64 A STUDY OF THE MANUSCRIPT TROANO. 



eled a statue of the god Yzamna and placed it in the house of the chief, 

 after which, by a road ornamented according to the custom, they returned 

 devoutly to the image of Zac-u-Uayeyah. On their arrival, they perfumed 

 it with incense as they had done before, and there cut off the head of a 

 fowl. The image having been afterwards placed on a litter called Zachia, 

 they carried it devoutly, accompanying it with dances called Alcahtan-Kam- 

 Ahau. They carried their usual drink on the way, and arriving at the house 

 tlie image was placed in order before that of Yzamna and they made their 

 offerings, to divide them afterwards; before the statue of Zac-u-Uayeyah 

 they presented the head of a turkey, patties of quails, different drinks, etc. 



"As formerly, there were among the spectators some who drew blood 

 from themselves, with which they rubbed the stone of the god Zac-Acantun. 

 In this manner they guarded the idols during the days preceding the new 

 year, and incensed them according to their custom until the last day ; then 

 they carried Yzamna to the temple and Zac-u-Uayeyah to the west of the 

 city, leaving it there until the following year. 



"The misfortunes to which they were exposed this year, if they hap- 

 pened to neglect these different ceremonies, were f^iinting fits, swoons, and 

 diseases of the eye. They considered it as a year unfortunate as to bread, 

 but abundant in cotton. It was this which they signalized with the char- 

 acter Yx, and in which the Bacah Zac-Ciid reigned, who foretold nothing 

 very good; according to their belief, the year must bi'ing calamities of all 

 sorts, a great want of water, days when the sun would shine with excessive 

 heat which would dry up the fields of maize; the consequence would be 

 famine; from famine arose robberies and from robberies slavery for those 

 who rendered themselves guilty. All this would naturally be the source of 

 discord and internal wars among the citizens and among the towns. They 

 believed that in the j'ear marked by this sign there also generally happened 

 changes among the princes or the priests, in consequence of the wars and 

 dissensions. 



"Another omen which they also held, was that Bome of those who 

 sought to gain authority would not arrive at their end. This year was 

 also sometimes signalized by an irruption of locusts, the consequence of 

 which would be famine and the depopulation of a large number of locali- 



