2 J 6 



AMERICA. 



Chap. V- 



Their Pro 



. jns. 



s 







Ancient At- 

 tire of the 

 Mexican*. 



Their Procefiions were (lately, and afcer this manner : The chiefeft Nuns rai- 

 fing a Pafte of 'Bledoi-Sccd and parched Mai^, kneaded it with Honey ,of which they 

 made an Idol refembling their Deity Vi%tipn%tli, acrofs whofe Nofe and Forehead 

 they drew a blue Stroke ; his Head they adorn'd with a Plume of Feathers, and 

 in the left Hand plac'd a round Box, in the right a crooked Stafflike a Serpent, and 

 Wings behind on his Shoulders; at the appointed Feaft-day phe Nuns meet before 

 Sun=rifing, in new white Apparel, with Garlands of Mai^ about their Heads 

 and Necks, which hung down below the left Shoulder, their Faces painted 

 with feveral colours, about their Arms hung Parrots Feathers from their Elbows 

 down to their Hands : Thusadorn'd, they carried the kneaded Idol to a Court, 

 where the Youths that inhabited a Cloyfter in the fame Temple, fetching the Idols 

 blue Throne, with great Reverence fet it down at the lower Step of the Temple, 

 at which the People threw Dufton their Heads 5 which was no fooner done, but 

 the Boys ran with all fpecd to the Mountain Cbapultepec , a League from Mexico, 

 whither the Multitude following them in manner of Proceflion, made all (hort 

 Prayers and Offerings there 5 from thence haftening into the Champain Fields Mia- 

 cuavaya, they perform'd the like Service as before ; which done, they went to the 

 Village Cuyoacan, a League farther ; from whence they came back in all hafte with 

 their Idol into Mexico : Wherefore this Proceflioning for its expedition was call'd 

 Ipaina Fi%tliputli. The Idol being brought into the Temple, was by four Cords 

 made faft to his Throne, hoifed up to the Cieling with the noife of Drums and 

 Trumpets, whilft the fore-mention'd Youths ftrow'd the Temple both within 

 and without full of Rofcs ; after which the Nuns gave the Boys the refemblances 

 of Bones made of the lame Dough with the Idol, with which they were to cover 

 the Floor of the Chappel; then appcar'd the Temple-Priefts, with Scarfs about 

 their Bodies, Garlands on their Heads, and Strings with Flowers about their Necks, 

 each going in order according to his quality to the place where the Bones lay j 

 which being Confecrated with Songs and Dances, were religioufly worfliipp'd for 

 Bones of the Idol ; after which fix of the Priefts went down to the Stone Quauxi* 

 caU't, on which the Prifoners lying upon their Backs, had their Hearts pull'd out ; 

 which being finifli'd, the Maids and Boys beforc-mention'd went to meet one ano- 

 ther, Dancing to the found of Pipes, Drums and Songs 5 which their neareft Rela- 

 tions anfwering, Danc'd round about them, whither the whole City and Coun- 

 trey People all about came flocking in great numbers. 



During this high Feaft none, upon great Penalties, durft eat any other Food 

 but the Cakes made of the fame Dough of which the Idol was made 5 neither were 

 they permitted, though Children, to drink till the Afternoon. 



Laftly, the Prieft climb'd up to a Chappel ftrow'd with Rofes, in which the 

 Idol fitting, they difrob'd him, broke his holy Arms and Legs into little pieces, 

 which they diftributcd amongft the common People, who receiv'd them with 

 great Reverence, and with tears in their Eyes, imagining they eat the Body of their 

 God . for which honour every one paid a tenth part of the Charge which had 

 been fpent in this high Feaft. Then a Prieft admonifh'd them how they ftiould 

 lead their Lives, fince they were united with their God ; which ended, they all 

 went to their feveral Habitations in a wonderful good order from the Temple. 



Concerning the Mexicans Apparel, it is a fuffkient teftimony, that they are no 

 way of the fame original with the feveral barbarous Nations, that run up and 

 down naked in Ken? Spain : for the Inhabitants of Mexico went antiently Cloth'd in 

 Cotton : On their Heads they wore a high Plume of red Feathers . about their 

 Necks, over their Shoulders, Bread and Back, a kind of large Thorax of Feathers 



curioufly 



