In the INSTALL.cvs file, it says:
> If the file "configure" does not exist, i.e., this is not a Maxima
> tarball release, execute the script "bootstrap," which will do
> the necessary auto(conf,make) magic necessary to produce "configure."
>
> Further installation instructions are available from
> ./configure --help
> and the file INSTALL.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a file INSTALL.
Jay