greatest of our male heroes’.

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  Uetzcayotl is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘the essence of light’.

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  Tepiltzin is a Nahuatl male name meaning ‘privileged son’.

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  Nik’aj-aq’ab is Maya for ‘midnight’.

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  Yu madafok laiyad is Kriol for ‘You are telling a mother-fuck lie’.

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  Orange Walk is one of the Northern Districts of Belize. The main town is also called Orange Walk.

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  Ke’l is Ke’kchi for comal; sh’mm’ch is the Mopan word. It is a smooth, flat metal plate typically used in Mexico and Central America to cook tortillas (kua), toast spices, sear meat, and generally prepare food.

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  Komon-winaq is the Maya noun for ‘meeting’.

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  Kach-ch’ich’ is Maya for ‘copper’.

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  Jäl is Maya for the ‘dried ear of corn’.

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  Uxlabal is Maya for ‘spirit; soul; breath’.

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  Nabe Patzoj is Maya for ‘First Coitus’.

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  Chakuj Tutuchci Nima-q’ij: Nima-q’ij is Maya for ‘holiday’ or ‘festival’. Chakuj Tutuchci Nima-q’ij is ‘Working the Stiff Penis Holiday’.

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  Koatn is Kriol for ‘flirting’ or ‘courting’.

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  Bakra is Kriol for a ‘white skinned person’.

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  This is a verse from an Old Jamaican Mento tune. In English, it is:

  Fan mi soldier man, fan me,

  Fan mi sodier man, fan me,

  Fan mi soldier man, fan me,

  Girl your character gone, oh.

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  Koz is Kriol slang for ‘cousin’. Kozn is Kriol for ‘cousin’.

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  In actuality, it is illegal to interfere with the flora and fauna of the Cockscomb Basin Reserve which includes Victoria Peak, a Belize National Monument.

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  Naat: Kriol for the northwind. It usually refers to a cold front.