92 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



kind were all thofe years which had the rabbit for their 

 denominative character. The facrifices were on fuch 

 occafions more numerous, the oblations more abundant, 

 and the dances more folemn, efpecially in Tlafcala, in 

 Huexotzirico, and Cholula. In like manner, the fefti- 

 vals at the beginning of every period of thirteen years 

 were attended with more pomp and gravity ; that is, in 

 the years 1 Tochtli, 1 Acatl, 1 Tecpatl, and 1 Callu 



But the feftival which was celebrated every fifty-two 

 years, was by far the moft fplendid and mod folemn, not 

 only among the Mexicans, but likewife among all the 

 nations of that empire, or who were neighbouring to it. 

 On the laft night of their century, they extinguifhed the 

 fire of all the temples and houfes, and broke their vef- 

 fels, earthen pots, and all other kitchen utenfils, prepar- 

 ing themfelves in this manner for the end of the world, 

 which at the termination of each century they expected 

 with terror. The priefts, clothed in various dreffes 

 and enfigns of their gods, and accompanied by a vaft 

 croud of people, iflued from the temple out of the city, 

 directing their way towards the mountain Huixachtla, 

 near to the city of Iztapalapan, upwards of fix miles dif- 

 tant from the capital. They regulated their journey in 

 fome meafure by obfervation of the ftars, in order that 

 they might arrive at the mountain a little before mid- 

 night, on the top of which the new fire was to be kin- 

 dled. In the mean while, the people remained in the 

 utmoft fufpenfe and folicitude, hoping on the one hand to 

 find from the new fire a new century granted to man- 

 kind, and fearing on the other hand, the total deftruc- 

 tion of mankind, if the fire, by divine interference, fliould 

 not be permitted to kindle. Hufbands covered the 

 faces of their pregnant wives with the leaves of the aloe, 



and 



