Chap. V. 



U M E<B^I C J. 



*77 



curioufly plcitcd ; each Arm ado-rn'd with Armlets, and their Middles girt with 

 broad white Girdles full of red Streaks . in (lead of Garters they wore Laces of 

 Feathers, as alfo a little above their Ancles. Their Priefts befmear'd all their 

 Bodies, efpecially the Head, with an Ointment, whofe fpecial vcrtue was to make 

 their Hair grow exceeding long, which they braided with broad Cotton Strings . 

 they alfo fmutch'd themfelves with a kind of blacking Stuff; when they went to 

 make Offerings to their Idol in Caves, Woods, or on high Mountains, they be- 

 dawb'd themfelves with an Ointment made of Spiders, Salamanders, Adders, 

 Scorpions and Toads, which the Temple-Boys caught for them in great abun- 

 dance. This Ointment they made with many Circumftances ; for having roafted 

 the fore.mention'd Vermine on the Hearth of the perpetual Fire before Vi^tlipu^tlis 

 Altar, and ftamp'd the fame in a Mortar with Tobacco, living Scorpions, the Seed 

 Ololucbqui, (to which they afcrib'd a power of reprefenting Vifions) hairy Worms, 

 and Soot, they kneaded all together, put the Ointment in Pots, and plac'd it before 

 the Idol, thenceforth reputing it a fan&ifi'd Medicine, that would prove good 

 againft all manner of Difeafcs ; wherefore the Priefts being always fent for to the 

 Sick in ftead of Do&ors, perfum'd the Patient, fliav'd his Hair, hung Snakes Bones 

 about his Neck, and order'd him at a certain Hour to bathe himfelf, and in the 

 Night to watch before a Fire-hearth, and to eat no Bread but what had been 

 Offer'd to their Idol. Moreover, the faid Ointment is thought to have another 

 power, v*3> to make thofe that anointed themfelves with the fame, valiant and 

 ftrong j which the common People bcliev'd, becaufe the Priefts would go through 

 Woods and WildernefTes that abounded with ravenous Bcafts. 



Thefe Heatbe?is alfofccnVd to have fomething of Circumcifion and Baptifm; for 

 they not onely cut offa piece of the Infant's Ears and privy Members, which they 

 Offer'd to their Idols, but alfo wafli'd them as foonas they came into the World, 

 putting into their Hinds fuch Tools as were of ufe in their Fathers Profeflion. 



Their Marriages alfo were celebrated with great folemnity : The Prieft having 

 ask'd the Bride and Bridegroom, If they would joyn together in Matrimony? if 



Ee j they 



■ I 



The?r Nup« 

 tial Solemni- 

 ties, 



