HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



47 



effes, fome were deftined by their parents from their in- 

 fancy to the fervice of the temples ; others on account 

 of fome particular vow which they had made during 

 ficknefs, or that they might enfure from their gods a 

 good marriage, or the profperity of their families, en- 

 tered upon fuch offices for one or two years. 



The confecration of the firfl: was made in the follow- 

 ing manner. As foon as the girl was born, the parents 

 offered her to fome god, and informed the rector of that 

 diftricl: of it ; he gave notice to the Tepanteohuatzin, 

 who, as we have already mentioned, was the fuperior 

 general of the feminaries. Two months after they car- 

 ried her to the temple, and put a fmall broom, and a fmall 

 cenfer of clay in her little hands, with a little copal in it, 

 to (hew her deflination. Every month they repeated the 

 vifit to the temple and the offering, together with the 

 bark of fome trees for the facred fire. When the child 

 attained her fifth year, the parents configned her to the 

 Tepanteohuatzin, who lodged her in a female feminary, 

 where children were inflructed in religion, and the pro- 

 per duties and employments of their fex. The firfl: thing 

 done to thofe who entered into the fervice on account of 

 fome private vow, was the cutting off their hair. Both 

 the latter and the former lived in great purity of manners, 

 filence, and retirement, under their fuperiors, without 

 having any communication with men. Some of them 

 rofe about two hours before midnight, others at mid- 

 night, and others at day-break, to ftir up and keep the 

 fire burning, and to offer incenfe to the idols ; and al- 

 though in this function they affembled with the priefls, 

 they were feparated from each other, the men forming- 

 one wing and the women another, both under the view 

 of their fuperiors, who prevented any diforder from 



happening 



