To him was born a son, named Bacab or Bacabab, by a virgin, Chibilias, whose mother was Ixchel.

Bacab was slain by a certain Eopuco, on the day called _hemix_, but after three days rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
The Holy Ghost was represented by Echuac, who furnished the world with all things necessary to man's life and comfort.

Asked what Bacab meant, they replied, "the Son of the Great Father," and Echuac they translated by "the merchant."[1] [Footnote 1: Las Casas, _Historia Apologetica de las Indias Occidentales_, cap.

cxxiii.] This is the story that a modern writer says, "ought to be repudiated without question."[1] But I think not.

It is not difficult to restore these names to their correct forms, and then the fancied resemblance to Christian theology disappears, while the character of the original myth becomes apparent.
[Footnote 1: John T.Short, _The North Americans of Antiquity_, p.