The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-11-08

pastry for which the Aztec cooks, provi-
ded with the important requisites Of maize,
-four, eggs, and rich sugar Of tbe aloe,
were famous. The emperor took no 9TH
er beverage than the chocolate, pOtati0h
: IS SSjv.S.1- = J0red with. vanilla, and
other spices, and so prepared a. to be re.
duced to q froth Of the consistency Of
honey, which gradually dissolved in the
mouth. This beverage, if SO it could be
called was served in golden goblets, with
spoons Of the same metal, or Of tortoise
shell finely wrought.
l The general arrangement of the meal
seems TO have not been unlike that Of the
Europeans. But no prince in Europe
could boast q desert which could COM
pare with that Of the Aztec Emperor for
it was gathering fresh from the most Op-
posite climes; and his boaid disptayxd
the products OF his own temperate region,
4 80 '6e 6eDeN,S& II ~. 1f ehc tropt3s,
picked the day previous, from the great
groves of the terra caliente, and transmit.
ted by means Of couriers to the capital.
After the royal appetite was appeased,
water was handed to him by tie ctfSAlS
attendants in q silver basin, in the same
manner as had been done before commen-
cling his meal; for the Aztecs we're as
constant in their ablutions, 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 soothing process Of fumign-
ton was going on the emperor enjoyed
the exhibitions of his mountebanks and
jugglers, Of whom regular corps was at
tached TO his palace. No people, not even
those Of China or HindOOstan, surpassed
the Aztecs in feats Of agility and legerde-
main.
Sometimes he amused himself with his
jester. At other times he witnessed the
graceful dances Of mis- women, or took de-
light in listening to music-if the rude
minStrelsy Of the Mexicans deserves that
name accompanied by chant in slow
and solemn cadence, celebrating some OF
the great deeds of Aztec warriors, or OF
his own princeIy line. -.----
When he had sufficiently refreshed his
spirits with these diversions, he composed
himself to sleep. On awakening he gave
audience to ambassadors from foreign
States or his own tributary cities or such
caciques as had suits to prefer to him.
They were introduced by the young no.
blcS in attendance, and. whatever might
be their rank, unless Of the blood royal,
they were obliged to submit to the humili
alton of shrouding their rich dresses uA.
der the coarse mantle of Mcqueen, aud en-
tcring bnTefoOtrd, with downcast eyes,
into his presence. The emperor address.
ed few and brief remarks to the suitors,
answering them generally by his sccrcta.
rieS; and the parties retired with the
same reverential obei>ance, taking care to
keep their faces turned toward the mon.
arch. Well might the Cortes exclaim
that no court, whether Of the Grand Seign.
or or any other intidel, ever displayed SO
pompous and elaborate ceremonial.
Besides the crowds of retainers already
noticed, the royal household was not COM
Plete without a host OF artisans constantly
employed in the erection or repair OI
buildings, besides great number of Jew.
elerS and persons skilled in working met.
ais who found abundant demand for their
trinkets among the dark eyed beauties OI
the harem. The imperial mummers and
jugglers were very numerous; and the
dancers belonging to the palace occupied
a particular district of the city, appropri.
ated exclusively to them.
The maintainance of this little host
amounting to some thousands of individ
uals, involved heavy expenditure, re-
quiring accounts of a complicated. and, to
IA simple people, it might well he of an
embarrassing nature. Everything, how.
ever, was conducted with perfect order.
The care of all this was entrusted to a
treasurer. who acted as a sort of major.
domo in the household, having a general
superintendent over all its concerns.