TnoMAB] MODE OF BAPTISM IN YUCATAJ). 233 



The little boys and girls approached in order, and the priest placed in 

 their hands some maize and incense, which they threw one by one into the 

 brazier. This finished and the incensing being terminated, they raised the 

 brazier and the cord with which the Chacs had formed the inclosure. They 

 poured a little wine into a vase or vessel, which they gave, with these things, 

 to a man to carry out of the village, and charged him especially not to 

 drink the wine and not to look behind him on his return In this manner 

 the evil spirit was said to be dispelled. 



The yard was then swept and decorated with leaves which were found 

 there, and were the leaves of a tree called cihom; they substituted them with 

 others of a tree called cojw, and stretched some mats, during- which time 

 the priest changed his clothes. He appeared soon after, clothed in a tunic 

 of red feathers, worked with other feathers of different colors, and from 

 which hung other feathers still finer; also, underneath, a large quantity of 

 ribbons of cotton, which hung down to the groimd. On Ifis head he wore 

 a kind of miter, embroidered with plumage in the same manner, and in his 

 hand a small holy-water sprinkler of wood, carved skillfully, of which the 

 filaments were of the tails of serpents, similar to serpents with rattles. He 

 came out thus, having neither more nor less gravity than a pope would have 

 in crowning an emperor; and it is a remarkable thing to see the serenity 

 which all this apparel gave him. 



The Chacs immediately advanced towards the children and placed 

 white linen cloths, which their mothers had brought for this purpose, on 

 their heads. They then asked the oldest if they had connnitted no wrong or 

 inmiodest action; and if they had they confessed and were separated from the 

 rest. This done, the priest commanded all to seat themselves and be silent; 

 he then began to bless the children with certain prayers and to consecrate 

 them with the holy water, with much dignity. The benediction finished, he 

 sat down. The one chosen by the fathers of the infants to aid especially 

 in this ceremony, then rose, and, armed with a bone, which the priest gave 

 him, he went to each child and passed it in front of him nine times; he then 

 dipped it in a vessel of water which he carried in his hand and anointed them 

 on the forehead and face, also the interstices of the fingers and toes, without 

 saying a single word. This water was composed of certain flowers and 



