979 



Brinton.] - • ^ [Oct. 6, 



anity to which the}' are ostensibl}' adherents. A writer of that 

 country has furnished a description of these, and as the publica- 

 tion in whicli liis article appeared is extremely rare,* and the 

 fticts pertinent, I shall quote some of them. 



When a day name coincides with the number 8, the day is 

 considered sacred and a rite is celebrated either of the first, 

 second or third order of solemnity, according to its object, for 

 instance : 



The day 8 Carney is that on which the souls of the departed 

 are prayed for, and the sorcerers implored to keep evil-minded 

 souls from injuring the living. 



The day 8 Kanel was that on which in ancient times they sac- 

 rificed to the divinities of the field and of agriculture. At pres- 

 ent, Saint Anthou}^ occupies the place of the dethroned old gods, 

 and to him they offer the first fruits and dance to the sound of 

 the marimba. 



On the day 8 Batz, which by their count falls in the last month 

 of their year,"}" there is a sort of general summary- of all the fes- 

 tivals of the year, when there is much dancing, much copal 

 burned as incense, much discharge of rockets, the whole closing 

 with a general intoxication of the participants on aguardiente. 



The day 8 Ee is that devoted to the adjuration of a particular 

 monke}^ who is supposed to be seated on one of the hill-tops, 

 and is therefore called " The God of the Hill " (Dios del Cerro). 

 The native priests require numerous offerings fi'om the faithful 

 to placate him, which naturall^r find their way into their own 

 stores. 



The day 8 Ah-mak, like Carney, is set apart to commemorate 

 the dead. The native priests go forth in the evening and call 

 upon them with loud voices, while the mourners tell the spirits 

 thus summoned whatever family news or other incidents they 

 think will interest them. 



On the day 8 Noh is celebrated a festival dedicated to the 

 house and the family. They call upon the names of their de- 

 ceased ancestors and place upon the altar which is invariably 

 set up a cup of water in which a piece of money is dropped, 

 which piece will be handed the cura of the parish the next day 



* H. Spina in Boldin de la Sociedad Economica de Guatemala, Dec. , 1870. 

 t The Calendar to which this refers evidently, like that of the Cakchiquels, drops 3 ot 

 the 260 days ; otherwise, 8 Batz would not always fall in the last month. 



