TOTONICAPAM, or TOTONICAPAN  , the capital of the department of Totonicapam, Guatemala, on the same high plateau as Quezaltenango, the nearest railway station, from which it is 12 M . E.N.E . Pop . (1905) about 28,000 . Totonicapam is inhabited mainly by Quiche Indians, employed in the making of cloth, furniture, pottery and wooden musical instruments . There are hot mineral springs in the neighbourhood . In 1838 Totonicapam was declared an independent republic, in which the adjoining departments of Solola and Quezaltenango were included . This state existed for two years, and was then again merged in the republic of Guatemala . Totonicapam suffered greatly in the earthquake of the 18th of April 1902 .