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Show BOOK Vf, '--v--1 JJ I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. of Colhuacan; but before it was prefented, they facrificed in the ufual mode four prifonerst in memory, as is probable, of the four Xochimilcan prifoners which they had facrificed during their captivity in Colhuacan. In this month they made a review of their troops, and enlifted thofe youths who were deftined to the profeffion of arms, and who, in future were to ferve in war when there fhould be occafion. All the nobles and the populace [wept the temples, on which account this month took the name of Ochpaniztli, which fignifies, a f weep,izg. They_ cleaned and mended the ftreets, and repaired the aquerlu cts and their houfes, all which labours were attended with many fuperftitious rites. In the twelfth month, which began upon the 4th of October, they cebrated the feftival of the arrival of the gods, which they expreifed by the word Teotleco, which name alio they gave to both the month ~nd the feftival. On the 16th day of this month, they covered all the temples, and the corner [tones of the ftreets of the city w.ith green branches. On the r 8th, the gods, acording to their accounts, began to arrive, the .firft of whom was the great god Tezcatlipoca. They fpread before the door of the fanctuary of this god a mat made of the palm-tree, and fprinkled upon it fome powder of maize. The highprieft ftood in watch all the preceding night, and went freq uently to look at th¢ mat, and as foon as he difcovered any foo tfteps upon the powder, which had beea trod upon, flO doubt, by fome other deceitful prieft, he began to cry out, " Our great god is now arri'Ued." All the other priefts, with a great croud of people, repaired thet·e to adore him, and celebrate his arrival with hymns and dances, which were repeated all the reft of the night. On the two days following, other go~s fucccffively arrived, and on the twentieth and ]aft day, when they believed that all their gods were come, a number of youths dre{[ed in the foi:~ of various monfiers, danced around a large fi1·e, into which, from tune to time, they tbrew prifoners, who were there confumed as burnt facrifices. At fun-fet they made great e~tertainments, nt which they drank more th an ufual, imagining, that the wine wi·th which they .filled their beHies, would ferve to wafh. the feet of their gods. To fuch e~ceffts did the bru:buous faperfi:ition of thofe people lead! Nor was the ceremony which they praCl:ifed, in order t0 preterve th eir children H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. children from the evil which they dreaded from O!'Je of their gods, Iefs extravagant : this was the cufi:om of il:icking a numbet of feathers on their fhoulders, their arms, and legs, by means of tur'pcntine. In the thirteenth month, which began on the 24th of Otl:ober, the fefii val of the gods of water and the mountains, was celebrated. The name Trpcilhuit!, which was given to this month, fignified only the fell:ival of the mountain s. They inade little mountains of paper, on which they placed forne little ferpcnts made of wood, or of roots of trees, and certain fmall idols called Ehecatotontin, covered with a particular pafl:e. They put both _upon the altars and worfh ipped them, as die images of the gods of the mountains, fung hymns to them, and prefented copal and mea ts to them. T he prifoners who were fac ri'ficed at this feil:ival were five in number, one man and four women; to each of which a particular name was give n, alluding, probably, to fome myfi:ery of which we are ignorant. They clothed them in painted paper, which was beiinearcd with elafi:ic gum, and carrid them in pro.: ceffion in litters, after which they fac rificed them in the ufual manner. In the fourteenth month; which commenced on the I 3th of November, was the fefiival of Mixcoatl, godde(~ of the chace. It was preceded by four days of rigid and general f.1.11:ing, accompanied with the effufion of blood, during which time they made arrows and darts for the fupply of their arfcnals, and alfo cer tain fmall arrows which they placed together with pieces of pine, and fo:ne meats, upon the tombs of their relations, and after one day burned them. When the fafi: was over, the inhabitants of Mexico and Tbreloko went out to a general chace in one of the neighbouring mount~1 i ns , and all the animals which they caught were brought, with great rejoicings to Mexico, where they were facrificed to Mixcoatl ; the king himfelf was prefent not only at the facrifice, but likewife at the chace. ' They gave to this month the name of ff<!.techolli, becaufe at this feafon the beautiful bird which wen t amongfi: them by that name, and by many called Jiammingo, made its appearance on the banks of the Mexica n lake. In the fifteenth month, the beginning of which was on the 3d day flf December, the third and principal feftival of H uitzilopochtli and his brother, was celebrated. On the firfl: day of the month, the priefl:s formed two !l:atu~ of thofe two gods, of difterent feeds pafl:ed toge-ther, S R C T. XXXV. The (efti vals of the five la11 months. |