Note 5 — Chapter VIII · THE OCTLI OR PULQUE (DRINK) GODS

They seem to have been connected in a measure with the cult of fire. Vetancurt states that the natives in his day, when they had brewed the new octli, and it was ready to be drunk, first built a fire, walked round it in procession, and threw some of the new liquor into the flames, chanting the while an invocation to Tezcatzoncatl to descend and be present with them.5 Duran says that “the octli was a favourite offering to the gods, and especially to the god of fire.” Sometimes it was placed before a fire in vases, sometimes it was scattered upon the flames with a brush, at other times it was poured out around the fireplace.6 Sahagun also states that the liquor was poured on the hearth at four separate points.7 Jacinto de la Serna describes the same ceremony as current in his day.8 The invocation ran: “Shining Rose, light-giving Rose, receive and rejoice my heart.”