The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-24
ANCIENT FESTIVAL OF YUcATAN.
Sacrifices and Ceremonies for Invoking the
Rain Gods.

have been held sacred. L ne ASSVrlanS.
as we see by sculptures which their
| artists have bequeathed to us, wor-
SHIPPED "A tree, and the devotees thus
represented have in their hands what
appears to be the cone of pine tree.
The object might also be taken for a
pineapple, but this fruit has no con-
nection with any tree, hence one is
more inclined to regard the thing as a
pine cone.
The ancient Druids assembled for
worship among the sturdy oaks. which
they looked upon with much reverence.
The Yggdrasil ash was profoundly
venerated by Scandinavians. At Del
phi the laurel was the holy tree. In
Ceylon the lofty palm was dear to its
worshipers, while throughout India
several trees were held sacred, the two
favorites being the DO or pipal (picus
religioSa), and the banyan (picus In
dica.) The cypress had special merit
for some North American Indians, who
at certain seasons hung upon it many
votive offerings. Ancient picture writ
ings of Mexico show that people in that
beautiful country rendered homage to
the papaw tree genus Anona, or Gus
tard APPLE The Mayas, once the ma
tiers of all Central America, greatE
esteemed the wide-spreading eve
green ceiba tree, even believing that1t
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,
We're invoked, and the people had
great hunt. killing many creatures of
the forests and makinga burnt offer
ing of their hearts. Then several jars,
filed with water, were suspended and
broken. The fluid gushing out was
svmbolical of the bursting of storm
clouds. The name Of that quaint cere-
mony was Tup kak, meaning to eXtin-
guish fire, and very Appropriately, since
the first showers rfresh the parched
soil and scorching atmosphere. 1t has
not yet fallen into disuse, though it
has undergone some changes. At the
hacienda of Uxmal pronounced
OoshmaD where, in al open square,
superb ceiba spreads its cool, shady
branches, it was highly entertaining
one afternoon to Observe the modern
form of the Tup llak BY the trunk of
the great tree squattfd a man playing
a sacatan. drum that is exactly like
the tamtam of the africans. Not for
one instant did he pause from the time
when the people began to gather 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 if the
evil genii of drouth might creep in and
ruin the whole affair should he venture
to relax his efforts in the least degree.
Men, women and children congregated
beneath the tree, where number OF
red earthen jars, some fancifully
painted AMI all corlled, were placed IN
a line, as directed by master of cere-
monies. Over II low branch rope was
thrown. To one end of this jar was
secured and jerked 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 50 effectually that the jar fell in
fragments on their upturned face, to
the delight of the others. who, without
looking. threw themselves on the
ground to scramble for the good things
supposed to be in the jars. Some dis
appointment resulted from the first
twelve being full OF emptiness. This
exaSpcrated the enterprising 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 lars had been filed with stones,
which happily did not hurt any one.
while in two others all manner of in
sectS had been closed up; the scorpions
among them created some excitement
Generous matrons had filled three jar,
with wholesome food. The next two
| contained new handlerchiefs that in
| stantlv found owners. Two loathsomf
| looking iguanas crept out of one jar
and were speedily executed, because
their skin fetches a good price among
| shoemal<SrS, who convert it into fancy
| sandals and slippers. 1t was pretty
| sight to see dozens of brilliant butter
flies Swarming out of a jar. The deli
cate creatures seemed dazed for a mo-
ment, bat quickly flew ont of reach
some with their gauZv wings littl,
bit rumpled. This display Of life il
one of its most exquisite forms was fol
lowed by a dead bird. Then came ;
shower of fruit; Rice was the mex
offering, and corn buildings wrapped
in pieces OF banana leaf. Lastly, ther,
was jar full OF imported crackers
upln the brea king of which there en-
sued a desperate struggle that reduced
| more than half of the coveted morsel
to tine powder. Altogether thirty-thre,
lars were shattered in ninety minutes
and. aS OF old the breaking of Jar
| filled with water was symbolical o
bursting clouds 50 the contents o
these We're tigurative of the man,
things resulting from the revivifyin,
rain The peculiar rolling Of the SAGA
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