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Show BOOK. Vl. ........-y-.; H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. viCl:ims, obtained to this month the name of 'I'Iacaxipehu.aliztli, or the {kinning of men,. At this feilival, the militaTy went through fevcral cxercifes of arms and praCtices of war, and the nobles c~lfbrated with fon O'S the glorious actions of their ~ncefiors. In Tlafcala, the nobles, as ; ell as the plebeians had dances, at which they were all dre!fed in ikins of animals, and embroidery of gold and filver. · On account of thefe dances, which were common to all ranks of people, they gave the fe.i1ival as well as the month the name of Coai/huit/, or the general feilival. In the third month, which began on the 7th of April, the fecond fefl:ival of TbJoc was celebrated with the facrifice of fome children. 'The :fkins of the viCtims, which were facrificed to the god Xipe, in the preceding month, were carried in proceilion to u temple called Jo~ pico, which was within the inclofure of the greater temple, and there dcpofited in a cave. In Lhis i~une month the Xochimnnqui .. or thofe who traded in flowers, celebrated the feftival of their goddefs Coatlicue, and pre fen ted her garlands of flowers. curioufly woven. But before this offering was made1 no pedon was allowed to fmf'U thefe flowers. The mini£l:crs of the t~mples watched every night mf this month, and on that account rnade great fires ;, hence the month took the name of 'fozo.zto11 It', or I i ttle watch. The fourth month was called HuL'z"to-zozt!i, 0r great watch ; be ... caufe, dUt·ing this m0nth, not only the prie.i1s, but alfo the nobility and populace, kept watch. They drew blood from their ears, eyebrow , nofe, tongue, arms, and thighs, to expiate the faults committedby their fenfes, an.d expofed at their doors leaves- of the [ word-grafs, coloured with blood, but with no other intention, probably, than to make ofl:entation of their penance. In this manner they prepared themfelves for the feftival of the goddefs Centeotl,. which was celebrated with facrifices of human victims and animals, particularly of quail s, and with many warlike exercifes, which they performed before the temple of this goddefs. Little girls carried ear'S of maize to the tcm ple, and after offt:ring them to that' falfe divinity, carried them to granaries, in order· that thefe ears, thus hallowed, might preferve all thet: efi of the grain from any defirutl:ive infect. This month commenced Qn the 27th of AeriL. The. H I S T 0 R Y 0 F l'vi E :X l c 0. The fifth month, which began upon the r7th of May, was almofr wholly fefii val. The firfi, which was one of the four principal feftivals of the M ... xicans, was that which they made in honour of their great god T ezcatlipoca. Ten days before it a prid\: dreifed himfelf in the fc1mc habit and badges which difl:inguia1ed that god., and went out of the temple with a bunch of flowers in his hands, and a little .flute of clay which made a very ihrill found. Turning his face fir(\: tow:u·ds the eaft, and afterwards to the other three principal winds, he founded the flute loudly, and then taking up a little duil from the earth with his finger, he put it to his mouth and [wallowed it. Upon hearing the found of the flute, all kneeled down ; criminals were thrown into the utmofl: terror and con.i1ernation, and with tears implored that god t~ grant a pardon 'to their tranfg ref1ion s, and hinder th em from being d1fcovered nnd detecl:cd; warriors pr·1ycd to him for courage and i1:rength againfi the enemies of the nation, fucce[sful viCtories, and a multitude of prifoncrs for f.1crifices ; and all the refi of the people, ufi.ng the L1mc ceremony of taking up and eating the duil, fuppl.icated With fervour the cl mency of the gods. The found of the little flute was repeated every day until the feftival. One day before it, the lords carried a new habit to the idol, which the pricfts jmmediutcly put upon it, and kept the old one as a relique i11 iome rep0fitory of the temple; they adorned the idol with particular enfigns of gold and beautiful feathers, and raifed up the tapefiry, which always covered the entrance of the fancruary, that the image Gf their god might be fcen and adored by the multitude. When the day of the felliva-1 arrived, the people flocked to the lower arel of tire temple. Some priefis painted black, and dre!fed in a limibr habit with tbe idol, carried it aloft upon a litter, which the youths and virgins 0f the ~emple, bound w.ith thick cords of wreaths of crifp maize, and put one 0f thefe wreaths round the neck, and a garland ·on the head of .the .idoL This cord, the emblem of drought, which they ddi1:ed to prevent , was called Toxcatl, which name was likcwife given to the month on account of this ceremony. All the youths and virgifls 0f the temple, as well as the nobles of the conrt, <:•trried fimilar wreaths about their necks and in their hands. Then followed a procefiion through the lower · area of the temple, where flowers .and odorjferous herbs were Q_ q 2 fca.ttered ; ~99 BOOK VI~ ~ s ll c 1' . xxxr. Gmnd fcfli val of th e g-od Tcr.catl ipoca. |