ix-years the Bacab was Zaczini, and the presiding god Itzamna; the ceremonies began at the north entrance and concluded at the west. Maladies of the eyes, plagues of locusts, wars and changes of dynasties were feared, and the year was considered bad for the food-crop but good for cotton. Ceremonies were performed to Kinich Ahau Itzamna to avert these evils. Cauac-years were the most unpropitious of all, for the presiding deity was Uacmitun Ahau, the death-god. The Bacab was Hozanek, and the ceremonies began in the west and terminated in the south. Many deaths were expected, together with plagues of birds and ants, to avert which four idols were made, Chichac-chob, Ekbalam-chac, Ahkan-uolcab and Ahbuluk-balam, and the ceremonies in their honour included a dance round a large fire, across which, when reduced to glowing ashes, the worshippers ran with bare feet. The principal ceremonies connected with the months were as follows (for the signs, see Fig. 54, p. 250):-- _Pop._ The year began, according to Landa, on July 16th. The priests and men of rank fasted for at least thirteen days in preparation, and the commoners employed themselves in cleaning their houses and renewing and repainting all utensils. Chacs or assistant priests were elected for the ceremonies, and the temple court was purified with incense, the Chacs holding cords to form a square, a proceeding which, ceremonially, was supposed to exclude all evil. Finally new fire was made by the Chacs and fresh incense was offered; the proceedings terminated with a feast. _Uo._ No special ceremonies attached to this month, but the priests commenced to fast in preparation for the next. _Zip._ A festival in honour of Kinich-ahau Itzamna was held, at which the priests exhibited their religious books of bark-paper, and uttered the prognostications, regarding the fortunes of the year, which their calculations had revealed. Next day their bags of charms were exposed to view, including all images of the goddess Ixchel and the divining-stones, and the gods of medicine were invoked. The hunters and fishers also held a private festival during this month. The former performed a dance holding arrows and the heads of deer, while the latter painted their fishing-implements blue, a sacred colour. These ceremonies took place on different days, and in honour of special gods whose names are given by Landa. When the fishing-festival was finished in the towns, the lords repaired to the coast, where it was repeated. _Zotz._ Bee-keepers prepared for their festival in the next month. _Tzec._ The bee-keepers’ festival, to Hobnil and the other Bacabs, during which much honey-wine was offered and consumed.