The Commentary of Father Monserrate 3.2.2

3.2.2

The men sit, with crossed legs (as is the custom of the country), on the right-hand side of the sacred building from the door-way to the shrine, and the women on the left-hand side. A man clothed in a linen garment sits, also with crossed legs, in a higher place at the middle of the top end of the building ; and in front of him is placed a low table bearing two golden vessels, one of which contains wine and the other bread. This man reads something from a book, to which the others give replies ; he then delivers an address and finally the people rise one after the other from their places, first the men and then the women, making no noise and preserving due order. They approach the priest and receive from him a small crust of bread and a draught of wine. Then they return to their seats. When all has been accomplished, each returns home. The priests would have carefully examined this whole matter, had not the end of the mission frustrated their design. Zelaldinus the Great acquired his empire partly from his ancestors and partly from many petty chieftains whom his own conquests overthrew. This matter is worth going into further.