Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/289

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
thomas]
FESTIVALS HELD IN THE DIFFERENT MONTHS.
221

with them a large quantity of lines and fish-hooks with other implements for fishing. The gods whom they then invoked as their patrons were Ahkak-Nexoi, Ahpua, Ahcitz, and Amalcum.

D.—During the month of Tzoz the apiarists prepared for the celebration of their feast of Tzec; but although the principal preparation was fasting, only the priests and the officers who were to assist him were compelled to fast, all the rest being voluntary.

E.—The month Tzec. The day of the feast having arrived, they congregated at the house of him who celebrated it, and performed all that they usually did at the other feasts, except that they shed no blood. Their patrons were the Bacabs, and especially Hobnil. They then made great offerings, particularly to the four Chacs, to whom they presented four plates covered with figures of honey, in order to obtain it in abundance by means of this feast. They finished, as usual, with a perfect orgy, the apiarists being by no means sparing of their honey on this occasion.

F.—The month Xul. It has been seen in the tenth chapter how, after the departure of Kukulcan from Yucatan, there were some Indians who, believing that he was carried to heaven with the gods, regarded him as a god and built temples in his honor and celebrated feasts, which they continued throughout the country until the destruction of Mayapan. After this event, they celebrated them no longer except in the province of Mani; but the other provinces, in recognition of what they owed to Kukulcan, presented to Mani by turns each year, sometimes four and at other times five magnificent banners of feathers, with which they solemnized the feasts, not like the others, but in the following manner:

On the sixteenth day of the month of Xul all the lords and priests of Mani assembled, and with them a large crowd, who joined with them, after having prepared for it by fast and penances. On the evening of this day they departed in procession, with a large number of performers, from the house of the prince and advanced slowly towards the temple of Kukulcan, which they had previously ornamented. Having arrived, they repeated their prayers and placed the banners high in the temple; they exposed their idols on a carpet of leaves. Having then built the new fire, they burnt