GANN] MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 



4a 



to erect two rude huts, one 12 feet the other 6 feet square; both 

 were thatched with huano leaf, and the floor of the smaller hut 

 was covered with wild plantain leaves. In the center of the larger 

 hut was erected a rough allar 6 hy 4 feet and 4 feet 6 inches high, built 

 of sticks bound together with bejuco (fig. 11). The central part of this 



Fro. n.— Chichanha Indian priest in front of altar at Clia cbac ccremonj-. 



altar was covered by an arch of "jabm" branches with the leaves 

 still attached. About a dozen small calabashes in their ring supports 

 (Maya chuyub) were placed on the altar, and three more were hung 

 to a string passing from the side of the shed to a post a few yards 

 away. The masa prepared the previous night was then brought 

 out m four large calabashes, two of these being placed under the altar 



