THOMAS] FESTIVALS OELD IN THE DIFFERENT MONTHS. 221 



with them a large quantity of lines and fish-hooks with other implements 

 for fishing. The gods whom they then invoked as their patrons were 

 Ahkalc-Nexoi, Ahpiia, Alicitz, and Amalcum. 



D. — During the month of Tzoz the apiarists prepared for the celebra- 

 tion of their feast of Tzec; but although the principal preparation was fast- 

 ing, only the priests and the officers who were to assist him were compelled 

 to fast, all the rest being voluntary. 



E. — The month Tzec. The day of the feast having arrived, they 

 congregated at the house of him who celebrated it, and performed all 

 that they usually did at the other feasts, except that they shed no blood. 

 Their patrons were the Bacabs, and especially Hohnil. They then made 

 great offerings, particularly to the four Chacs, to whom they presented four 

 plates covered with figures of honey, in order to obtain it in abundance by 

 means of this feast. They finished, as usual, with a perfect org}', the 

 apiarists being by no means sparing of their honey on this occasion. 



F. — The month Xiil. It has been seen in the tenth chapter how, after 

 the departure of Kukulcan from Yucatan, there were some Indians who, 

 believing that he was carried to heaven with the gods, regarded him as a 

 god and built temples in his honor and celebrated feasts, which they con- 

 tinued throughout the country until the destruction of Mayapan. After 

 this'event, they celebrated them no longer except in the province of Mani ; 

 but the other provinces, in recognition of what they owed to Kukulcan, 

 presented to Maui by turns each year, sometimes four and at other times 

 five magnificent banners of feathers, with which they solemnized the feasts, 

 not like the others, but in the following manner : 



On the sixteenth day of the month of Xul all the lords and jji'iests 

 of Mani assembled, and with them a large crowd, who joined with them, 

 after having prepared for it by fast and penances. On the evening of this 

 day they departed in procession, with a large number of performers, from 

 the house of the prince and advanced slowly towards the temple of Kitkul- 

 can, which they had previously ornamented. Having arrived, they repeated 

 their prayers and placed the banners high in the temple; they exposed their 

 idols on a carpet of leaves. Having then built the new fire, they burnt 



