HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



71 



Jopico, which was within the inclofure of the greater 

 temple, and there depofited in a cave. In this fame 

 month the Xochimanqui, or thofe who traded in flowers, 

 celebrated the feftival of their goddefs Coatlicue, and 

 prefented her garlands of flowers curioufly woven. But 

 before this offering was made, no perfon was allowed to 

 fmell thefe flowers. The minifters of the temples 

 watched every night of this month, and on that account 

 made great fires ; hence the month took the name of 

 Tozoztonli, or little watch. 



The fourth month was called Hueitozozili, or great 

 watch ; becaufe, during this month, not only the priefts, 

 but alfo the nobility and populace, kept watch. They 

 drew blood from their ears, eye-brows, nofe, tongue, 

 arms, and thighs, to expiate the faults committed by 

 their fenfes, and expofed at their doors leaves of the 

 fword-grafs, coloured with blood, but with no other in- 

 tention, probably, than to make oftentation of their pe- 

 nance. In this manner they prepared themfelves for 

 the feftival of the goddefs Centeotl, which was cele- 

 brated with facrifices of human victims and animals, par- 

 ticularly of quails, and with many warlike exercifes, 

 which they performed before the temple of this god- 

 defs. Little girls carried ears of maize to the temple, 

 and after offering them to that falfe divinity, carried 

 them to granaries, in order that thefe ears, thus hallow- 

 ed, might preferve all the reft of the grain from any 

 deftru&ive infect. This month commenced on the 27 th 

 of April. 



The fifth month, which began upon the 17th of 

 May, was almoft wholly feftival. The firft, which was 

 one of the four principal feftivals of the Mexicans, was 

 that which they made in honour of their great god Tez- 



catlipoou 



