HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



91 



they kindled it anew before the idol of that god, which 

 they adorned on the occafion, with gems and beautiful 

 feathers. The hunters prefented all their fpoils to the 

 priefts, one part of which was confumed in burnt-offer- 

 ings to their gods, and the other was facrificed, and af- 

 terwards dreffed for the tables of the nobility and priefts. 

 The women made oblations of Tamalli, which they af- 

 terwards diftributed among the hunters. One of the 

 ceremonies obferved upon this occafion was that of bor- 

 ing the ears of all the children of each fex, and putting 

 ear-rings in them. But the greateft Angularity attend- 

 ing this feftival was that not a fmgle human viclim was 

 facrificed at it. 



They celebrated like wife in this month the fecond fef- 

 tival of the mother of the gods, refpe&ing which, how- 

 ever, we know nothing except the ridiculous cuftom of 

 lifting up the children by the ears into the air, from a 

 belief that they would thereby become higher in nature. 

 With regard to the name Izcalli, which they gave to 

 this month, we are unable to give any explanation (/). 



After the eighteen months of the Mexican year were 

 completed on the 20th of February, upon the 21ft the 

 five days called Nemontemi commenced, during which 

 days no feftival was celebrated, nor any enterprife un- 

 dertaken, becaufe they were reckoned dies infausti, or 

 unlucky days. The child that happened to be born on 

 any of thefe days, if it was a boy, got the name of Ne- 

 moquichili, ufelefs man ; if fhe was a girl, received the 

 name of Nencihuatl, ufelefs woman. 



Among the feftivals annually celebrated, the moft fo- 

 lemn were thofe of Teoxihuitl, or divine years, of which 



kind 



(?) Izcalli fignifies, Behold the houfe. The interpretations given by Tor- 

 quemacU and Leone are too violent. 



