The Christian priests also must then assemble with
their thuribles. They then sprinkle new cosmos (kumiz) on the ground,
and make a great feast that day, for according to their calendar, it is
their time of first drinking new cosmos, just as we reckon of our new wine
at the feast of St. Bartholomew (24th August), or that of St. Sixtus (6th
August), or of our fruit on the feast of St. James and St. Christopher"
(25th July). [With reference to this feast, Mr. Rockhill gives (Rubruck,
p. 241, note) extracts from Pallas, Voyages, IV. 579, and Professor
Radloff, Aus Siberien, I. 378. - H. C.] The Yakuts also hold such a
festival in June or July, when the mares foal, and immense wooden goblets
of kumiz are emptied on that occasion. They also pour out kumiz for the
Spirits to the four quarters of heaven.
The following passage occurs in the narrative of the Journey of Chang
Te-hui, a Chinese teacher, who was summoned to visit the camp of Kublai in
Mongolia, some twelve years before that Prince ascended the throne of the
Kaans:[4]
"On the 9th day of the 9th Moon (October), the Prince, having called his
subjects before his chief tent, performed the libation of the milk of a
white mare. This was the customary sacrifice at that time.
