62 



HISTORY OF MEXICO* 



to him, that he might draw his own blood. They re- 

 ftri&ed him to a very abftemious diet, fubje&ed him to 

 the harden 1 labours, and puniftied him feverely for any 

 failure in duty. At the end of the year, after being 

 wafhed and cleanfed by four girls, with fweet fcented 

 water, he was recondu&ed to his houfe with great pomp 

 and mufic. 



In the principal temple of Teohuacan, four priefts 

 conftantly refided, who were famous for the aufterity of 

 their lives. Their drefs was the fame with that of the 

 common people ; their diet was limited to a loaf of maize 

 of about two ounces in weight, and a cup of atol!i 9 or 

 gruel, made of the fame grain. Every night two of 

 them kept watch, employing their time in finging hymns 

 to their gods, in offering incenfe, which they did four 

 times during the night, and in fliedding their blood up- 

 on the (tones of the temple. Their fading was conti- 

 nual during the four years which they perfevered in that 

 life, except upon days of feftival, one of which happen- 

 ed every month, when they were at liberty to eat as 

 much as they pleafed ; but in preparation for every fef- 

 tival, they pra&ifed the ufual auftere rules, boring their 

 ears with the fpines of the aloe, and pafling little pieces 

 of cane through the holes to the number of fixty, all of 

 which differed in thicknefs in the manner above menti- 

 oned. At the end of four years, other four priefts 

 were introduced to lead the fame kind of life ; and if 

 before the completion of that term any one of them hap- 

 pened to die, another was fubftituted in his place, that 

 the number might never be incomplete. Thefe priefts 

 were fo high in refpecT: and efteem as to be held in ve- 

 neration even by the kings of Mexico ; but woe unto 

 him who violated his chaftity ; for, if after a ftricl: exa- 

 mination , 



