San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-02-14
THE FESTIVAL AND THE SACRIFICE.

NCI oItttt upVH fttI JuSt-
The smoke was rising and blowing
away in the fresh morning wind from
hundreds of round apertures in the roofs
as the people of Atzlan prepared their
morning meal hurriedly, for they were
anxious to be out and preparing for the
greatest of their religious festivals. One
by one they emerged and clambered
quickly down the tall ladders until hun
dreds of then We're gathered about in
groups or buslly arranging for the cere-
monies of the day, gathering fruits and
flowers, maize cakes and pinOn nuts for
the minor sacrifices, and decorating the
interior and front of the court and tenn
pie. To each of the four great phratries
or divisions of the inhabitants, according
to kinship, was assigned particular du-
ties connected with the festival.
While some were engaged in building
and decorating bowers others prepared
food in great quantities, while others ar
ranged for the games and dances which
followed the sacrifices. Others We're
driving the animals devoted to sacrifice
into an inclOsed field.
Gathered in front of the temple stood
a number of priests waiting to form in
the sacred procession and chatting mer-
rily, with frequent jests, among them
selves. Their white dresses formed a
contrast with the brilliant coloring of
the costumes of the people, and the red
suns embroidered upon their breasts,
the emblem of their holy calling, showed
forth the more conspicuOusly.
Multitudes of little, stunted, wOlfish
dogs ran in and out between the peoples
legs, attesting by frequent bowls a
plentitude of we'll aimed kicks. The
houses emptied forth into the square
every inmate, for every living soul in
the city who was able to move or to be
moved was obliged to be present at the
sacrifce-and few were lOath to witness
the spectacle. Its bloody delights were
eagerly awaited and long remembered.
Children were there to be held up to see
the rare sight and to have it impressed
upon their memories by many re-
minder in future years, and old women,
wagging their heads, told of many a
past scene of splendid slaughter. when
were killed not one but a dozen beauti.
full virgins to appeaSe Kinchahan's
wrath in times of famine.
Kulcan stood upon the temple root
gazing down upon the scene. The aged
Iklapel, weary with his vigil, was slum.
hand resting on the edge of the altar
whose fire seemed dying slowly out. The
young priest was not clad in his sacred
robes, but wore long yellow tunic, en-
circled at the waist by belt made OF
turquoise squares set in gold and fas-
tened by looped serpent. On his head
he wore feather cap, surmOunted by
an eagles plume-the totem of his fam
lily. His legs were naked, revealing a
shapely, muscular development, and his
feet were clad in leather shoes or bus
kins, with heavy meats leather soles
They were fastened with gold loops ovel
buttons of the same metal. Around his
left wrist was cooled a heavy bracelet
modelled like a serpent with raised head
the rattlesnake of the plains and can
yons-a sacred, mysterious emblem Of
their religion.
He was tall and well built, and hi!
face was Drowned by exposure to tn,
burning suns of twenty-six summers
But the narrow opening in his tuni,
showed a skin beneath as white as ivory
With eyes of deep blue and hair o
tawny yellow he resembled as he stooc
there, his lip curled into contemptuou
sneer, gazing fxedly at the group 0
priests below, viking chieftain, mai
of the land of cold and snow instead O
the hot arid desert. But his mouth ant
chin showed elements of weakness ant
varillation. and the blue eyes held 6,