When Cocom, a newcomer from Peten, began farming in Socotz, he neglected offerings to the lords of the milpa due to his lack of knowledge. His crops suffered until he dreamt of a naked man who revealed the lords’ anger. Guided by a sorcerer, Cocom performed a primicia offering, which appeased the lords and brought rain, saving his harvest.
Source
Ethnology of the Mayas of
Southern and Central British Honduras
by John Eric Thompson
Field Museum of Natural History
Anthropological Series, Pub.274, Vol.17.2
Chicago, 1930
► Themes of the story
Divine Intervention: The lords of the milpa directly influence Cocom’s crop growth and rainfall.
Sacrifice: Cocom’s offering (primicia) to the lords serves as a form of sacrifice to appease them.
Conflict with Nature: Cocom faces a struggle against natural forces, specifically the lack of rain affecting his crops.
► From the same Region or People
When Cocom first arrived at Socotz from the Peten, he had no knowledge of how to make a primicia, for the Peteneros are a godless lot. Accordingly he set about the making of his milpa without making any offering to the lords of the milpa.
Consequently, the maize on his milpa grew to a certain height, but no higher. It rained all around, but on Cocom’s milpa no rain fell. Cocom could not understand this, for he knew nothing of the lords of the forest. One night he dreamt he came home from his milpa through a downpour of rain. Entering his hut, he saw a naked man lying in his hammock.
► Continue reading…
Cocom started to talk to him, pointing out how wet he was and how hard it was raining. “Yes, it is raining,” replied the naked man, “but not on your milpa. The lords of the milpa have sent flames to keep the rain off your milpa. Yum Tsak does the work after God, and he must eat, but you have given him nothing to show your gratitude and assuage his hunger.” Cocom woke from his dream, but such was his fright that for two days he could eat nothing. He consulted a sorcerer, telling him of his strange dream. The sorcerer thereupon advised him to have a primicia made to propitiate the lords of the milpa. He did so, and almost immediately rain fell, converting his crop from a failure into a good return.
Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page
Dreamtime Whispers 