12 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 97 



apparently a cultural center representing a blending of Pipil and 

 Lenca ceremonies and customs, is so important that we quote it in 

 full, following Squier's translation (Palacio, i860, pp. 65-89). 



Three leagues distant, is the village of Micla, which anciently the Pipil Indians 

 of this district held in great veneration ; it was here they came to make their 

 offerings and sacrifices, as did also the Chontals, and other neighboring Indians 

 of different languages. Their modes of sacrificing differed in some respects from 

 those of other parts. They had cues or temples, and teupas or priests of high 

 authority, of which there are still many signs and traces. 



Besides their cazique or secular lord, they had a kind of pope, called Tecti, 

 who dressed in a long blue robe, and wore on his head a diadem, or sometimes a 

 mitre embroidered with many colors, at the crown of which rose a cluster of 

 very beautiful feathers, taken from a bird, called in this country. Quetzal. 

 This pontiff carried in his hand a staff, which resembled the crook of a bishop, 

 and he was obeyed in all spiritual things. After him, next in sacerdotal authority, 

 was the tehu a matlini, who was the ablest diviner and the man best versed in 

 their ancient books and in their arts. He it was who made auguries and foretold 

 future events. After him were four priests called teupixquis, who went dressed 

 in long robes, falling to their feet, each of different color, black, red, green and 

 yellow. These were the counsellers of the pontiff, and directed all the super- 

 stitous ceremonies and follies of their religion. Their was also a kind of mayor- 

 domo, who had charge of the sacred jewels and the instruments of sacrifice. He 

 also opened the breasts of the victims of sacrifice, and tore out their hearts, 

 and performed such other personal services as were requisite. Besides all these 

 there were other functionaries, who played on the drums, trumpets and other 

 instruments used in convoking the people to the sacrifices. 



ELECTION OF THE POPE AND PRIESTS 



When the chief priest died, he was buried in his own house, seated in a 

 painted chair, and all the people mourned for him for fifteen days, with loud 

 cries and lamentations. They also fasted during this period; but when this was 

 over, the cazique and the wife, man or diviner selected a new pontiff by lot. 

 It was requisite that he should be one of the four priests above mentioned. When 

 the choice was made, they had great feasts and dances, and he who was chosen 

 drew blood from his tongue and private parts, and offered it in sacrifice to the 

 idols. He also named his successor in the priesthood, who was required to be 

 a son of the deceased pontiff, if he had left one, if not, the son of some other 

 priest. He filled also the other offices which at any time became vacant in the 

 teupas, or temples. They adored the rising sun, and had two idols, one repre- 

 senting a man, whom they called Quetzalcoatl, and the other a woman named 

 Itzqueye. All their sacrifices were made to them, and they had a calendar, 

 with days specially set apart for each one, and on these the sacrifices were made. 



SACRIFICES 



Each year they had two principal and very solemn sacrifices ; one at the com- 

 mencement of summer, and the other at the beginning of winter. These were 

 made in the interior of the sacred place or temple, and were of boys between 

 the ages of six and twelve years, bastards, born among themselves. 



