The herald., 1895-03-31

and which is worth relating is, that when
he was eating he always had two very
pretty women making tortillas OF maize
and eggs, which were presented to him
hot on plate covered with a white cloth;
and he had another kind of bread made
in loaves and yet another kind called
patchal, made like waters. There were also
placed on the table three pipes richly
carved and filled with liquid amber mixed
with herbs, which they called ''tabaco, "
and after he had eaten and amused him
self with the dancers and singers and
talked with his councillors he smoked
one of the pipes and then he slept.
| remember that at this time his mayor
domo was a great Cacique whom he called
Tapia, who kept an account of all his
rents and expenditures in books made OF
a sort of paper called by them amatl and
he had q large house full of them.
Montezuma had two houses full OF all
classes of warlke stores, and many of the
arms were embossed with gold and set
with precious stones. There were shields
and bucklers and macanos Ia wooden
weapon edged with flint, and sort of
two handled sword in which were set
knives OF flint, which cut better than our
swords and lances longer than ours, set
with knives of flint with which they could
cut off head. There were arrows of two
barbs and others of one barb, with their
bows and stores of slings and round stones
prepared by hand, and a sort of shield-like
pavaSlno which could be rolled up when
not in action and which when let down
in battle covered the whole body. He had
also stores of armor made OF quilted cot
ton, ornamented outside with plumes and
feather work in all manner of devices
and helmets OF wood and bone all richly
ornamented. And there were many other
things which it would take too long to
describe. Certain officials had charge of
the arms to keep them in order.
hnr htaf1 Ill Il
to birds, but it would be impossible for
me to describe the different kinds. He
had from the largest eagle to the smallest
parrot. The bird from whose plumes they
made their feather work is called the
Quetzal, and there was another bird with
feathers OF five colors. And all Of these
birds were raised in the house, certain
men and women being constantly em-
ployed in taking care OF them, feeding
them and cleaning their cages. And in
one OF their houses there was large
pond OF fresh water in which were all
sorts of water fowl.
In another house in which also were
many idols, which they said were their
fierce and brave gods, they had many
animals, such as lions and tigers and
foxes and wolves, all of which were bred
there and were fed on the flesh of game:
and have even heard that they fed them
sometimes the flesh OF Indians sacrificed
TO the war gods. | have heard it said
that when they sacrificed some poor
Indian they cut his breast open with
knife OF flint, and, tearing out the heart
presented it to the idol to whom he had
been sacrificed; they then cut off the legs
and arms, which they cooked and ate at
their banquets and feasts. and they hung
up the head on a beam OF the temple and
the body was fed to those savage beasts.
In this accursed house they also had a col
lection OF poisonous serpents, one of
which had q sort of rattle on its tail, and
this was said TO be the worst Of all they
kept the serpents in boxes and Jars where
they laid their eggs and IA sed their little
serpents these were also fed on human
flesh and the flesh of dogs.
And when they drove us out of Mexico
and killed over eight hundred and fifty
OF our men. and those of Narvaez, they
led those fierce beasts of prey and those