82 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



(hipped in the temples, but likewife thofe which they 

 had for private devotion in their houfes ; from whence 

 the month was called Tlaxochimaco. The night preced- 

 ing the feftival was employed in preparing the meats 

 which they eat next day with the greateft jubilee. The 

 nobles of both fexes danced together, the arms of the 

 one rafting on the ftioulders of the other. This dance, 

 which laded until the evening, finiftied with the facrifice 

 of fome prifoners. In this month alfo the feftival of Ja- 

 cateuctli, the god of commerce was held, accompanied 

 with facrifices. 



In the tenth month, the beginning of which was on 

 the 25th of Auguft, they kept the feftival of Jmb* 

 teudti, god of fire. In the preceding months, the priefts 

 brought out of the woods a large tree, which they fix- 

 ed in the under area of the temple. The day before 

 the feftival they ftripped off its branches and bark, and 

 adorned it with painted paper, and from that time it 

 was reverenced as the image of Xiuhteucl:li. The own- 

 ers of the prifoners which were to be facrificed on this 

 occafion, dyed their bodies with red ochre, to refemble 

 in fome meafure the colour of fire, and were dreffed 

 in their beft garments. They went to the temple, ac- 

 companied by their prifoners, and paffed the whole 

 night in finging and dancing with them. The day of 

 the feftival being arrived, and alfo the hour of the fa- 

 crifice, they tied the hands and feet of the vi&ims, and 

 fprinkled the powder of Jauhtli (/) in their faces, in 



order 



(/) The Jauhtli is a plant whofe ftem is about a cubit long, its leaves are 

 fimilar to thofe of the willow, but indented, its flowers are yellow and the 

 roots thin. The flowers, as well as the other parts of the plant, have the fame 

 fmell and tafte as thofe of the anife. It is very ufeful in medicine, and the 

 Mexican phyficians applied it in different diftempers ; it was alfo made ufe of 

 for many fuperftkious ends. 



