The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-29
AN ANCIENT FESTIVAL.
Sacrifices and Ceremonies Invoking
the Rain God.

A Very Old Custom ofYucatan Dating Back
to Time Long Before Columbus Dis
covered America and Its Inhabitants.
Breaking Jars With Sticks.
The Mayas, once the masters Of all
Central America, greatly esteemed the
wide spreading evergreen ceiba tree.
even believing that it. would be one of
the beautiful objects in the paradise of
their future life.
When Columbus was busy hunting
after this big continent, the ceiba was
very dear to the Mayas, as it had been
for many centuries. AT the approach of
the rainy season the chac, or weather
genii, masters of the clouds, were in
voked, and the people had great hunt,
killing many creatures Of the forests and
making burnt offering of their hearts.
Then several jars filed with water were
suspended and broken.
The fluid gushing out was symbolical
of the bursting Of storm clouds. The
name of that quaint ceremony was Tup
kak, meaning to extinguish fire, and
very appropriately, since the first show
ers refresh the parched soil and scorch-
ing atmosphere. It has not yet fallen
into disuse, though it has undergone
some changes. At the hacienda of Ux-
mai pronounced OoshmaD where. in an
open square, superb ceiba spreads Its
cool, shady branches, it was highly en-
PERTAINING one afternoon to observe the
modern form Of the Tup kak.
By the trunk of the great tree squatted
man playing a sacatan, a drum that is
exactly like the tomtom of the Africans.
Not for one instant did he pause from
the time when the people began to gath
er on the spot until all had dispersed.
He pounded away as if the entire nation
depended on his present exertions for its
agricultural prosperity, Or as il the evil
genii of drought might creep in and ruin
the whole affair should he venture to re-
lax his efforts in the least degree.
Men, women and children congregated
beneath the tree, where number OF red
earthen Jars, some fancifully painted
and all oorked, were placed in line, as
directed by master OF ceremonies.
Over low branch rope was thrown.
To one end Of this jar was secured and
ierked up and down by a man having
hold of the other end. Boys armed with
sticks stood in line and one by one passed
beneath the jumping jar, aiming blow
at it, their business being to break the
same. !.
Some of the Indian lads welded their
stick so effectually that the jar fell in
fragments on their upturned faces to the
delight of the others, who, without look
ing, threw themselves on the ground to
scramble for the good things supposed
to be in the jars. Some disappointment
resulted from the first 10 being full of
emptiness. This exasperated the enter
prising youths, because their companions
made fun of them. Two jars contained
rubbish that came tumbling upon the
bare heads and created some merriment.
Live pigeons flew out of one and away.
Two jars had been filed with stones,
which happily did not hurt any one,
while in two others all manner Of insects
had been closed up. The scorpions among
them created some excitement.
Generous matrons had filed three jars
with wholesome food. The next two con-
tanned new handkerchiefs that instantly
found owners. Two loathsome looking
iguanas crept out Of one jar and were
speedily executed, because their skin
fetches good price among shoemakers,
who convert it into fancy sandals and
slippers. Itwas pretty sight to see doz-
ems of brilliant butterflies swarming out
of jar. The delicate creatures seemed
dazed for moment, but quickly flew out
of reach, some with their gauzy wings
little bit rumpled. This display of life
in one Of it's most exquisite forms was
followed by dead bird. Then came a
shower Of fruit. Rice was the next Of
fering and corn buildings wrapped in
pieces of banana leaf.
Lastly there was q jar full of import
ed crackers, upon the breaking Of which
there ensued desperate struggle that
reduced more than half the coveted NOR
sells to fine powder. Altogether SO jars
were shattered in 80 minutes, and as of
old the breaking of Jars filled with wa
ter was symboiical of bursting clouds
SO the contents Of these were fgurative
of the many things resulting from the
revivifying rain. The peculiar rolling
of the sacatan drum was strikingly sug-
gestive of distant thunder.
The man who had arranged the jars
before their destruction knew the con-
tents Of each. He was the H-men, or
wise man Of the place, and it is probable
that those Same contents had meaning
for him, such as the following, which
suggested itself while considering the or
der in which the jars were broken:
First came emptiness-Alas! What can
we hope for, how thrive, without the
benefcent rain?
Drought leaves butrefusefor
the winds to scatter.
Pigeons-When the sweet grain is
ripe, the birds win come to feast, but