GANN] MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDUEAS 



45 



masa with a core of silcil. A number of these balls, known as yoJcua, 

 were made, each wrapped in plantain leaves. When finished, all of 

 them were wrapped in a large palm leaf and tied into a bundle with 

 split palm-leaf strands. Two more tutiua were next made, and lastly 

 all the masa and silil left were mixed together with a few ounces of 

 salt. After being well loieaded this mass was divided into two por- 

 tions, each of which was tied up in plantain and palm leaf covermgs. 

 In the meantime some members of the family had filled the pih or 





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Fig. 13.— Sacrificing a turkey at the Cha chac ceremony. 



oven with fh-ewood, over which they placed a layer of small blocks 

 of stone. The priest next made a bowl of sacAa (hterally "white water," 

 a drink made from ground corn and water), witli wliich he filled 

 the small calabashes on the altar, as well as the suspended calabashes ; 

 these he explained were for the tuyun pislian, or solitary souls. A 

 tm-key and four fowls were then placed in front of the altar, alive, 

 while the priest lighted a black wax candle by blowing a piece of 

 glowing wood to a flame; this candle he placed upon the altar. He 

 next took up the tm-key, around whose neck the assistant had placed 



