Ritual of the bacabs - Garrett, Robert, 1875-1961; Gates, William, 1863-1940 (1775)
The text comprises incantations and herbal remedies for the treatment of a broad range of injuries and diseases, particularly for seizures (10 spells), snake stomach (5), and bites (4). Asthma, toothache, respiratory congestion, and bone ailments are represented by two spells each, and there is a spell apiece for gout, erysipelas, fever, ulcers, eruptions, burns, running sores, gum inflammation, and placenta ejection. There are also three spells for cooling things and a spell apiece for making fire, shaping flint, and deer calling. Two spells, included in an appendix, appear to be later than those in the remainder of the text.
Layout: 1 column, 14 lines.
The last 2 pages of manuscript are written on the verso of a fragment of a printed indulgence (Latin) that includes the printed date February 1779. From the language of the text it would appear that this manuscript was copied from a 16th- or 17th-century manuscript. There are two separate modern numbering systems, neither includes blank leaves.
Garrett-Gates Mesoamerican Manuscript, no. 1, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts, Princeton University Library
Text in Yucatec.
Title supplied by William E. Gates.
Leather wrapper (type unidentified).
Keywords: Mayas -- Medicine; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Mexico -- 18th century; Medicinal plants -- Mexico -- 18th century; Maya incantations; Mayas -- Rites and ceremonies; Maya language -- Texts; Phytothérapie -- Mexique -- 18e siècle; Plantes médicinales -- Mexique -- 18e siècle; Incantations mayas; Mayas -- Rites et cérémonies; Maya (Langue) -- Textes; Materia medica, Vegetable; Maya incantations; Maya language; Mayas -- Medicine; Mayas -- Rites and ceremonies; Medicinal plants; Mexico; 1700-1799; Manuscripts, Maya -- 18th century; Formulas, recipes, etc; Paper; Leather bindings; Indulgences