The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-05-04

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remain here. Oh. cannot witness IL.
NV child" the old woman answered.,
..it i so~yoa must come. No enc w"hsa
b. missed 50 quickly a yol. The eityS
,ul.r i dead: you. his only daughter.
,-anno, absent yourself from the great
feas, nuno:icusl. Already they have
seen ,>yu, auy darling. AMI many eyes
ara nnsn YOU. Chalpa now : looking
n rs and he motions Us 10 make hasse.
..Yes. feel his serpent eyes upon me,
,sea. h cannot look upon him. VIII
e,. Twill L., but little while.
She coyerss! her hair and forehead
with a white scarf. shielding her eyes
from the sun, and with u visihle effort ut
self control took the hand Of the child
Fltz;. and followed the bent form OF the
aged weaver.
As they took their places cid iSiap'i
rlaceI the tiara upon has head and the
PROGRESSION began - move. tlrst came
the body Of priests ~ their white robes
a hundred or mor'. chanting low mo-
notanous song. followed by eight chiefs
hearing a litter of wuod covered with
gold and decked with flowers, In which
sat Aimee, "A dark skinned girl of eight
cen, already under tae iniluence CT the
potent ait>i-a drink distilled from maize
and forming a picture that sent shud-
ders through Lea's frame.
Then came the four death priests,
swinging censors of gold and filling the
air with ian aromatic scent. Their faces
were painted most sl,illfully TO represent
skulls: their heads were shaved, aud
their tightly fitting garments were like
wise made to convey the idea Of sSele-
tons. The effect upon the minds of the
people was CHASTITY and thrilling.
Behind them came the members OF the
order of the Kabilo, an ancient secret
society, to the number of four hundred,
clad in black, the foremost carrying "a
corpse between them. Many of them
led little spotted dogs-a favorite form
of sacrifice to Chalcu, the serpent, the
dread god of evil.
Then came the principal famil es, in
the order of their rank and wealth, with
bearers of food, drink, flowers and fruits
for sacrifice at the different affairs,
which were located at intervals all
followed, III less order and with more or
less dispu,ing, and stretched out the
long parade until the rear nearly touched
the leaders and all could sec the entire
ceremonies.
When order had been attained they
moved slowly and with great solem-
nifty toward huge heap of wood upon
which had been cast the sweepings of
the houses, old utensils and clothing,
baskets and fishing nets-in fact every
thing that would be renewed yearly in
the household. This was ignited with
brand from the sacred fire by Kulcan,
who, covered with small bells and attired
| in a gorgeous feather robe, marched
slightly in advance, with much show of
pomp, the priests chanting solemnly.
The procession moved on to a large
stone altar, upon which rested the figure
of woman, most hideously carved,
bearing in her arms maize and other
fruits. This was Ixcanleox, the goddess
of maize. To her was sacrificed bread and
pinon nuts and all manner of produce
of the fields, brought in baskets and laid
around the altar Four chiefs stood at
the corners and held aloft a red cord,
under which all who had purified them
selves by fasting and dreaming were
permitted to enter. Before Iycan-leox
| they burned little balls of incense, each
casting his ball into the braziers of gold,
while the people prayed silently, kneel-
| ing, for good and bounteous crops.
Then they moved onward to the altar
Of Am, the sacred stone, the emblem of
life, some holding it to be but the ancient
symbol of the sun god himself. 1t was
simply an upright conical stone stand
ing upon pedestal; before if, in gree
fire, they sacrificed sheep and rabbits.
also wounding themselves and drowning
their blood into a number of braziers set
about the altar. Women, kissing this
stone of Am, invoked the blessings of
maternity with loud pleadings Farther
on stood the dread image Of Chalcu-
the very sight of which affrighted not
only the children, but old men as we'll
a hideous figure, with a huge serpent
| coiled about his form, out of whose
mouth came pale blush fame continu-
ally, as though he hungered for blood,
Before him the people Frustrated them
selves, while even among the younger
priests blanched faces showed here and
there. 10 Chalcu they burned many
little spotted dogs, and consigned the
corpse which the Kabilo carried to the
devouring flames.
Aulcan addressed the PROSTATE multi
tude with devout gravity and ernest
mien, advising them as to what thew
should do to avert evil, and announced
to them the solemn feast of sKatup." or
the ffty-second year, which would or.
cur two years hence, telling them to
prepare their daughters for the fatal
lottery.
Then opening folded parchment he
READ TO them the omens for the future
year, announcing the findings of those
whose duty it was to study the Asars and
other signs. He prayed aloud to ChaIcu
TO be merclful, to tempt no man beyond
his strength, to bring no evil to the city.
but to be satisfied with the sacrifice of
his servants.
It was evident that each word was
echoed by the groaning fear stricken
multitude, to whom, as we shall see fine
serpent emblem meant more than mere
idea' and represented real and horrible
memory of a terrific event.
Ii was high noon, the rays of the sun
railing from Immediately overhead upon
the city, SO that the great dialpost cast
put an inch or two of purple shadow.
Inc dread event of the day was about
70 occur, and the people pressed one an
other closer III their desire to obtain a
nearer view. Very many slipped from
the ranks and mounted to the highest
housetops in order to witness every de.
tail of the awful scene.
lklapel, standing motionless ON thu
temple, felt that the procession wa.
nearing him. A strange comminp,qng
OF fear and hope moved him. for tb.,