Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-03-09

the interior. Bending with stately grace
she came into the light clad in q cling
ing gown of pale blue cotton, which re-
vealed the superb outlines of her form.
Her eyes were deep blue, and her
golden hair, inged with q suggestion OF
auburn, and her white face upon which
the blue veins showed in her excitement,
made her seem like vision of some
Norseman's daughters child Of some
snowland of the north. A lovely face,
with grave, serious eyes and mouth of
wondrous beauty, and yet SO strong and
earnest, and withal showing capacity
for loving-a passionate leouth, formed
for kisses and tender smiles.
She was very pale and her lips were
compressed with emotion, and there was
a look Of indignation and protest in her
eyes which showed to plainly eher
thoughts.
aMust go, grandmother Can not
remain here? Oh, cannot witness it!'
"My child" the old woman answered,
sit is so-you must come. No one would
be missed SO quickly as you. The city's
ruler is dead; you, his only daughter,
cannot absent yourself from the great
feast unnoticed. Already they have
seen you, my darling, and many eyes
are upon you. Chalpa now is looking
at us, and he motions us to make haste. :
eyes, feel his serpent eyes upon me,
though cannot look upon him. ] will
20; twill be but a little while"
She covered her hair and forehead
with white scarf, shielding her eyes
from the sun, and with avisible effort at
self control took the hand Of the child
Eliza and followed the bent form Of the
aged weaver.
: As they took their places old klapel
placed the tiara upon his head and the
procession began to move. First came
the body of priests in their white robes,
a hundred or more, chanting Q low mo-
notonous song, followed by eight chiefs
bearing litter of wood covered with
gold and decked with flowers, in which
sat Aimee, a dark skinned girl Of eight
cen, already under the influence of the
potent aitsi-a drink distilled from maize
-and forming picture that'sent shud-
ders through Lela's frame.
Then came the four death priests,
swinging censors ofgold and filing the
air with an aromatic scent. Their faces
were painted most skillfully to represent
skulls; their heads were shaved, and
their tightly fitting garments were like
wise made to convey the idea Of skele-
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 fayorite form
of sacrifice to Chalcu, the serpent, the
dread god of evil.
Then came the principal families, 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
around the great court. The populace
followed, in less order and with more or
less disputing, and stretched out the
lone parade until the rear nearly touched
Aheileaders and all could see the entire
ceremonies. .,.s
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 a
brand from the sacred fire by Kulcan.
who, covered with small bells and attired
in gorgeous feather robe, marched
slightly in advance, with much show oil
pomp, the priests chanting solemnly.
The procession moved on to large
stone altar, upon which rested the figure
of woman, most hideously carved,
bearing in her arms maize and other
fruits. This was Ixcan-leo1, 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 Lcan-leo1
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 it, in a great
fire, they sacrificed sheep and rabbits,
also wounding themselves and dropping
their blood into 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 ofwhich afrighted not
only the children, but old men.as we'll
hideous figure, with a huge serpent
coiled about his form, ont 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. To Chalcu they burned many
little spotted dogs. and consigned the
corpse which the Kabilo carried to the
devouring flames.
Kulcan addressed the prostrate multi
tude with deyout gravity and earnest
mien, advising them as to what they
should do to avert evil, and announced
to them the solemn feast of .Katun," or
the ffty-second year, which would oc-
cur two years hence, telling them to
prepare their daughters for the fatal
lottery.
Then opening q folded parchment he