MEXICAN FESTIVALS. 381 



two Priests marching before with censors, giving often LlB v - 

 incense to the idol, and every time they gave incense 

 they lifted vp their armes as high as they could to the 

 idoll, and to the Sunnc, saying, that they lifted vp their 

 praiers to heaven, even as the smoke ascended on high. 

 Then all the people in the Court turned round to the place 

 whither the idoll went, every one carrying in his hand new 

 cords of the threed of manguey, a fadome long, with a 

 knotto at the end, and with them they whipped themselves 

 vppon the shoulders; even as they doe heere vppon holy 

 Thurseday. All the walles of the Court and battlements 

 were full of boughs and flowers, so fresh and pleasaunt, as 

 it did give a great contentment. This procession being 

 ended, they brought the idoll to his vsual place of abode, 

 then came a great multitude of people with flowres, dressed 

 in diverse sortes, wherewith they filled the temple and all 

 the court, so as it seemed the ornament of an Oratory. All 

 this was putte in order by the priests, the yoong men ad- 

 ministring these things vnto them from without. The 

 chappell or chamber where the idoll remayned was all this 

 day open without any vailc. 



This done, every one came and offered curtines, and pen 

 dants of sendal, precious stones, iewclls, insence, sweete 

 wood, grapes, or eares of Mays, quailes: and, finally, all they 

 were accustomed to offer in such solemnities. Wheuas they 

 offered quailes, (which was the poore mans offering,) they 

 used this ceremonie, they delivered them to the priestes, 

 who taking them, pulled off their heads, and caste them at 

 the foote of the Altare, where they lost their bloud, and so 

 they did of all other things which were offered. Every ono 

 did offer rneate and fruito according to their power, the 

 which was laid at the foote of the altar, and the Ministers 

 gathered them vp, and carried them to their chambers. This 

 solcmne offering done, the people went to dinner, every ono 

 to his village or house, leaving the feast suspended vntil 



