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a fcftival, to continue for three days which are fpent 

 in games and feafting. 



Every private perfon contributes to this, 1 from 

 the produce of his hunting and fifhing, and from 

 his other provifions, confifting of maize, beans and 

 melons. The grand chief commonly called the 

 fun, and the woman- chief prefide at this feftival 

 in an elevated lodge, which is covered with foli- 

 age : they are carried thither in a litter, and the 

 former holds in his hand a fort of fcepter adorned 

 with feathers of various colours. All the nobility 

 fit round them in a pofture of refpecl. On the laft 

 day the chief harrangues the affembly, and exhorts 

 them all to be exact in fulfilling their duty, efpe- 

 cially to preferve a great veneration for the fpirits 

 who refide in the temple, and to give good inftruc- 

 tions to their children. If any one has fignalized 

 himfelf by a publick-fpirited action, he makes his 

 eulogium. Twenty years ago the temple was re- 

 duced to afhes by lightning, feven or eight 

 women threw their children into the flames, in 

 order to appeafe the genii the chief immediately 

 had thefe heroines before him, gave them publick- 

 ]y the higheft praifes, and concluded his difcourfe, 

 by exhorting the reft of the women to imitate, 

 when occafion offered, fo great an example. 



The heads of families never fail to carry to the 

 temple the firft fruits of all they gather, and the 

 prefents made to the nation, are difpofed of in the 

 fame manner. They are laid before the door of 

 the temple, and the keeper after having offered 

 them to the fpirits, carries them to the chief who 

 difpofes them as he fees proper. The feed which 

 is to be thrown into the ground is, in like manner, 



offered 



