386 MEXICAN FESTIVALS. 



LIB. v. g rea t harme. The day of the feast being come, after they 

 had done him much honor, sung, and given him incense, the 

 sacrificers took him about midnight and did sacrifice him, as 

 hath been said, offering his heart vrito the Moone, the which 

 they did afterwardes cast against the idoll, letting the bodie 

 fall to the bottome of the staires of the Temple, where such 

 as had offered him took him vp, which were the Marchants, 

 whose feast it was. Then having carried him into the 

 chiefest mans house amongst them, the body was drest with 

 divers sawces, to celebrate (at the breake of day) the ban 

 quet and dinner of the feast, having first bid the idoll good 

 morrow, with a small dance, which they made whilst the day 

 did breake., and that they prepared the sacrifice. Then did 

 all the Marchants assemble at this banket, especially those 

 which made it a trafficke to buy and sell slaves, who were 

 bound every yeare to offer one, for the resemblance of their 

 god. This idoll was one of the most honoured in all the 

 land ; and therefore the Temple where he was, was of great 

 authoritie. There were threescore staires to ascend vp vnto 

 it, and on the toppe was a court of an indifferent large nesse, 

 very finely drest and plastered, in the midst whereof was a 

 great round thing like vnto an Oven, having the entrie low 

 and narrow, so as they must stoope very lo\v that should 

 enter into it. This Temple had chambers and chappels as 

 the rest, where there were convents of Priests, yong men, 

 in aides, and children, as hath been said ; and there was one 

 Priest alone resident continually, the which they changed 

 weekely. For although there were in every one of these 

 temples three or foure Curates or Ancients, 1 yet did every 

 one serve his weeke without parting. His charge that weeke 

 (after he had instructed the children) was to strike vp a 

 drum me every day at the Sunne setting, to the same end 

 that we are accustomed to ring to evensong. This drumme 

 was such as they might heare the sound thereof through- 

 1 u Curas o Digniditdes.&quot; 



