382 MEXICAN FESTIVALS. 



LlB - v - after dinner. In the meanetime, the yong men and maidens 

 of the temple, with their ornaments, were busied to servo 

 the idoll, with all that was appointed for him to eate : which 

 meate was prepared by other women, who had made a vow 

 that day to serve the idoll. And, therefore, such as had 

 made this vow, came by the point of day, offering them 

 selves to the Deputies of the Temple, that they might com 

 mand them what they would have done, the which they did 

 carefully performe. They did prepare such varietie of 

 meates, as it was admirable. This meate being ready, and 

 the hour of dinner come, all these virgins went out of the 

 Temple in procession, every one carrying a little basket 

 of bread in her hand, and in the other, a dish of these 

 meates ; before them marched an old man, like to a steward, 

 with a pleasant habite, he was clothed in a white surples 

 downe to the calves of his legges ; vpon a doublet with 

 out sleeves of red leather, like to a iacket, he carried wings 

 insteede of sleeves, from the which hung broade ribbands, 

 at the which did hang a small calibash or pumpion, which 

 was covered with flowers, by little holes that were made in 

 it, and within it were many superstitious things. This old 

 man, thus attyred, marched very humbly and heavily before 

 the preparation, with his head declining: and comming neere 

 the foote of the staires, he made a great obeisance and re 

 verence. Then going on the one side, the virgins drew 

 neere with the meate, presenting it in order one after another, 

 with great reverence. This service presented, the old man 

 returned as before, leading the virgins into their convent. 

 This done, the yong men and ministers of the Temple came 

 forth and gathered vp this meate, the which they carried to 

 the chambers of the chiefe Priests of the Temple, who had 

 fasted five daies, eating onely once a day, and they had also 

 abstained from their wives, not once going out of the Temple 

 in these five daies. During the which, they did whippe them 

 selves rigorously with cordes, they did eate of this divine 



