RESEARCH AT THE RUINS OF CHICHEN ITZA, YUCATAN. 91 



APPENDIX V. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE AZTEC BALL GAME "TLACHTLI." 



The following description of the Aztec ball game, "tlachtli," is taken 

 from a general account of the diversions of jMontcauma and his court, by 

 Antonio de Hcrrera, in "Historia general de los hcchos de los Castellanos en 

 las islas i tierra fierma del Mar oceano" (5 vols. Madrid, 172G-1730). As 

 the Ball Court at Chichen Itza is known to have been of Nahua origin, it is 

 probable that this same game, or at least one very similar, was played there. 



"The king took much delight in seeing sport at ball, which the Spaniards have 

 since proliibited, because of the mischief that often happened at it; and was by 

 them called tlachtli, being like our tennis. The ball was made of the gum of a tree 

 that grows in hot countries, which, having holes made in it, distils great white drops 

 that soon harden, and, being worked and molded together, turn as black as pitch. 

 The balls made thereof, though hard and heavy to the hand, did bound and fly as 

 well as our foot-balls, there being no need to blow them; nor did they use chaces, 

 but vied to drive the adverse party, that is, to hit the wall, the others were to make 

 good, or strike it over. They struck it with any part of their body, as it happened, 

 as they could most conveniently; and sometimes he lost that touched it with any 

 other part but his hip, which was looked upon among them as the greatest dexterity; 

 and to this effect, that the ball might rebound the better, they fastened a piece of 

 stiff leather on their hips. They might strike it every time it rebounded, which it 

 would do several times, one after another, insomuch that it looked as if it had been 

 alive. They played in parties, so many on a side, for a load of mantles, or what 

 the gamesters could afford, at so many scores. They also played for gold and 

 feather-work, and sometimes played themselves away, as has been said before. The 

 place where they played was a ground room, long, narrow, and high, but wider above 

 than below, and higher on the sides than at the ends, and they kept it very well 

 plastered and smooth, l^oth the walls and the floor. On the side walls they fixed 

 certain stones, like those of a mill, with a hole quite through the middle, just as big 

 as the ball, and he that could strike it through there won the game; and in token 

 of its being an extraordinary success, which rarely happened, he had a right to the 

 cloaks of ail the lookers-on, by ancient custom and law amongst gamesters; and it 

 was very pleasant to see, that as soon as ever the ball was in the hole, the standers-by 

 took to their heels, running away with all their might to save their cloaks, laughing 

 and rejoicing, others scouring after them to secure their cloaks for the winner, who 

 was obhged to offer some sacrifice to the idol of the tennis-court, and the stone 

 through whose hole the ball had passed. Every tennis-court was a temple, having 

 two idols, the one of gaming, and the other of the ball. On a lucky day, at mid- 

 night, they performed certain ceremonies and enchantments on the two lower walls 

 and on the midst of the floor, singing certain songs, or ballads; after which a priest 

 of the great temple went with some of their religious men to bless it; he uttered 

 some words, threw the ball about the tennis-court four times, and then it was con- 

 secrated, and might be played in, but not before. The owner of the tennis-court, 

 who was always a lord, never played without making some offering and performing 

 certain ceremonies to the idol of gaming, which shows how superstitious they were, 

 since they had such regard to their idols, even in their diversions. Montezuma 

 carried the Spaniards to this sport, and was well pleased to see them play at it, as 

 also at cards and dice." 



