Quiche

Quiche, one of the civilised nations of America, akin to the Mayas (q.v.), and forming with them the Maya-Quiche family. The Quiches formed, and still form, the bulk of the population in Guatemala, where they are divided into several distinct groups, such as the Cakchiquels, Zutugils, Chorti, Ixils, Chanabals, Chols, Aguacatecs, all speaking dialects of the Quiche mother-tongue. This is one of the few American languages which possesses a literature which includes the Rabinal Achi, a native drama, and the famous Popol-Vuh, containing the national histories, myths and traditions of which the text, with French translation, was published in Paris (1861) by the Abbe Brasseur de Bourbourg.