Cap. VilL T^Caribby-Iilands. 



Eve of every Feftival, to prepare themfelves for that folemn 

 Action } and the people, which came thither from all the Pro- 

 vinces., were there prefent fome time before Sun-'r!fing. The 

 way which led up to the Mountain was enlightned by great 

 Fires, which were kept in all that Night, for the convenience 

 of thofe who went thither to adore. All the people remain'd 

 without upon the Mountain,' and none but the Priefts durft 

 come neer the Grot, which ferv'd them for a Temple. Thofe 

 who brought any Garments to be diftributed to the poor, 

 prefented them to the Priefts who ftood at the entrance, and 

 they hung them on the Poles which were on both fides of the 

 Portal, where they remained till after the Service, and then 

 they were diftributed among the poor, as were .alfo the other 

 prefents which the rich offered, and which were in like manner 

 kept till the fame time : Thofe alfo who brought Perfumes to 

 burn on the Altar,deliver'd their prefents to th.e Priefts. 



As foon as the Sun began to appear, the Priefts who ftood be- 

 fore the Temple began their Songs and Hymns, adoring him 

 feveral times on their knees 3 then they went one after another 

 to caft the Incenfe and Perfume which they had in their hands 

 upon the Fire, which they had before kindled on the Altar, as 

 alfo upon a great Stone which ftood before the entrance of the 

 Grot: This Ceremony being ended, the chiefeft of the Priefts 

 powr'd fome Honey into a hollow Stone, made fomwhat like 

 thofe Stones wherein the Holy-water ftands in fome places, 

 which Stone ftood alfo before this Temple 3 and into another, 

 which was of the fame figure and the fame matter, he put fome 

 corns of Turkey- wheat a little bruis'd, and deftitute of their 

 outward Shell, as alfo fome other fmall grains, which the 

 Birds confecrated to the Sun, called the Tonatzuli^ do greedily 

 feed upon : Thefe Birds, whereof there are great numbers in 

 the Woods which lie round about this Mountain, were fo ac° 

 cuftomed to find thefe Treatments which were prepar'd for 

 them in that place, that they fail'd not to come there in great 

 companies as foon as the Aflembly was retir'd. 



While the Priefts continue! burning the perfume, and cele- 

 brating the praifes of the Sun, the People who were upon the 

 Mounrain having made feveral bowings at the rifing of the Sun, 

 e t-rtain'd themfelves afterwards in fome kinds of recreation^ 

 dances, and fongs, which they fung in honour of him } and af** 

 tei wards fitting down on the grafs, every one fell to what he 

 had brought along with him for his Viaticum, 



Thus they continu'd there till noon 3 but when it came neer 

 that time, the Priefts, quitting the gate of the Temple, went 

 into the body of it, and difpofing themfelves about the Altar, 

 which ftood in the midft, they began to fing afrefh : Then as 

 foon as the Sun began to caft his golden beams on the border 

 of the opening or Lanthorn, under which the Altar was ere- 



