> Original Sender: pcoon@superior.carleton.ca (Peter Coon)
> Mailing List: NATIVE-L (native-l@gnosys.svle.ma.us)
>
> Some controversy seems to exist on who caused the destruction of the
> Mayan texts. They were written on paper. Spaniards destroyed them in
> an attempt to eliminate Mayan spiritual traditions. How many texts did
> they destroy? What were the names of these Spaniards? What percentage
> of all the texts did they destroy?
>
> What percentage was destroyed by natural forces, decay, etc.?
>
> If you can, please provide some reference sources, if you decide to
> reply to this request for information. Thanks.
>
> Peter Coon
>
In the introduction to Diego Landa's _Yucatan: Before and After the
Conquest_, William Gates reports that the Spanish priest, Landa, "burned
ninety-nine times as much knowledge of Maya history and sciences as he
has given us in this book" (p.iv)