54)220-)]07

‘language is spoken to the south and as far north as
the top of the mountain but in only a mile or two
(airline) the language spoken is so different that a
Quiche’ cannot understand it. nor oan any spanish
individual. The langauage at Nebaj is Ixil (pro-
nounced Bshel) I may have mentioned it before but
if not, I say that it is worth while to take a trip
to Guat. just to hear these peoples gonverse.

At our camp there are always 4 or 5 pérsons
discussing the pecularity of our operations and if it
were not for their conversation, I would accomplish
considerably more-just can't get enough of thelr
fascinating blabber. I call it the railroad language
as every other sound is a ch- ch, ch, ch, Che They
have many mechanical sounds that are made with the
trachea closed, and are sounds made with the int ake
of air. As far as I can interpret the sounds, the
names of some of the mammals are; english, skunk-
spanish, sorillo-Ixil, tename; armadillo-ipoi; small
mice, zZ01ie

These people act and dress nore like the Nago
people than any other race I have met up with. They
arg short, muscular and as jumpy as the Nagos. I put
a label on the finger of one of them after I had just
finished putting one on a mammal. He turned around
and ran just as fast as he could. He may be running
yet ¢ §he women are the same timid souls as are the
Nagase

Speaking of labels or tags-everytime I put one
on & mammal or bird, I think of you, 80 you s6e, you
are constantly in my mind. I put on the hundreth tag
to-day which is considerably slower than stringing
them.

If I would characterize these people in Guat.
l think that for the officials or Iguanas, it would be
» an individual signing a document of some kindg for
the native, an individual walking ten feet and then