IN THE OLDEN TIME. 
247 
their blood, and had been selected to be the god-cliildren 
of their king and priest. In these lonely retreats the 
fathers taught their sons manly duties, and drew their 
blood from the five wounds. 1 
The votaries had gathered from their various cells at 
the sound of the drum, which was beaten only on most 
solemn occasions, and were marching in procession to the 
Plaza. I could see them as they filed on to the narrow 
causeway that led into the town, and then they were lost 
to sight as they climbed the steep ascent. In profound 
silence these men and youths, naked as they were born, 
entered the enclosure and seated themselves at the foot 
of the altar-steps. The solemn silence was now suddenly 
broken by a crash of trumpets and drums, while a pro¬ 
cession of a different kind took up its march to the tem¬ 
ple. Bright colors and the gleam of gold and precious 
stones, the clang of barbaric music and the sound of holy 
songs, reached the eye and ear as the idols, which had 
been carefully concealed since the last fiesta, were now 
brought to the place of sacrifice. Strange things these 
were, — not of cc heaven above, nor the earth beneath, 
nor of the waters which are under the earth,” but carved 
from wood and stone and decked with beaten gold, hung 
with jewels, and borne triumphantly on the shoulders of 
the noblest citizens. Then all was joy and bustle in the 
Plaza. The hermits were clothed with new robes and 
welcomed back with honor, the high priest put on his 
robes and mitre, and for a while the people gave them- 
1 It is probable that at this time they circumcised their sous, although we 
have no direct statement to that effect. The Mayas practised this sanatory 
measure, which seems to have had no religious significance. Stone knives 
were used, and only once. 
