Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-02-01

nlSneu the DOaru from time 10 time
The emperor took no other beverage thar
the chocolate, potation of chocolate. fla
vored with vanilla and other spices, ant
so prepared as to be reduced to a froth o
the. consistency of honey, when gradual
| ly dissolved in the mouth. This .bever
age, if 50 it could be called, was service
in golden gobIe.s, with spoons of th'
same metal. or of tortoise-shell finel,
wrought. The emperor was exceedingl
| fond Of it, to Judge from the quantity
no less than fifty jars or pitchers being
prepared for his own daily consumption
fwo thousand more were allowed fol
that of his household,
The general arrangement of the mea
seems to have been not very unlike thai
Of Europeans. But ne prince in Europe
could boasta dessert which could com
pare with that of the Aztec emperor
For it was gathered fresh from the most
opposite chimes. and his board displnyed
the products Of his own temperate region
and the luscious fruits OF the tropics,
plucked the day previous, from the green
groves Of the terra calieate. and trans
mtted with the speed oil steam, by means
of 9ourie,s. to the capital. 1t was as il
some kind fairy should crown our BAN
qaets with tie spicy products that but
yesterday were growing IN sunny isle
of the tal oil Indian seas!
After the regal appetite was appease..,
water was banded Ia him by the female
attendants in Il silver basin. in the same
manner IS had been done before COM
mencing his meal; for the Aztecs were
as constant in tAeir ;bintians. at these
times, as any nation Of the East. Pipes
were then brought, made of vanished
and richly gilt wood, fron. which he in
haied. sometimes through the nose. a!
others through the mouth, The fumes OF
an intoxicating weed, $ calei tobacco. y
mingled with liquid-amber. While this
soothing process of funition was going
on, the emperor enjoyed the exhibitions
of his mountebanhs aud jugslers, of
Nho.n a regular corps was attached to
tie palace. No people, not even those
of China or Hiudostau, surpassed the
Aztecs in ieats Of agility and legerde-
main.
Sometimes he amused himself with his
Jester; for the Indian monarch had his
testers, as we'll as his more refined breth-
rem 81 Europe, az that day. Indeed, he
Gsel to say. that more Instruction was TO
be - thered from them than from wiser
mcn. for ihey dared to tell the truth
At other times, ae Witnessed the ssare-
full dances OF his women. or took delight
in listening TO music-if the rude min-
slrelsy of the Mexicans deserve that
name-accompanied by a chant, in slow
and solemn cadence. celebrating the he
rolc deeds of great Aztec warriors, or Of
his own princely line.
When he had sufficiently refreshed his
spirits with these diversions, he COM
posed himself to sleep, for in his siesfa
he was as regular as Spaniar,! On a.
waking, he gave audience to ambassadors
from foreign states, or his own tributary
cities, or TO such caciques as had suits
TO prefer to him. They we're introduced
by the young mobiles in attendance. and.
whatever. might be their rank, unless of
the Llood royal, they weie obliged to
submit to the humiliation of shrouding
their rich dresses under the coarse man
tie of mcqueen, and entering bare-footed,
with downcast eyes. into the presence.
The emperor addressed few and brief re-
marks 10 the suitors, answering them
generally by his secretaries; and the
parties retired with the same reverential
obeisance. taking care to keep their ia
ces turned toward the monarch. Well
might Cortes exclaim, that no court,
whether of the Grand Seignlor or any
other infidel, ever displayed so pompous
and elaborate ceremonial.