CHAPTER VIII.

GODS, SUPERNATURAL BEINGS, AND WORSHIP.

Various accounts of the Birth, Origin, and Derivation of the name of the Mexican War God, Huitzilopochtli, of his Temple, Image, Ceremonial, Festivals, and his Deputy, or Page, Paynal -- Clavigero -- Boturini -- Acosta -- Solis -- Sahagun -- Herrera -- Torquemada -- J. G. Müller's Summary of the Huitzilopochtli Myths, their Origin, Relation, and Signification -- Tylor -- Codex Vaticanus -- Tlaloc, God of Water, especially of Rain, and of Mountains -- Clavigero, Gama, and Ixtlilxochitl -- Prayer in time of Drought -- Camargo, Motolinia, Mendieta, and the Vatican Codex on the Sacrifices to Tlaloc -- The Decorations of his Victims and the places of their Execution -- Gathering Rushes for the Service of the Water God -- Highway Robberies by the Priests at this time -- Decorations and Implements of the Priests -- Punishments for Ceremonial Offences -- The Whirlpool of Pantitlan -- Images of the Mountains in honor of the Tlaloc Festival -- Of the coming Rain and Mutilation of the Images of the Mountains -- General Prominence in the cult of Tlaloc, of the Number Four, the Cross, and the Snake 288