UNCTION IN MEXICO. 365 



like tresses, or a horse mane, for that they applyed this LlB 

 vnction wet and moyst. Their haire grew so as in time it 

 hung downe to their hammes, so heavily that it was trouble 

 some for them to beare it, for they did never cut it untill 

 they died, or that they were dispensed with for their great 

 age, or being employed in governments or some honorable 

 charge in the commonwealth. They carried their haire in 

 tresses, of sixe fingers breadth, which they died blacke with 

 the fume of sapine, or firre trees, or rosine; for in all Anti- 

 quitie it hath bin an offring they made vnto their idolls, and 

 for this cause it was much esteemed and reverenced. They 

 were alvvayes died with this tincture from the foote to tho 

 head, so as they were like vnto shining Negroes, and that 

 was their ordinary vnction; yet, whenas they went to sacri 

 fice and give incense in the mountaines, or on the tops 

 thereof, or in any darke and obscure caves where their 

 idolles were, they vsed an other kinde of vnction very differ 

 ent, doing certaino ceremonies to take away feare, and to 

 give them courage. This vnction was made with diverse 

 little venomous beastes, as spiders, scorpions, palmers, sala 

 manders, and vipers, the which the boyes in the Colledges 

 tooke and gathered together, wherein they were so expert, 

 as they were ahvayes furnished when the Priestes called for 

 them. The chiefe care of these boyes was to hunt after these 

 beasts ; if they went any other way and by chaunce met 

 with any of these beasts they stayed to take them, with as 

 great paine as if their lives depended thereon. By the rea 

 son whereof the Indians commonly feared not these venom 

 ous beasts, making no more accompt than if they were not 

 so, having beene all bred in this exercise. To make an oint 

 ment of these beastes they tooke them all together, and 

 burnt them vpon the harth of the Temple, which was before 

 the Altare, vntill they were consumed to ashes; then did 

 they put them in mortcrs with much Tobacco or lictum 

 (being an hearbe that Nation vseth much to benummo tho 



