t many idols besides--but four were the
principal ones.

It would be very satisfactory could we frame some theory to account
for this state of things. If we could only be sure that each god was
symbolic of some of the elements--or, if we could only say that this was
but another instance of the use of the number "four"--and thus connect
them with the cardinal points, it would be very satisfactory to many.
The amount of study that has been bestowed on this question is very
great, and it is very far from being settled. Each of these four was the
principal, or guardian, deity of a particular tribe.<50> All of these
appear in native traditions as historical personages, as well as
deities. It is for this reason that Mr. Bandelier concludes that the
"four principal gods were deified men, whose lives and actions became
mixed up with the vague ideas of natural forces and phenomena."<51>

As prominent a figure as any in Central American Mythology is
Quetzalcohuatl; and we can form a good idea of the force of the
preceding remarks by considering this case. The name is a compound
of two words, "quetzal-cohuatl"--and is, says Mr. Bandelier, a fair
specimen of an Indian personal name. He tells us that the meaning is
"bright," or "shining snake." Others have translated it, "feathered
serpent." We have referred to the attempt to show that the tablet of
the cross, at Palenque, had reference to him. Those who think he was
the nature-god of the Nahuas find a great deal of significance in the
name.<52> Mr. Bandelier, after carefully considering all reference
to him by the early writers, shows that it is quite as likely that
Quetzalcohuatl "was a man of note, whose memory was afterward connected
with dim cosmological notions." It is plain that our idea of the culture
of the Mexicans will vary according as we consider the base of this myth
to be a man, or the forces in nature producing the fertilizing summer
rain.<53>

The worship of Quetzalcohuatl was very widely extended; but it was
mostly confined to the Nahua tribes. But there are somewhat similar
traditions among the Maya tribes; and this is one of those few points
which, like the similarity of their calendar systems, seems to point to
a close connection in early times. The Quiches have a very similar myth.
Briefly, it is to the effect that four principal gods created the world.
One of these was named Gucumatz--meaning, also, shining, or brilliant
snake. Some think that this is the s