Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-02-15

aloe were famous Two girls were occupied a,
the. farther end ofhe apartment, during the dinner,
preparing fine rolls and waters, with which they
garnished the board from time to time The en-.
peror took no other beverage than the chocolate |,
a pota,ion Of chocolate, favored with vanilla aud
other spices and SO prepared as to be reduced to
fro,h of the consistency Of honey which gradually
dissolved in the mouth. This beverage If SO il
be called, was served in golden goblcs. with
spoons of the metal or of,oirioisc.shcl fine.
ly wrought The emperor was exceedingly fond
o! it, 10 Judge from the quantity no less than fifty
jars or pitchers being prepared for his own daily
consumption i Two thousand more were allow
ed for that of his household.
The general arrangements ofthe meal seem to
have been not very unlike that of Europeans But
no prince in Europe could boasts dessert that
could compare with that ofihe Aztec emperor
For it was gathered fresh from the most opposite
cmes and his board displayed The products of his
own temperate regions, and the luscious fruits of
the tropics, pucked the day previous, from the
green groves Of the terra caliiente, and transmit
ted with the speed ofstcam, by means of couriers,
to the capital 1t was if some kind fairy should
crown our banquets with the spicy products that
but yesterday were growing in sunny isle Of The
far.of Indian seas
After the royal appetite was appeased, water
was handed him by the female attendants in sill.
yer basin, in the same manner as had been done
before commencing his meal for the Aztccs were
as constant in their abuons at these times, as any
nation of the East. Pipes were then brought,
made of a vanished and richly gilt wood, from
which he inhaled, sometimes through the nose, n,
others through the mouth, the fumes of an intoxi-
eating weed, called tobacco mingled with liquid
amber. While this soothing process of fumga.
ton was going on, the emperor enjoyed the exhi
bton of his mountebanks and jugglers, of whom
regular corps was attached to the palace No
people, not even those of China or Hindostan sur.
passed the Azecs in ieats Of agility and ledscrde
man,
Sometimes he amused himself with his jester
for the Indian monarch had jcsts as well as hi:
more refined brethren of Europe, at tina, day In
decd, he used to say that more instruction was t
be drived from them than from wiser men, 70
they dared tell the truth. At other times he wit
messed the graceful dances OF his women. or tool
delight in listening to musc-if the rude minstrel
sy of the Mexicans deserve that name--accompa
, MED by chant IN slow and solemn cadence, Gel
ebrating the heroic deeds of grea, Aztec warriors
or of his own princefy line.
f When he had sufficiently revived his spirit
with these diversions, he composed himselfto sleer
}. for in his siest1 he was as regular as a Spanard
t On awaking he gave audience to ambassador
from foreign states or his own tributary cities, o
$ to such caciques as had suits to prefer 10 him.
n They were introduced by the young mobiles in a
y tendance, and, whatever might be their rank, III
l. less Of the blood royal they were obliged to sui
it init to the humiliation of shouldcring their ric
e dresses under the coarse mantle of neque and CT
If tering barefooted, with downcast eyes, into tn
presence. The emperor addressed few and Bit
IS remarks to the suitors answering them general
l. by his secretaries and the parties retired with tn
s same revercntial obcisance, taking care to kee
II their faces towards the monarch. Well migl
C Cortez exclaim, that no court, whether the Gran
y Seignior or any other infdel, ever Displayed S
u pompous and elaborate a ceremonial