covered with paper in the form of crosses. Below there was a load of sheets of paper, and cacao for food. In front there were two or three or more Indians, who were seated and sang, and beat a kettle-drum which they call vevet. . . . This they did every year up to four years after the death of the deceased, and no more.

61.

In this picture is shown the abominable custom the Indians had, the day they sacrificed men to their idols. Namely, right there before the demon whom they call Mictlan tecutl (that is, lord of the place of the dead, as described in another place), they set out many cooking pots of the human flesh [just mentioned] and give it out and serve it to the important personages and officials and to those officials called tamagat [tlamacaz, sacrificing priest] who serve at the temple of the demon, and these in turn share that which has been given them with their friends and relatives. They say that it tastes like the pork which they eat today, and for that reason pork is much desired among them.

62.

This is a minor sacrifice consisting of incense, or paper with blood, which the Indians offer to their gods. Here it ought to be observed that every five [days] they hold a cue or place of sacrifice, so that all can make offerings there in common. In addition to the above small [place of] sacrifice they have every twenty days a greater one which was dedicated to an idol of one of their gods for whom they exhibit devotion. Each barrio has another idol. They say it was he who guarded the barrio. To him they run with their petitions in time of necessity. Here it must be noted that no one asks except for temporal things; for example, for food or (long) life. This is as far as their prayers go. On the day on which the festival of this idol falls, the people of that particular barrio offer him solemnities. The other barrios do not.

63.

This is a representation of a goddess which the Indians have, called Atlacoaya, that is, dark water or sad affair. In this festival they sacrifice Indians, and give them as food to those gods which are called Totochtli that is, Rabbits. These were at least four hundred in number.

64.

This is the figure of a divinity which they call Cicimitl, which means an arrow. They paint this divinity like a dead body from which the flesh has already disappeared, a body without any tissue on the bones. It is represented with hearts and hands hung about the neck and head.

65.

This is a representation of the baths of the Indians, called by them temezcale. In the picture they have put at the door an Indian who was an adviser for their sicknesses. When a sick man goes to the bath they make for him offerings of incense (which they call copale) to the idol. They hold in veneration the black body of the idol, whom they call Tezcatepocatl, one of the greater of their gods. They commit in these baths other foul debaucheries. It is the custom among them for many men or women to bathe together entirely naked, and there takes place inside this bath house much foulness and sin.

66.

This is a sort of diabolical leetchcraft which the Indians practice. When anyone was sick they summon the doctor (man or woman) and then [ask] the said doctor to see what the outcome of the illness will be. Then they place in front of the doctor and in front of the sick man an idol, the name of which idol is Quetzalcoatl, that is, Feather Snake. The doctor was in the middle, on a mat, and on this mat was placed a mantle of white cotton. He took in his hand twenty grains of maize (which is the grain from which they make bread). He throws them upon the mantle as when one throws dice. If these grains fall so as to leave in the middle an opening or [word illegible], in such fashion that the grains are all around it, it was a sign that he would be buried there, that is that he would die of the disease. If one grain fell upon another the doctor announced that his disease had come upon him on account of sodomy. If the grains of maize separated, one half to one side and the other half to the other side, in such a way that it was possible to draw a straight line through the middle without touching a single grain, it was a sign that the sickness would leave the man, and he would get well.

67.

This is another picture, where is shown the way which the Indians have of doing penance. Namely, they set up on a high place in a seated position an idol which they call Mictlantecutli, that is, "Lord of the Dead." Before this idol they sacrifice [blood] from their ears, and others from their tongues, and others from the calves of their legs. The method was to thrust through their ears and through their tongues thorns, very sharp. This was the way they did penance.