278 



A M E%1 C A. 



Chap. V. 



The F«rt 

 luxcoah. 



^ 





they both confented, he ty'd the Brides Scarf, and Bridegrooms Coat together,and 

 io accompanying them home, led them nine times about the Fire-hearth : If the 

 Bride had no Impediments, then the Bridegroom made Prefents to her Father and 

 Mother, Offerings to the Gods, and a brave Dinner to the neareft Relations s after 

 which an Inventory was drawn of what each of them had brought, that upon 

 their being Divorc'd, (which was very common amongftthe Mexicans) each might 

 have his fhare 5 and if they had Children, the Man was to keep the Sons, and the 

 Woman the Daughters } nor were they permitted,onpain of death,being once part- 

 ed, to joyn together again. 



On the ninteenth of May they kept the Fcaft Texcoalt, Confecrated to the Idol 

 Te%catlipuca, before whom they Offer'd a Slave, which was done after this manner ; 

 Towards the Evening the Multitude coming into the Temple, the Priefts pulling 

 off the Idols old, put on new Apparel, hung him full of Precious Stones and Arm- 

 lets, fet Plumes of Feathers on his Head ^ which done, the Curtains behind which 

 he flood, were drawn, and a Prieft Cloth'd exactly like the Idol coming forth, 

 turn'd himfelf round, blow'd a kind of Trumpet towards the four Winds, and ate 

 Earth, which all the People imitated : whereof thofe which had committed any 

 hainous Offence, Offer'd Incenfe to the Idol, and weeping, begg'd forgivenefs of 

 their Sins. Thofe that were Soldiers befought him to grant them ftore of Prifoners, 

 and ftrength to conquer their Enemies 5 for which they would return him thanks 

 with Offer'd Prifoners. 



ThisFcaft ofTexcoalt lading ten days, ended on the twenty ninth of May with 

 peculiar Ceremonies ; for in the Morning a company of Priefts, black all over, 

 carried on their Shoulders a large Chair of State richly adorn'd • in which fat their 

 Idol Te%catlipHC4j and Priefts with long pleited Hair, and Clad in the fame Appa- 

 rel with the Idol, which they fet down at the Foot of a pair of Stairs which led up 

 to a Chappel 5 whither the attendant Youths and Virgins came and fpread Car- 

 pets before it, and green Boughs of Manghey ; after which two Priefts carried the 

 Idol into a lpacious Court in the Temple, feveral others walking before, each with 

 a perfuming Veffel ; when they threw their Perfumes on the Confecrated Hearth, 

 they held their Hands towards the Idol, defiring him that he would fend their 

 Prayers to Heaven : Next follow'd the Multitude, who fcourg'd themfelves till 

 the Blood ran down from their Backs. So foon as the Proceffion was ended, 

 the reprefentcd Te%catlipuca was hoifed up to the Cieling, and abundance of Flowers 

 ftrow'd before the Altar 5 which done, every one went home to Dinner, whilft 

 the Youths and Virgins adorn'd the Idol, and plac'd Meat before him : Laftly, 

 the Votarcffes came two and two with Baskets of Bread, and Difhes of Meat : 

 their Governcfs in a white Sur-Coat over a red Veft, with Wings on her Shoul- 

 ders, and broad Girts, at which hung Calabafrts fill'd with holy Reliques and 

 Flowers : Moreover, (he conduced the Votarefles to the Steps of the Altar on 

 which the Idol fat ; where having eaten Bread they came back, and the Temple- 

 Servants went in their places, and carried the Meat which flood on the Altar to the 

 Priefts Cells, who by that time were to have Fafted five days : this done, the Peo- 

 ple came all to the Temple again, to be prefent at the end of the Feaft : then a 

 Slave, who had reprefented the Idol a whole year, appear'd, to whom everyone 

 having (hew'd Reverence, the chief Prieft cutting open his Breaft, tore the Slave's 

 Heart reaking out of his Body, and fhew'd it to the Sun ; then the Confecrated 

 Youths and Maids made a great noife with Drumming, Singing and Dancincr about 

 the Body till Sun*fet ; after which the Virgins going up to the upper Chappel, 

 plac'd Bread and Fiuit, made up like dead Mens Bones and Heads, before the Idol, 



where, 





