KAQAK’AXOOL - Nawal Of The Hill Kaqasiwaan

In the past, Xe' Kuku' Aab'aj was a very large town. It reached the foothills of the nearby hills.
People worked hard planting corn, beans, squash and tomato. They weaved fabrics and mats, in addition to engaging in other occupations. That is why there was well-being and prosperity.
At that time, the nawal of well-being and prosperity lived in the Cerro de las Cristalinas. His name was Kaqak'axool. He was a short man with very red skin because the Sun looked at him a lot. He was highly appreciated by the people of Xe 'Kuku' Aab'aj.
Many people came to the town from different places, looking for well-being and prosperity.
People were very happy if they were sent to work on the slopes of Cerro de las Cristalinas because, while they were working, they could find gold and silver under the stones.
But a day came when the residents of the community forgot the existence of the nawal of the hill. Then Kaqak'axool got upset and started making fun of the people of Xe' Kuku' Aab'aj. He stood on top of the hill and told them:
– Those from Xe’ Kuku’ Aab’aj have a bad smell because they eat a lot of dead fish and crabs.
People got tired of hearing the jokes that Kaqak'axool made them. Then they started to get upset and wondered:
– What can we do with Kaqak’axool?
– Let's get him out of the hill.
– they answered.

The people gathered. They went to get him out of the hill with sticks and stones and chased him as far as possible.
Kaqak'axool told them:
- It's okay. If they want to get me out of here, I'll go.
He left crying, but he took prosperity and well-being with him. Kaqak'axool went to live in other hills. The town quickly became poor. Diseases came because people did not realize the consequences of what they had done. Time passed. People suffered a lot.
Until one day they met to decide in council:
– What can we do with the suffering we carry?
– they wondered.
– We are going to beg and ask for forgiveness from the hill and Kaqak’axool, who was expelled by our ancestors.
They agreed and brought incense, ocote and offerings to give him; they asked him and brought him back to the Cerro de las Cristalinas.
They also promised to plant trees on the hill so that he could live in a pleasant place.
Slowly, prosperity and well-being returned to the town of Xe' Kuku' Aab'aj.

Source: Mayan Stories – Prensa Libre, year 2013.
Author: Tz’utujiles Mayan grandfathers and grandmothers.
Field researcher: Lucía Vásquez
Spanish Translator: Israel Quic