Monkeys

Then one day Hunahpu and Xbalanque returned without bringing any birds. The
Grandmother was enraged because of this:

“What is the reason that you have not brought any more birds?” Hunahpu and
Xbalanque were asked.

“This is why, our grandmother. Our birds are just stuck up in the top of the tree,”
they said. “There is no way to climb to the top of the tree to reach them, our grandmother.
Therefore we would like our older brothers to go with us to bring down the birds,” they
said.

“Very well,” said their older brothers. “We will go with you at dawn.”

Thus they were defeated. The two of them had planned for the defeat of One Batz
and One Chouen:

“We shall merely overturn their nature. This is the essence of our words. Thus be
it so, for great is the affliction that they have caused us. If it had been according to their
desires, we, their younger brothers, would have died and been lost. In their hearts, we are
looked upon as slaves, as if we worked for them. Instead, we shall make of them an
example,” they said one to another.

Thus they went there below the tree whose name is Yellow Tree, in company
with their older brothers. As they went, they began to shoot with their blowguns, for there
were innumerable birds in the top of the tree singing riotously. Their older brothers
marvelled at this when they saw the birds. But not one of these birds that they saw fell
down beneath the tree:

“Our birds do not fall down here. Just go and bring them down,” they said to
their older brothers.

“Very well,” they said.

And they climbed up to the top of the tree. But the tree began to grow larger. It
swelled in size. Thus when they wanted to come back down, One Batz and One Chouen
couldn’t climb down from the top of the tree.

They therefore called down from the top of the tree:

“What can we say, our younger brothers? Take pity on us. This tree is truly
frightening to see, our younger brothers,” they called down from the top of the tree.

Thus Hunahpu and Xbalanque called back to them:

“Loosen your loincloths and retie the long end below your bellies. Pull out the
tail end behind you. Then you will be able to walk freely,” they were told by their
younger brothers.

“Fine,” they said.

And so they pulled out the ends of their loincloths, and these immediately
became tails. They appeared just like spider monkeys. Thus they went up into the tops of
the trees there in the small mountains and the great mountains. They went out into the
forests, howling and chattering loudly in the branches of the trees.

Thus was the defeat of One Batz and One Chouen at the hands of Hunahpu and
Xbalanque. It was merely by their enchantments that it was done.

Now when they arrived back at their home, they spoke with their grandmother
and mother:

“Our grandmother, something has happened to our older brothers. Their faces
have changed. They go about like animals now,” they said.

“If you have done something to your older brothers, you will cause me misery and
anguish. Let this not be what you have done to your older brothers, my grandsons,” said
the Grandmother to Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

They replied then to their grandmother:

“Do not grieve, our grandmother. You shall see again the faces of our older
brothers. They will come back. But this is a test for you, our grandmother. Please do not
laugh, for we will test their fate,” they said.

Thus they began to play the flute. They played “Hunahpu Spider Monkey” on the
flute.


- Popol Vuh