148 Harsliberger. — Maize : 



the Pueblo Indians along the Rio Grande use it, and upon 

 rising in the morning throw a pinch of it to the east. The 

 Zunis and Moquis are never without it, but carry it in little 

 bags tied to their waists." The use of this meal resembles 

 the crithomancy of the Greeks, but is not identical with it. 

 Space will not permit any further account of the use of maize 

 in the ceremonial religious observances of the Pueblo Indians, 

 but the reader is referred for more detailed accounts to 



A Journal of American Archaeology and Ethnology, Vol. 11 ; (A Few 

 Summer Ceremonials at the Tusayan Pueblos ; Hemenway Expedition.) 



The Millstone, Indianapolis, Ind., 1884 — Article, Zuhi Bread Stuffs; 

 Gushing. 



The Aztecs worshipped several deities. Tlaloc, for instance, 

 was the god of waters, of rain, and of the fertilized earth, 

 Ixtlixochitl represents him in the picture of the month Etzalli 

 with a cane of maize in one hand and in the other an agricul- 

 tural implement. 1 Centeotl (Ceres) was the goddess of maize, 

 and, consequently, from the importance of the grain, the 

 goddess of agriculture and of production generally. Many of 

 her names seem dependent on the varying aspects of maize. 

 The fruits of the field were consecrated to her.- The feast to 

 this goddess, begun April 27, was elaborate, and maize was 

 used in a variety of forms at various stages of the perform- 

 ance. Bancroft has given a detailed account, and those who 

 wish a fuller description can find it in his colossal work, "The 

 Native Races of the Pacific States." 



The Mayas similarly used maize in their festivities. The 

 Cakchiquels, in Guatemala, were a Maya tribe. " A little 

 more, and they would make a god of maize," says an old 

 writer. All the labors of the field were conducted with 

 religious rites. The men, for instance, who did a large part 

 of the field work, refrained from approaching their wives for 

 some days before they planted the corn. Incense was burned 

 at the corners of the field to the four gods of rain and wind 



1 Bancroft, H. H., Native Races Pacific States, III, 325. 



- Jos. de Acosta, Nat. Hist. West Ind., Lib. 4. cap. 16, 236; New York Agric. Soc, 

 1S4S, 682 ; Trans. Illinois Agric. Soc, 1856-7, 473 ; Trans. New York Agric Soc . 187S, 47. 



