Washington sentinel., 1856-03-27
How Montezamr 4 II 4, 1 plnsd.

DIR. Doran in his Table Traits, gives the FOL
lowing interesting account Of the magnifcenc
Of Montezumas palace and table, at the tim
when Cortez invaded Mexico. eaa
On the terraced roof Of his palace, thrt
knights could tilt at each other, without com
planning of want of space. His armories wer,
filled with weapons almost as destructive a
any to be found in any Of the arsenals Of civil
lied Christian kings
His granaries were furnished with provisions
paid by tributaries, three. hundred servants
tended the beautiful birds OF bis ayiaries hi'
menageres were the wonder and terror OF be
holders; and his dwarfs were more hideous
and his ladies more dazzling, than potenate
had ever before looked upon with contempt OF
admiration. His palace within and without
was marvel Of Aztec art. 1t was surrounded
by gardens, glad with fountains and gay
flowers One thousand ladies shared the re-
tirement of this splendid locality, with mas,
ter more glittering than anything by which he
was environed who changed his apparel four
times daily, never putting on again garment
he had once worn, and who, eating off aud
drinking from gold, (except on state occasions,
when his table was covered with services OF
Cholulan porcelain) never used a second time
the vessels which had once ministered TO the
indulgence of his appetite. '.3H
1t is said eulogistcally of his cooks, that
they had thirty different ways of preparing
meat,--a poor boast perhaps, compared with
that of the Partisan chiefs, who have six humid
red and eighty five ways to. dress eggslt Three
hundred dishes were daily set before the
monarch, and such as were required to be kept
hot at table were in heated earthen stands
made for the purpose. And it is even asserted,
that this autoerat occasionally killed time be-
fore dinner by watching the cooking of his
viands, a practice in which, according to Peter
Pindar that honest old English king used to
indulge, who dined off boiled mutton at two,
and to whom the funniest sight in the world
was the clown in the pantomine swallowing
carrots u "a uga pfsp ~
The ordinary dishes of Montezuma consisted
of very dainty fare namely, domestic fowls,
geese, partridges, quails, venison, Indian hogs,
pigeons, hares, rabbits, and other productions
of his country including-it is alleged by some
and denied by others--some very choice dairy
fed baby when this choice article happens to
be in season.! In cold weather enormous
torches, that flung forth not only light but
warmth and aromatic odors, lent additional
splendor to the scene, and to temper at once
the glare and the heat, screens with deliciously
droll devices upon them, framed in gold, were
placed before the brilliant flames.
The sovereign sat, like his links, also pro-
tected by screen He was not as barbarious
Us most of Christion kings of France, who fed
in public; nor was he personally attended like
them by awkward Ganymedes OF a middle age.
-Four Hebes stood by the low throns and table
of their master and these poured water on his
hands, and offered him the napkin, white as
driven snow, or as the cloth on which the four
hundred dishes stood waiting his attention
Woman as fair presented him with bread; but
even these fair ministers retire few steps,
when his sacred majesty addressed himself to
the common process OF eating. Then num-
Der of ancient but sprightly mobiles took their
place. With these Monteznma conversed, and
when he was particularly pleased with sage
observation or a sprightly remark, plate Of
pudding bestowed by the royal hand made one
individual happy, and all his fellows bitterly
jealous. The padding, whatever the dish
might be, was eaten in silent reverence; and
while an Aztec Emperor was at meat, no one
in the palace dared, at the peril of his life,
speak above his breath. Monezuma is de-
scrbed as being but moderate eater, but fond
of fruit, and induging, with constrant upon
his appetite, in certain drinks which were Of
stimulating quality, such as are found in coun-7
tries where civilization and luxury al treir
highest 8tse ,l-. ...
"One thing forgot, and no wondor,n says
Bernal Diax, ito mention in its place, and that
is, during the time Montezuma was at dinner,
two very beautiful women were busily en-
ployed making small cakes, With eggs and
other things mixed therein. These were deli
cately white, and when made they presented
them to him on plates covered with napkins.
Also another kind of bread was brought him
on long leaves, and plates Of cakes resembling
waters. After he had dined, they presented to
him three little canes, highly ornamented, con-
tanning liquid amber mixed with an herb they
call tobacco; and when he had sufficiently.
viewed and heard the singers, dancers and
buffoons he took little Of the smoke Of one Of
these canes, and then laid down to sleep. The
meal of the monarch ended, all his guards and
attendants sat down to dinner, and as near as
! could Judge, about a thousand plates Of those
eatables that | mentioned were laid before
them, with vessels of foamiug chocolate and
fruit in immense quantities. For his women
and various inferior servants, his establishment
was of prodigious expense, and we We're
astonished, amid such profusion, at the vast
regularity that prevailed @ syaas
The RepubIic OF Liberia. s#.. #I-..