72 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



catlipoca. Ten days before it a prieft dreffed hlmfelf in 

 the fame habit and badges which diftinguiihed that god, 

 and went out of the temple with a bunch of flowers in 

 his hands, and a little flute of clay which made a very 

 flirill found.' Turning his face firft towards the eaft, and 

 afterwards to the other three principal winds, he found- 

 ed the flute loudly, and then taking up a little duft from 

 the earth with his finger, he put it to his mouth and 

 fwallowed it. Upon hearing the found of the flute, all 

 kneeled down ; criminals were thrown into the utmoft 

 terror and confternation, and with tears implored that 

 god to grant a pardon to their tranfgreflions, and hinder 

 them from being difcovered and detected ; warriors pray- 

 ed to him for courage and ftrength againft the enemies 

 of the nation, fuccefsful victories, and a multitude of pri- 

 foners for facrifices ; and all the reft of the people, ufmg 

 the fame ceremony of taking up and eating the duft, 

 fupplicated with fervour the clemency of the gods. The 

 found of the little flute was repeated every day until 

 the fcftival. One day before it, the lords carried a 

 new habit to the idol, which the priefts immediately put 

 upon it, and kept the old one as a relique in fome re- 

 politory of the temple ; they adorned the idol with parti- 

 cular enfigns of gold and beautiful feathers, and raifed 

 up the tapeftry, which always covered the entrance of 

 the fan&uary, that the image of their god might be feen 

 and adored by the multitude. When the day of the 

 feftival arrived, the people flocked to the lower area of 

 the temple. Some priefts painted black, and drefled in 

 a fimilar habit with the idol, carried it aloft upon a lit- 

 ter, which the youths and virgins of the temple, bound 

 with thick cords of wreaths of crifp maize, and put one 

 of thefe wreaths round the neck, and a garland on the 



head 



