MAYA. The civilized native race of the pen insula of Yucatan, Mexico, the most important of the cognate peoples constituting the Mayan stock ( q.v.). In 1511 the first landing was effected by the Spaniards on the coast of Yucatan. at the sacred island of Cozumel. In 1526, Mexieo hay ing already fallen, the first attempt was made upon the peninsula. in 1539 the Spanish COM mander. lontejo, entered Chichen-Itza, and a year or two later the Spanish Government was declared established, the capital being fixed at the new city of Merida in 1542. The country was mapped out into tribute districts; missionaries began to Christianize the natives, and in their zeal destroyed as heathen abominations the na tive temples and records wherever found. Resist ance was crushed out by wholesale massacres and the :Maya so•e•eignty was at an end. The war like ltz5 (q.v.), who had previously retired be yond the Guatemala border, maintained their in dependence until 1697. In 1848 occurred a gen eral rising throughout the peninsula, the Indians seizing the opportunity afforded by internal troubles in Mexico. Massing their forces in thousands, they took one city after another, burn ing and destroying everything and consigning to indiscriminate massacre whole garrisons and populations. The entire strength of the Mexican
Government was invoked to put down the rebel lion. The Maya of the northern and central area were finally subdued, while the more deter mined warriors retired to the difficult region along the southern coast. where they continued to defy the Mexican armies for more than half a century,while maintaining friendly relations with the English of Belize, from whom they obtained their firearms and ammunition. The end came in 1901, when by means of a combined land and naval approach the Mexican army drove the independent Maya. about 15.000 in number, from their last citadel of Chan-Santa Cruz. opening up to the new civilization a region never before traversed by white men. The present nunmbe• of those speaking the Maya language is about 300, 000, about one-third of whom are mixed bloods, or persons of European descent who have adopted the language as their own. For general char acteristics, see MAYAS