Ch. XV.] CHICHA-DPJXKIXG. 279 



the officials seated themselves on a bench outside. Then 

 was brought out to them in bowls, nearly as large as a 

 wash-hand basin, the old Indian drink, " chicha," made 

 from fermented corn and sugar. Each of them had one 

 of the great bowls and a napkin ; the latter they spread 

 over their knees, and rested the bowl on it, taking long 

 sips every now and then with evident signs of satis- 

 faction. Little have these people changed from the 

 times of the Conquest. Pascual de Andagoya, writing 

 of the people of Nicaragua when they were first sub- 

 jugated by Hernandez de Cordova, in 1520, says, " the 

 whole happiness of the people consists in drinking the 

 wine they make from maize, which is like beer, and on 

 this they get as drunk as if it was the wine of Spain ; 

 and all the festivals they hold are for the purpose of 

 drinking.* 



The cross, candlesticks, and other ornaments were 

 arranged on a table, and were each carefully and 

 solemnly washed with hot water. This they do every 

 year the day before their feast, and it makes the occasion 

 for the procession and chicha drinking. Most of the 

 men of the township were gathered around, and in all 

 the straight coarse black hair and Indian features were 

 unmistakeable. The chicha drinking was too long a 

 business for our patience, and we went over to the church, 

 where we found a number of the Indian women with 

 great baskets full of most beautiful and sweet- smelling 

 flowers, making garlands and bouquets to decorate the 

 holy images and church. The beautiful flowers were 

 twined in wreaths, or stuck on prepared stands and 



* Hakluyt Society. " Narrative of Pascual de Andagoya." Trans, 

 by C. R. Markhain, p. 34. 



