84 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



mory of the inhuman facrifice which their anceflors had 

 made of the princefs of Colhuacan ; but before it was 

 prefented, they facrificed in the ufual mode four pri- 

 foners, in memory, as is probable, of the four Xochi- 

 milcan prifoners which they had facrificed during their 

 captivity in Colhuacan. In this month they made a re- 

 view of their troops, and enlifted thofe youths who 

 were deftined to the profefiion of arms, and who, in 

 future w r ere to ferve in war when there fliould be occa- 

 fion. All the nobles and the populace fwept the tem- 

 ples, on which account this month took the name of 

 Ochpaniztlis which fignifies, a /weeping. They cleaned 

 and mended the ilreets, and repaired the aqueducts and 

 their houfes, all which labours were attended with many 

 fuperftitious rites. 



In the twelfth month, which began upon the 4th of 

 October, they celebrated the feftival of the arrival of 

 the gods, which they expreffed by the word Teotleco, 

 which name alfo they gave to both the month and the 

 feftival. On the 16th day of this month, they covered 

 all the temples, and the corner ftones of the ftreets of 

 the city with green branches. On the 18th, the gods, 

 according to their accounts, began to arrive, the firft of 

 whom was the great god Tezcatlipoca. They fpread 

 before the door of the fan&uary of this god a mat made 

 of the palm-tree, and fprinkled upon it fome powder of 

 maize. The high-pried flood in watch all the preced- 

 ing night, and went frequently to look at the mat, and 

 as foon as he difcovered any footfteps upon the powder, 

 which had been trod upon, no doubt, by fome other 

 deceitful prieft, he began to cry out, " Our great god is 

 " now arrived." All the other priefts, with a great 

 croud of people, repaired there to adore him, and ce- 

 lebrate 



