The weekly Butte record., 1862-09-13

\ which gradually dissolved in the mouth. This
beverage, if 50 it could be called, was served
in golden goblets, with spoons Of the same
metal, or Of tortoise she'll finely wrought
The general arrangement Of the meal seems
to have not been unlike ila, Of the Europeans.
But DO prince in Earope could boast desert
which could compare with that Of the Aztec
Emperor; for it was gathered fresh from the
most opposite climes and his board displayed
the products Of his own temperate region, and
the luscious fruits of the tropics, picked the
day previous from the great groves of the
terra eaUieute. and transmitted by means Of
couriers to the capital.
After the royal appetite was appeased wa
ter was handed 10 him by the female atton
dants in a silver basin in the same manner as
had been done before commencing his meal !;
for the Aztecs were as constant in their ab.u-
tions, at these times, as any nation in the
East Pipes were then brought, made of
vanished and richly gilt wood, from which he
inhaled, sometimes through the nose and some
times through the mouth, the fumes Of tobacco,
mingled with liquid amber. While this sooth-
ing process Of funigation was going on, the
emperor enjoyed the exhibitions of his noun
tebanks and jagglers, Of whom L regular corps
was attached to his palace No people not
even those OF China or IEindoostan, surpassed
the Az,ecs in feats Of agility and legerdemain.
Sometimes be amused himself with his jester.
At other times he witnessed the graceful dan
ces Of his women, or took delight in listening
to music-if the rude mlnstrelsy of the Mexi-
cans deserves that accompanied by q
chaunt in slow and solemn cadence. ceebra-
ting some Of the great deeds Of Aztec warriors.
or Of his own princely line.
When he had sufficiently refreshed bis spirits
with these diversions, be composed himself TO
sleep. On awakening. be gave audiences 10
ambassadors from foreign States, or his own
tributary cities, or such caciques as had suits
TO refer 10 him. They were introduced by the
young mobiles in attendance, and, whatever
might be their rank, unless of the blood royal,
they were obliged to submit 10 the humiliation
Of shrouding their rick dresses under the coarse
mantle of ne9ucn, and entering barefooted,
with downcast eyes, into his presence. The
emperor addressed few aud brief remarks 10
the suitors, answering them generally by his
secretaries; aud the parties retired with the
same reverential obeisance, taking care to keep
their faces turned towards the monarch. Well
might Cortez exclaim that no court, whether
of the Grand Seignior or any other infdel, ev-
er displayed so pompous and elaborate cere-
monial
Beside the crowds Of retainers already noti-
ced, the royal household was not complete
without host of artizlns constantly employed
in the erection or repair Of buildings, beside
great number Of jewellers and persons skilled
in working metals, who found abundant de-
mand for their triukeis among the dark eyed
beauties Of the harem. The imperial mum
mers and jugglers were very numerous ard
the dancers belonging TO the palace occupied
a particular district of the city appropriated
exclusively to them.
The maintenance of this little host, amount
ing to some thousands of individuals, involved
a heavy expenditure, requiring accounts Of a
complicated, and to {. simple people, it might
well be of an embarrassing nature. Every
thing, however, was conducted with perfect
order The care of all this was entrusted 10 q
treasurer, who acted as a sort of major-domo
in the household, having general superinten-
tendence over all its concerns"