Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-09
MONTEzUMA's WAY or LIFE.

The domestic establishment of Monlezuma WINS
on the same scale OF barbarc spIendor MS every
thing else about him. He could boast of "a n,anv
wives as are found il the hurem of an eastern sui.
tan. They were lodged in their own apartments
ana provided with every accommodation accor-
Ding to their ideas, Tor personal comfort and Glenn.
liness' They passed their hours in the usual fem
InIhe employnenis Of weaving and embroidery
especially in the graceful feather work for vhrb
such materials were furnished by the royal nyI,.
RES. They conducted themselves with strict de-
corun, under the sup ryison OF certain aged le
males VINO acted i'll the respectable capacity of
uuehUas, III lhe same manner as in the religious
houses attached to the teocaiiS. The palace was
supphed wl'h wafer sufficient for frequent nblu-
tons. He bathed at least once & changed his drcss
four times, II Is said, every day. lie never mn
on The same apparel the second time, but gave il
away 10 his attendants. Queen Elisabeth with
similar taste Tor costume, showed less princelv
spirit in boarding her discarded suits Her wori-
robe was, probably, somewhat more costly Than
that OF the Indian emperor.
Besides this numerous female retnue. the b,Ils
and anlechambers were filed with mobiles i'm con.
slant attendance on his person, who served also
as ms body guard. ii had been usual Tor pebiaus
OF merit 10 I'LL certain Offices in the palace But
The naughty Nlonlezuna refused to be waited nm.
Oh ~ any suI hcl II noble DIrh They wer6
not unlrequently the SONS of the great chiefs mud
remained AS hostages in the absence of their fi,h
ers thus serving the double purpose of security
and state
Ills meals the emperor took alone. The well
matted floor OF the large saloon was covered vnh
hundreds OF dishes. Sometimes Monlezuma him
sell, but more hequenIy hls steward, indicoted
those which he preferred, and which were KEN
hot by means OF chafng dishes. The ROYAL hin
OF fare compreheutled, besides domestic animals
game from The distant forest, and fish which
Inc day before were swimming in the Gulfo1 Mex.
leo! lhey were dressed in manifold ways for
Ihs Aztec dreSteS rs we have already had oc:a
sion to notice, had penetrated deep into III. nys-
terles OF culinary science.
The meals were so,ved by the attendant mobiles
who then resigned the Office of waiting on the
monarch 10 nlaldens selected for their personal
grace and beauty. A screen of richly git and
carved wood was drawn around him. SO as 10 con-
ceal him from vulgar eyes during the reoas He
was seated on a cushion, and the dinner WINS
served on Il low table covered with delicate cot
ton cloth. The dishes were of the finest ware nf
Choua. He had II service Of gold. which xos
reserved for religious celebrations Indeed il
would scarcely have comporled with even his
PflhceIy revenues TO have used il on ordinary oc-
casons, wien his table equipage was not allowed
10 appear me second llme but was given away to
ms attendants. HE saloon was lighted with tor
ches made of a resinous wood, which sent forth
sweet odor ard, probably, not u little smoke, MS
they burned. At his meal he was attended NV
i've or SIX OF his ancient cOunsellors vino STOOD
al respectful distance, answering his questions
and occasionally rejoiced by some Of The yinnds
with WHICH he complimened Them from his table
This course of solid dishes was succeeded, bv
another OF sweetmeuts and pastry for which the
AzIec cooks, provided with the important requis
lls OF maize, -FOUR eggs, and the rich sugar of the
aloe, were famous. Two girls were OCCUPIED nj
me Iurller end OF The apartment during dinner
III preparing line rolls and waters, with which
they garnished the board from time to time.
Inc Emperor took nc other beverage than the
chocalIII, potallon OF chocolate, favored with
vanilla aud other spices, and SO prepared as 10 be
reduced 10 a frolh Of the CONSISTENCY of honey.
which gradually dissolved in The mouth. THIS
beverage, II II 80 may be called, was served i'm
golden goblets, with spoons Of the same metal. or
OF tortoise shell, finely wrought. The Emperor
was exceedingly fond OF il, 10 Judge from the
quahtliy--no less than fifty ars or uIlchers beiuo
prepared for ms own dally consumption 1wo
thousand more allowed Tor that of his household
The general arrangement OF the meal, seems to
nave been not very unlike that OF Europeans.--
But 10 prince in Europe could boast a dessert
which could compare with that OF the Atzec EN-.
pefor For II was gathered fresh from The most
opposite cllmes, una his board displayed the pro-
ducts OF his own temperate region, and tie lus
clous fruits of the tropics, plucked the day pre-
vlous, from The green groves OF The terra caiienie
ana Transmitted win lie speed OF steam, hv means
Of couriers, 10 the capitol 1t was as if some
FAIRY should crown our banquels with the spicy
products that bat yesterday were growing IN IA
sunny isle OF the tar Of Indian seas
hlIer HE royal appetite Nus uppeased water
was handed TO him hy The female attendants in a
silver basin, in the same manner had been done
before commencing hls meal Tor the Azlecsiwere
as constant in their ablulions at these times as any
patton Of tho East. Pipes were thea brought,
ihaue Of n vanished aud richly gilt wood, from
"i'lch he inhaled, sometimes through the nose, al
others through tho mouth, the fumes OF an intox-
icatlng weed, called "lobacco," mingled with
iIquid amber. While this soothing process Of
iuhIgG'on was going Oh, the Emperor enjoyed
the exhibitions OF his mounlebanks and iugglers,
oil whom regular corps was attached 10 the pal
ace. NO people not even those of China or Him
doslan, surpassed the AzIecs in foaIs of agility or
ledgerdemaln.
Sometimes he amused himself with his lester,
for the Indian monarch had h testers, as well as
his more refined brethren OF Europe, at that day
Indeed, lac used 70 saY that more instruction was
10 DO gathered from them than from wiser men