Oquamiris

Oquamiris sacrifices offered by the Mingreliaris in the Caucasus, which partake partly of a Jewish, partly of a pagan character. "Their principal sacrifice," as we learn from Picart, "is that at which the priest, after he has pronounced some particular prayers over the ox, or such other animal as is appointed and set apart for that solemn purpose, singes the victim in five several places to the skin with a lighted taper; then leads it in procession around the devotee for whose particular service it is to be slaughtered; and at last, having sacrificed it, orders it to be dressed and brought to table. The whole family thereupon stand round about it, each of them with a wax taper in his hand. He for whom the sacrifice is peculiarly intended kneels down before the table, having a candle or wax taper in his hand, while the priest reads some prayers that are suitable to the solemn occasion. When he has done. not only he who kneels, but his relatives, friends, and acquaintances throw frankincense into the fire, which is placed near the victim. The priest then cuts off a piece of the victim, waves it over the head of him at whose request it is offered up, and gives it him to eat; after which the whole company, drawing near to him, wave their wax tapers over his head in like manner, and throw them afterwards into the same fire where they just before have cast their frankincense. Every person that is present at this solemn act of devotion has the liberty to eat as much as he thinks proper, but is enjoined to carry no part of it away; the remainder belongs to the sacrificator. They have another Oquamiri which is celebrated in honor of their dead. There is nothing, however, very particular or remarkable inn it but the ceremony of sacrificing some bloody victims, upon which they pour oil and wine mingled together. They make their oblations of wine likewise to the saints after divers forms, a particular detail whereof would be tedious and insipid, and of little or no importance. I shall only observe; therefore, that, besides the wine, they offer up a pig and cock to St. Michael; and that the Oquamiri which is. devoted to the service of St. George, when their vintage is ripe, consists in consecrating a barrel of wine to him, which contains about twenty-four flagons, though it. must not be broached until after Whitsuntide, on the festival of St. Peter, at which time the master of each family carries a small quantity of it to St. George's Church, where he pays his devotions to the saint; after which he returns home, and takes all of his family into his cellar. There they arrange themselves in order around the barrel, the head whereof is plentifully furnished with bread and cheese, a parcel of chibbals, or little onions, by the master of the house, who, before anything is touched, repeats a prayer. At last he kills either a hog or a kid, and sprinkles part of the blood all around the vessel. The ceremony concludes with eating and drinking."