Page:Here and there in Yucatan - miscellanies (IA herethereinyucat00lepl 0).djvu/101

 in bas-relief on the capitals of pillars in an ancient castle at Chichen Itza. The faces are unlike those of any American race, having decidedly Assyrian features.

Zactalah is no longer white, but grimed with the smoke of many candles that its faithful worshipers burn around it. Before setting fire to the trees that lie in their future corn-field, they carry to the blackened idol, a cool beverage called Zaca; at the same time they burn incense, believing to gratify his olfactory organ, and surround him with lighted wax candles, beseeching him to make the trees burn thoroughly.

When they plant, they again go to Zactalah, to make similar offerings in order that they may obtain abundant crops, and that no destructive animals may get into the fields to uproot the tender sprouts.

All these favors having been granted, the good people are not ungrateful. As soon as the grain is ripe, before reaping the harvest, they gather the most perfect ears for Zactalah. These primitiæ are cooked and prepared in various ways; then men, women, and children, all leave the hamlet very early in the morning, and go in pilgrimage to the