The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
A typical Mexican of low degree.

that the host ruined himself 10y his
hospitality. II is even said that many
sold themselves into slavery in order
to procure the means for a single feast
whereby their memory would be i'm
mortalized.
Dancing was "A faVor!te amusement
among the Aztecs, and the prepara-
tons for the great public dances, at
which the performers were numbered
by the thousand, were on an immense
scale. The choirs and bands belonging
to the various temples were placed in
charge Of a leader, who composed the
Il of the day, set 1t to music. in
structed the musicians, saw that all
did their duty, and caused every fault
or negligence TO be severely punished.
one of the principal dances. called the
neteteliztli, took place either in the
plaza or in the courtyard of the tenn
pie. in the centre Of which mats We're
spread for the musicians. The mobiles
n aged men drew up in q circle
around the drums: those Of inferior
rank formed the second circle, and the
third ring was composed of young peo-
pie. Two beading dancers directed the
movements, and their steps were imi-
tated by all the rest.
Al a given signal the drums were
beaten lightly To a we'll known tune.
started by the leaders and taken w
by the entire company. all of them at
the same time beginning To move
their feet, arms. heads and bodies in
perfect accord. Each Verse or coupht
was repeated three or four times. the
40 r.-ss= la.t.H.nsv . ,,,a YsfsI ,...r,. RI
inner circle proceeded at a slow. dig
Uiied pace, hefitting the age and rank
of those whit composed It; the second
moved somewhat s~faster; while those
in the outer circle approached a run
as the lance became |l.ve,ier. each
one keeping his position in the circle
and each circuit being completed at
the same time. The motions were
varied at one time the dancers hold
ing each other 10y the hand. at another
by the waist, now taking their left
land ncighhor for partner and now
the rrht. After the first song, which
referred To h event of the day. n
popular tde treating of the gods,
kings n heroes was sung in higher
scale and to a llvelier measure. This
was the ease with all the succeeding
49, - 10 bls' ''N'4lllA4S l4%IlfI anu
shrlllcr as it proceeded. and flutes.
trumrcts and whistles being some
times used to Increase The effcc,.
Running was practised. not only
for sport or exercise but as a profess
sion. for thu king employed large num-
beers of cuuriers, who We're trained
for the purpose from early childhood.
Races were held at the chief temple
in Mexico under the auspices uf the
priests at which prizes We're awarded
to the -four competitors who succeeded
IN hrst gaining the topmust uf the 100
steps, Tn" Nahuas must also have
been expert swimmers, for II is said
that travellers usually took 10 the
water when crossing rivers.
Sham fights and reviews were held.
both for the training Of the army and
the entertainment of the multitude.
After these spcctaCles the soldiers
competed for prizes IN archery or
throwing the dart, while ON special
occasions, rs the coronation of 4 king.
they wrestled or fought with wild
beasts. and animals were pttcd against
each other IN fenced enclosures.
The national game of the .AZtccs,
ca led th" tlaChtli, rescmblcd the mod
tln Sanh ul football, ana was quite
as lively and full of excitement. As
an instance OF is popularity il may
hc mentioned that a certain number of
t"wrs contributed BY way Of taAatiun
10000 balls, which were of solid India
rubber and three or four inches IN
diameter. In ali the larger towns a
special playground was devot,d to tn,
gam" and the kings kept professional,
PLAYERS for their own diversion, some
times chal,"ng ne each other to n
game, The ground, called the tlavhcu.
was an alley 100 feet long and half
mat width, except at the ends, where
there were rectangular hooks, which
doubtless served as resting places.
The players, of whom there wcr" two
~ three ON each side, We're attired only
N ]" maNtli. though som" wore skins
TO protect the parts which came IN
contact with the balls,