The rectangular courts in front of the altars, were possibly the quadrangles within which the ceremonies connected with human sacrifices were performed. Nothing is absolutely known with respect to the sacrificial customs of the Quichés, and the allusions to them in the Quiché manuscripts are not definite. It is, therefore, fortunate that there exists a statement made to the King of Spain in the year 1576, upon the condition of the country and the customs of the Indians in the districts presided over by the government of Guatemala, which describes in considerable detail what happened amongst the Chontal and Pipil Indians dwelling in the south-eastern parts of the province. It was made by the licentiate Don Garcia de Palacio, and with respect to the subject of these human sacrifices, there has been nothing written which gives so full and evidently accurate an account of those remarkable ceremonies. The Report is so valuable and instructive, that it is desirable to quote what immediately relates to them. Palacio, after describing the country near lake Uxaca, says:— “Three leagues from this is the village of Micla, where anciently the Pipiles Indians of this district performed great devotions, and came to offer their gifts and hold their sacrifices; as likewise did the Chontales and other adjacent Indians of differing languages. They had in their sacrifices some particularities different from other places, and had _Kues_ and _teupas_ of great authority, of which there are yet large signs and indications. “Besides the Cacique and usual chief, they had a Pá-pa[61] whom they called _Tecti_, who was dressed in a long blue robe and wore on the head a diadem, and sometimes a mitre worked in different colours, and at the top of this a bunch of very fine feathers, from some birds that there are in this country, which they call Quetzales.[62] “He commonly carried in his hand a staff like a bishop, and all obeyed him in whatever related to spiritual matters. Next to him, the second place in the priesthood was held by another who was called _tehu a matlini_ who was the chief wizard and most learned in their books and arts, and who declared the auguries and made prognostications. “There were, besides these, four priests who were called _teu pixqui_ dressed in different colours, and with robes down to their feet, black, green, red and yellow; and these were of the council in the matters of their ceremonies, and were those who assisted in all the superstitions and follies of their heathenism.[63] “There was also a majordomo who had the charge of the jewels and ornaments of the sacrifices, and who took out the hearts of those that were sacrificed, and performed the other personal things that were necessary; and besides there were others who had trumpets and heathen instruments to convoke and call together the people to the sacrifices that were going to take place.”