Shell- Trumpets and tJieir Distribution. 5 1 



In the same work and elsewhere mocauani, the Fasting 

 Man, Ruler of the Nineteenth Day-count quiauitl, "Rain," 

 is figured blowing a conch-shell and associated with Tona- 

 tiuh, the Sun God. 87 



According to Sahagun and other authorities the 

 ancient Mexicans held a special festival once or twice a 

 year, on the day Nahui Ollin, in honor of Tezcatlipoca 

 Lord of the Night, etc. At noon on each of the four days 

 preceding this festival, conch-shells were blown by the 

 priests, whereupon everybody, great and small, old and 

 young, gashed their tongues and ears, and presented the 

 the blood to the Sun " doubtless," says Seler, " with the 

 intention thereby to give it strength to resume its course 

 in the usual way." 88 The linking together of ear-piercing 

 and the use of shell-trumpets in this ceremony is of con- 

 siderable significance. 



It is important to note, also, the remarkable resem- 

 blance to the Minoan use of the conch-shell trumpet in sum- 

 moning the divinity. (See p. 33). An even more striking 

 parallel is found in the Babar Is. (Malay Archipelago), 

 where the sun-god is called down to accept offerings by 

 means of a Triton- shell. 89 



In the Mexican pictorial manuscript Codex Maglia- 

 becchiano in the Florentine Biblioteca Nazionale is an 

 illustration showing XocJiipilli^ called by Seler the God 

 of Flowers and Food Supplies, being carried in procession 

 preceded by a priest blowing a corich-shell trumpet. 90 

 (See/*y-. 6 on plate facing p. 52.) 



87 Seler, op. cit,, p. 185, fig. 393, and sheets 28 and 94. The shell is 

 probably Fasciolaf-ia gigantea. 



ss Seler, op. cit., p. 186. Zelia Nuttall, "A Penitential Rite of the 

 Ancient Mexicans." Arch. & Ethnol. Papers of Peabody Afzts., vol. i., No. 

 7, 1904, p. 4. 



89 I am indebted to Mr. W. J. Perry for this information. 



90 Seler, op. ?., p. 162, fig. 363. The shell looks like a reversed Cassis 

 cornuta. This species is common to the West Indies, Pacific Islands, etc., 

 and is used as a trumpet in Papua and other Pacific Islands. 



