20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 57 



seasons. Here may be mentioned the numerous ceremonies incident 

 to the beginning of the new year and the end of the old, as the renewal 

 of household utensils and the general renovation of all articles, which 

 took place at this time ; the feasts of the various trades and occupa- 

 tions — the hunters, fishers, and apiarists, the farmers, carpenters, and 

 potters, the stonecutters, wood carvers, and metal workers^ — ^each 

 guild having its own patron deity, whose services formed another large 

 group of ceremonials. A third class comprised the rites of a more 

 personal nature, those connected with baptism, confession, marriage, 

 setting out on journeys, and the like. Finally, there was a fourth 

 group of ceremonies, held much less frequently than the others, but 

 of far greater importance. Herein fall the ceremonies held on extra- 

 ordinary occasions, as famme, drought, pestilence, victory, or defeat, 

 which were probably solemnized by rites of human sacrifice. 



The direction of so elaborate a system of worship necessitated a 

 numerous and highly organized priesthood. At the head of the 

 hierarchy stood the hereditary high priest, or ahaucan mai, a func- 

 tionary of very considerable power. Although he had no actual 

 share in the government, his influence was none the less far-reaching, 

 since the highest lords sought his advice, and deferred to his judgment 

 in the administration of their affairs. They questioned him con- 

 cerning the will of the gods on various points, and he in response 

 framed the divine replies, a duty which gave him tremendous power 

 and authority. In the ahuacan mai was vested also the exclusive 

 right to fill vacancies in the priesthood. He examined candidates 

 on their knowledge of the priestly services and ceremonies, and after 

 their appointment directed them in the discharge of their duties. 

 He rarely officiated at sacrifices except on occasions of the greatest 

 importance, as at the principal feasts or in times of general need. 

 His office was maintained by presents from the lords and enforced 

 contributions from the priesthood throughout the country. 



The priesthood included within its ranks women as well as men. 

 The duties were highly specialized and there were many different 

 ranks and grades in the hierarchy. The chilan was one of the most 

 important. This priest was carried upon the shoidders of the people 

 when he appeared in pubUc. He taught their sciences, appointed 

 the holy days, healed the sick, offered sacrifices, and most important 

 of all, gave the responses of the gods to petitionee. The ahuai chac 

 was a priest who brought the rains on which the prosperity of the 

 country was wholly depen(]ent. The ah macik conjured the winds; 

 the ahpul caused sickness and induced sleep; the ahimi xibalba 

 communed with the dead. At the bottom of the ladder seems to have 

 stood the nacon, whose duty it was to open the breasts of the sacrificed 

 victims. An important elective office in each community was that 

 held by the cMc, or priest's assistant. These officials, of which there 



