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Rh gods." The festival terminated with the burning alive of a number of slaves.

Tepeiluitl, the thirteenth month (September 3oth), ushered in the festival in honour of the mountain-gods, and was signified by the figure of a mountain with the head of Tlaloc. Numbers of snake-figures of wood (emblems of the lightning) were prepared, as well as images of the mountains in meal-paste, and certain victims, identified with fertility-deities were sacrificed to Tlaloc. The festival was held partly in honour of those who had perished by drowning or the lightning stroke, or by some other death which necessitated burial as opposed to cremation.

In Quecholli, the fourteenth month (October 30th), was held the festival of Mixcoatl, whose figure appears as its symbol. A strict fast was observed, during which large numbers of arrows were made, which were offered in bundles of twenty to Uitzilopochtli. Miniature arrows were deposited on the graves of the dead, and, on the tenth day, a great communal hunt was organized, on the mountain called Zacatepec, in which various surrounding tribes joined. A victim, the representative of the god, was offered to Mixcoatl, and a number of slaves to Tezcatlipoca; some of the latter being carried up the temple steps bound hand and foot like captive deer.

Panquetzaliztli, the fifteenth month (November 9th), ushered in the great feast of Uitzilopochtli, whose figure is shown as its emblem. The proceedings were symbolical in part of the mythical fight between this god and his hostile brothers, the Centzon Uitznaua, since a great ceremonial combat was organized between the slaves destined as sacrifices. In this one party represented the god, the other the Uitznaua, and a great figure of the Xiuhcoatl, the mythical weapon of Uitzilopochtli, figured later in the proceedings. During the fight, the image of Paynal made a rapid ceremonial