The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
Hubert Howe Bancroft Gives an Interesting Account Of
the Highly Civilized People From Whom the
DEGRADED Mexican Indian Is Descended

hardened by the sun the rich soil
thus obtained was sufficient to raise
most of the agricultural products Of
the country, especially maize, chile
and beans, while ven fruit n shade
trees grew to q considerable size. Soon
the broad surface around their island
homes was dotted with fertile gardens.
self-irrigating. independent of the
rains and easily moved from place to
place at the will Of the proprietor.
The floating gardens remained in use
until modern times; but after the
waters of the lake receded from their
former limits they were usually made
fast to the shore. though separated
by a narrow space. across which their
produce was conveyed in canoes.
When the Nahuas had gained a
foothold on the mainland few fertile
spots throughout their territory re-
manned uncultivated, for agriculture
was deemed an honorable pursuit. and
all except the kings and mobiles were
more or less engaged in it Each
province. however. raised only enough
for its wi consumption, and when
by reason of drought a famine oc-
NhiiNN Z "oS tttbN 'Aii w III
obtaining food from abroad.
The chief agricultural products
mons che Nahuas, apar from maize,
beans and chile, the first of which
formed the staple food of the AzteCs.
were the maguey a species of aloe
from which was prepared n spirituous
liquor called pulque; cacao and various
native fruits. There were no animals
that could be trained 90 farm work, as
oxen. mules or horses. and the tools in
use were few and rudely fashioned.
The latter consisted only so far as
is known of ar oaken spade or shovel,
and two copper implements, one Of
them used for breaking the soil and
the other for pruning fruit trees. In
planting corn the farmer dropped n
few kernels into the .holes made with
n sharp stick the point of which had
been hardened in the fire. and scat
tered over them with his foot a
covering of earth. taking carc Ia make
the rows straight and parallel. The
fields were carefully weeded. and dur
ing the growth and ripening of the
maize a Waterman vas kept constantly
on guard. whose duty II was to drive
away the flocks of feathered robbers
which abounded throughout the
country.
Game vas abundant In many parts
Of Mexico. the principal kinds being
the deer, hare. rabbit. wild hog.
wolf, fox. jaguar. Mexican Ion. coyote,
pigeon. partridge. quail and aquatic
fowl. The usual weapons used in
hunting were the bow and arrow to
,lN ,,..ysA. - yshg-t ..Al,.z,, -.
cribes the origin Of the chase: but
pears. snares and nets were also EN-
ployed, and a tube through which pei
let's or darts were blown was used for
killing birds. Young monkeys were
caught by placing in a concealed fire
n black stick which exploded under
the action Of heat. first scattering
around a little corn as a bait. When
the explosion took place the parent
monkey tool fright and scampered
away, leaving its offspring 10 be cap
tuyed. Crocodiles We're taken by
throwing n moose around the neck.
and also by inserting n stick sharp
ened and barbed at both ends in the
creatures open mouth.
The gold and silver work of the
Nahuas excited the wonder of their
c%onquerors. and natural objects. as
animals, birds and fishes. were mi
tated with remarkable skill. In the
collection of Montezuma H.. as Cortes
would have us believe. were counter
feits in gold. silver. gems or feathers
of every object in his domain, so skill
fully wrought that they were not *
celled by European craftsmen. Knives.
lancets. razors. spear points and ar
row heads were made Of obsidian; and
1t is said that in the BARRIERS shops OF