The elders of the village of Nohpat tell of an old lady -- a sorceress and an herbalist -- who knew the mysteries of the skies and the cures to every illness. Although she was very old, she desired to have a son so one day she went to a secret place to pick up a special egg, which she nurtured until it hatched a baby boy. When the child spoke, the old lady was surprised for he had the body of a child but the wisdom of an old man.
Over the years, the boy grew in wisdom but not in size. He was a dwarf but his wisdom was immense. Among other things, he was very observant and he noticed that the old lady never moved very far from the three hearthstones in the thatch-roofed house that they shared. One day when the old woman was not looking, the dwarf reached into the ashes of the fire to find out what the grandmother guarded. There he found a tunk'ul, a wooden drum with a special design on it. He began banging the drum, pounding so loudly that the sound was heard far away by many people.
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| a tunk'ul at the Fort of San Miguel Museum in Campeche |
Immediately the sorceress returned. She was very angry, and she explained to the dwarf that what he had done would change destiny for everyone. Now terrible events would occur and he would be caught in the middle of them.
Even as the grandmother was telling the dwarf about the consequences of his actions, the sound of the drum was reaching the king's grand stone palace. You see, the king was gripped with great fear at the pounding of the drum as a prophecy in the land stated that this sound would precede the end of his rule. The king and his advisors decided to find the person who was responsible for playing the tunk'ul, and to see if he was really the one who would succeed the king on the throne. Thus, the king's guards came to the village of Nohpat, found the dwarf and took him to the palace.
When the dwarf came before the king, he was asked to prove his wisdom since only a wise person can become king. The king asked many questions. The dwarf answered them all. But the king was not satisfied and so he decided upon a final test: this would consist in breaking a cocoyol nut with a hammer on the head of the dwarf. The dwarf agreed with one condition: the king would have to undergo the same test.
The king's executioner placed the cocoyol nut on the dwarf's head and struck with all his might. But the dwarf lifted his head with a smile. He had passed the test.
Next came the king's turn. The executioner placed the nut on his royal head and struck with all his might. But this killed the king. Unbeknownst to the king, the dwarf survived because the sorceress had hidden a cap of enchanted copper in his hair.
Thus the dwarf was declared king of Uxmal. On the day of his inauguration, the grandmother told him that she would not live much longer but that now he was king, she could die in peace. She also told him to "Act with justice, and always face the truth. Do not forget it is more important to be good than to be just. Listen to the voice of the gods and follow their counsel, but listen also to the voice of men. Never despise the lowly, and distrust the powerful." These were the grandmother's last words to the dwarf.
For many years the dwarf heeded the old woman's advice and peace and harmony reigned at Uxmal. But over time, the dwarf began to abuse his power. He became a tyrant and cruel to the people.
The gods saw this and became angry. The dwarf had offended them so they punished the city by sacking and burning it. Time passed and the memory of the city was erased by the ashes and the wind.
This is the story of the dwarf who reigned in Uxmal.
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