Evidently they had borrowed something from Aztec sources, and a flavor of Christian teaching is occasionally noticeable in this record; but for all that it is one of the most valuable we possess on the subject.
It begins by connecting the creation of men and things with the appearance of light.

In other words, as in so many mythologies, the history of the world is that of the day; each begins with a dawn.

Thus the _Popol Vuh_ reads:-- "This is how the heaven exists, how the Heart of Heaven exists, he, the god, whose name is Qabauil." "His word came in the darkness to the Lord, to Gucumatz, and it spoke with the Lord, with Gucumatz." "They spoke together; they consulted and planned; they understood; they united in words and plans." "As they consulted, the day appeared, the white light came forth, mankind was produced, while thus they held counsel about the growth of trees and vines, about life and mankind, in the darkness, in the night (the creation was brought about), by the Heart of Heaven, whose name is Hurakan."[1] [Footnote 1: _Popol Vuh, le Livre Sacre des Quiches_, p.

9 (Paris, 1861).] But the national culture-hero of the Kiches seems to have been _Xbalanque_, a name which has the literal meaning, "Little Tiger Deer," and is a symbolical appellation referring to days in their calendar.
Although many of his deeds are recounted in the _Popol Vuh_, that work does not furnish us his complete mythical history.

From it and other sources we learn that he was one of the twins supposed to have been born of a virgin mother in Utatlan, the central province of the Kiches, to have been the guide and protector of their nation, and in its interest to have made a journey to the Underworld, in order to revenge himself on his powerful enemies, its rulers.