like the crottees, which they called Xibalba-Okot, which signified dance of the demons. In this interval the cup-bearer arrived with the drink for the nobles, which they drank in the place where the statue of Uac-Mitun-Ahau stood vis-à-vis with the image of which they had the care. Immediately they commenced the oblations, the perfuming, and their prayers; a great number drew blood from different parts of their bodies and anointed with it the stone idol called Ekel-Acantun. Thus passed the unfortunate days, after which they carried Uac-Mitun Ahau to the temple and Ek-u-Uayeyab to the south entrance, where they left it until the following year.
"This year, signalized by the character Cauac, and in which the Bacab-Hozanek rules, besides the plague with which it was threatened, was particularly regarded as fatal; they said that the extreme heat of the sun destroyed the fields of maize, without considering the multiplication of ants and birds that devoured the remainder of the seed; however, they added, these calamities need not be entirely general, there were some places where subsistence could be obtained, although with great difficulty. To prevent these calamities they made, at the instigation of the demon, four idols, named Chichac-Choh, Ekhblam-Chac, Ahcan-Uolcab, and Akbuluc-Balam; after having placed these together in the temple, where they perfumed them as usual, they presented to them two pellets of resin named kik, to be burned, also iguanas, bread, and a miter, with a bouquet of flowers and a stone which they considered of great value. Besides, they raised, for the celebration of this feast, a large arch of wood in the court, filling it with wood above "and on the sides in order to burn, leaving in it, however, gateways for entering in and going out* Then, the greater part of the men took each one a bundle of long dry sticks and, while a musician mounted on the top of the funeral pile sang and beat the tambour, all danced with much order and devotion, entering in and going out, one after the other, under the arch. They continued to dance in this manner until evening, when, leaving their bundles of sticks, they went home to rest and refresh themselves.
"When night fell they returned, accompanied by a great crowd; for this ceremony was regarded with great respect among them. Each one taking then his bundle, lighted it and put the fire on the funeral pile, which
