Page:A Study of the Manuscript Troano.djvu/109

Rh. In order to remedy these calamities, which they feared entirely or in part, they made, at the instigation of the demon, the statue of an idol named Kinch-Ahau-Yzamna ; they placed it in the temple, where they offered to it all kinds of incense and oblations, drawing their blood and sprinkling with it the stone of the god Zac-Acantun. They executed different dances, the old women dancing as usual; at this feast they formed anew a small oratory to the demon; they assembled there to offer sacrifice to him and to give him presents, and finished with a solemn orgie, where every one became intoxicated, for this feast was general and obligatory. There were also some fanatics who, of their own accord, and through devotion, made another idol, like that which is mentioned above, which they carried into other temples, making it offerings and intoxicating themselves in its honor. They regarded these orgies and sacrifices as very agreeable to their idols and as preservatives capable of preventing the misfortunes with which they believed themselves threatened."

"This year, of which the dominical letter was Cauac and the omen Hozanek, after they had elected a chief of the ceremonies, they formed, in order to celebrate it, the image of the god Ek-u-Uayeyab; they carried it to the piles of stone at the west entrance, where they had left the image of the year before. They made at the same time the statue of the god called Uac-Mitun-Ahau, which they placed, as usual, in the most Convenient spot in the chief's house. From there they went together to the place where they found the image of Ek-u-Uayeyab, having taken care previously to ornament the road; arriving there, the nobles and priests incensed this image, after their custom, and cut off the head of a fowl. When this was finished, they took the statue on a litter called Yaxek and placed on its shoulders a gourd with a dead man and, besides, the ashes of a bird which they called Kuch, as a sign of great mortality; for this year was considered very unfortunate.

"They afterwards carried it about in this manner, with devotion mingled with sadness, executing several dances, among which there was one