320 MEXICAN IDOLS. 



LlB&amp;gt; v - tube of cristall, in length halfe a foote : in the which they 

 sometimes put a greene feather, and sometimes an azured, 

 which made it resemble sometimes an emerald, and some 

 times a turquois : it had the haire broided and bound vp 

 with a haire-lace of golde burnished, at the end whereof did 

 hang an eare of golde, with two firebrands of srnoake painted 

 therein, which did signifie the prayers of the afflicted and 

 sinners that he heard, when they recommended themselves 

 vnto him. Betwixt the two eares hanged a number of 

 small herons. He had a iewell hanging at his necke, so 

 great that it covered all his stomacke : vpon his armes 

 bracelets of golde ; at his navill a rich greene stone ; and in 

 his left hand a fanne of pretious feathers, of greene, azure, 

 and yellow, which came forth of a looking glasse of golde, 

 shining and well burnished, and that signified, that within 

 this looking glasse hee sawe whatsoever was doone in 

 the world. They called this mirror or plate of golde Itlac- 

 heaya, which signifies his glasse for to looke in. In his 

 right hand he held foure dartes, which signified the chas 

 tisement hee gave vnto the wicked for their sinnes. And 

 therefore they feared this idoll most, lest he should discover 

 their faults and offences. At his feast they had pardon of 

 their sinnes, which was made every foure years, as shalbe 

 declared heereafter. They held this idoll Tezcatlipuca for 

 the god of drought, of famine, barrennesse, and pestilence : 

 And therefore they paynted him in another forme, being set 

 in great maiesty vppon a stoole compassed in with a red 

 curtin, painted and wrought with the heads and bones of 

 dead men. In the left hand it had a target with five 

 pines, like vnto pine apples of cotton : and in the right a 

 little dart, with a threatening countenaunce, and the arme 

 stretcht out, as if he would cast it; and from the target 

 came foure dartes. It had the countenance of an angry 

 man, and in choler, the body all painted blacke, and the 

 head full of Quales feathers. They vsed great superstition to 



