MEXICAN COMMUNION. 359 



they were blessed and consecrated for the flesh and bones LlB 

 of this idoll. 



This ceremony and blessing (whereby they were taken 

 for the flesh and bones of the idoll) being ended they 

 honoured those peeces in the same sorte as their god. Then 

 came foorth the sac ri fleers, who beganne the sacrifice of 

 men in the manner as hath beene spoken, and that day 

 they did sacrifice a greater number than at any other time, 

 for that it was the most solemne feast they observed. The 

 sacrifices being ended, all the yoong men and maides came 

 out of the temple attired as before, and being placed in 

 order and ranke, one directly against another, they daunced 

 by drummes, the which sounded in praise of the feast, and 

 of the idoll which they did celebrate. To which song all tho 

 most ancient and greatest noble men did answer, dauncing 

 about them, making a great circle, as their vse is, the yoong 

 men and maides remayning alwayes in the middest. All 

 the citty came to this goodly spectacle, and there was a 

 commaundement very strictly observed throughout all the 

 land, that the day of the feast of the idoll Vitzilipuztli they 

 should eate no other mcate but this paste, with hony, 

 whereof the idoll was made. And this should be eaten at 

 the point of day, and they should drincke no water nor any 

 other thing till after noone : they held it for an ill signe, 

 yea, for sacrilege to doe the contrary : but after the cere 

 monies ended, it was lawfull for them to eate any thing. 

 During the time of this ceremony they hid the water from 

 their litle children, admonishing all such as had the vse of 

 reason not to drinkc any water ; which, if they did, the 

 anger of God would corno vpon them, and they should die, 

 which they did observe very carefully and strictly. The 

 ceremonies, dancing, and sacrifice ended, they went to vu- 

 clothe themselves, and the priests and superiors of the 

 temple tooke the idoll of paste, which they spoyled of all 

 the ornaments it had, and mado iniiny pec-cos, as well of the 



