were applied to their faces and to the lintels of the doors, and were offered to the deities and to the mummies. On that day all, high and low, were to enjoy themselves, no man scolded his neighbour, and no word was passed in anger. On the following days there were magnificent religious ceremonials and sacrifices. Such was the great Situa festival.
Uma Raymi was the fifth month, from October 22 to November 22. It was so called because in this month the people of Uma, two leagues from Cuzco, celebrated their feast of Huarachicu. This was the month of brewing chicha, referring to a method of brewing chicha used at great festivals. The figure on the breastplate seems to refer to the opening of hives and buds which took place in this month. But it was essentially the brewing month, and it must be confessed that the effects of the brewing were a very prominent feature at all the festivals.
A fermented liquor was made from maize, which is called chicha by the Spaniards, but the native name is acca. The grains of maize were first chewed into a pulp by women and girls, because it was believed that saliva had medicinal qualities. The masticated maize was then boiled and passed through several colanders of fine cotton, and the liquor was finally expressed. Fermentation then took place. The acca was often flavoured with the berries of the Schinus Molle and other things to give it piquancy. Latterly
