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A Festival observ'd once in nine years by the Delphians, whereof we have this account in Plutarch (b) 1.1:
A great Drought having brought a Famine upon the Delphians, they went with their Wives and Chil∣dren as supplicants to the King's Gate, who distributed Meal and Pulse to the more noted of them, not having enough to supply the necessities of all: But a little Orphan Girl coming and importun∣ing him, he beat her with his Shoe, and threw it in her Face; she in∣deed was a poor, vagrant Beggar, but of a Disposition no ways mean, or ignoble, wherefore unable to bear the Affront, she withdrew, and untying her Girdle, hang'd her self therewith. The Famine hereupon encreasing, and many Diseases accompanying it, the Pythia was con∣sulted by the King, and answer'd, that the Death of the Virgin Charila, who slew her self, must be expiated: The Delphians after a long search discover'd at length, that the Maid, who had been beaten with the Shoe, was call'd by that Name, and instituted certain Sacrifices mix'd with expiatory Rites, which are religiously observ'd every ninth year to this Day: The King presides at them, and distributes Meal and Pulse to all persons, as well Strangers, as Citizens; and Charila's Effigies, being brought in, when all have receiv'd their Dole, the King smites it with his Shoe; then the Governess of the Thyades conveys it to some lonesom and desolate place, where a Halter being put about it's Neck, they bury it in the same spot of Ground, where Charila was interr'd.