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218 of taking neither salt nor spice with their meat, which they regarded as a great privation. At this time they elected the officers (Chacs) who assisted the priests; he prepared for them a large quantity of little balls of incense on small boards, which the priests kept for this purpose in order that those who had fasted should burn them before their idols. Those who had once commenced this fast took great care not to break it, believing that, if they did, some misfortune would fall on them or their houses on account of that violation.

The first day of the new year having arrived, all the men assembled in the court of the temple, but men alone; for, on any occasion, if the feast or sacrifice was celebrated in the temple, the women were not allowed to assist in it, with the exception of the old women who came to dance; but at the other banquets, which were held in other places, the women were allowed to be present. On this occasion the men came ornamented and painted with their colors, after having washed from themselves the grease with which they were covered during their fast. All being assembled with the offerings of meat and drinks which they had brought, also a great quantity of wine, newly fermented, the priest purified the temple and seated himself in the center of the court, clothed in pontifical garments and having beside him a brazier and the balls of incense. The Chacs took their places at the four corners, extending from one to the other a new cord, beneath the center of which all those must enter who had fasted, in order to dispel the evil spirit spoken of in Chapter XCVI.

The evil spirit once driven out, all devoted themselves to prayer while the chaces (sic) kindled the new fire; they burnt the incense before the idols, the priest commencing by casting his own ball into the brazier; the rest followed, each according to his rank, to receive the balls from the hand of the priest, who gave them with much gravity and devoutness, as if he was giving them valuable relics; then one after the other cast them slowly Into the brazier, waiting until it was consumed.

After this ceremony they feasted upon all the offerings and presents of food, drinking the wine after their custom, as usual, until they had consumed it all. This was their feast of the new year, and the solemnity with which they believed themselves to render it perfectly agreeable to their