322 GODS OF THE MEXICANS. 



LlB - Vt ayde the Spaniardes woime Mexico. The province of 

 Tlascalla is very fit for hunting 1 , and the people are much 

 given therevnto. They therfore made a great feast vnto 

 this idoll, whom they painted of such a forme as it is not 

 now needefull to loose any time in the description thereof. 

 The feast they made w r as pleasant, and in this sort : They 

 sounded a Trumpet at the breake of day, at the sound 

 whereof they all assembled with their bowes, arrows, netts, 

 and other instruments for hunting : then they went in pro 

 cession with theyr idol!,, being followed by a great number 

 of people to a high mountayne, vpon the toppe whereof 

 they had made a bower of leaves, and in the middest thereof 

 an Altare richly deckt, where-vpon they placed the idoll. 

 They marched with a great bruit of Trumpettes, Cornets, 

 Flutes, and Drummes, and being come vnto the place they 

 invironed this mountaine on all sides, putting fire to it on 

 all partes : by rneanes whereof manie beasts flew foorth, as 

 stagges, connies, hares, foxes, and woolves, which went to 

 the toppe flying from the fire. These hunters followed after 

 with great cries and noyse of diverse instruments, hunting 

 them to the top before the idoll, whither fled such a num 

 ber of beastes, in so great a prease, that they leaped one 

 vpon another, vpon the people, and vppon the Altare, 

 wherein they tooke great delight. Then tooke they a great 

 number of these beasts, and sacrificed them before the idoll, 

 as stagges and other great beasts, pulling out their hearts, 

 as they vse in the sacrifice of men, and with the like cere 

 mony : which done, they tooke all their prey vppon their 

 shoulders, and retired with their idoll in the same manner 

 as they came, and entered the citty laden with all these 

 things, very ioyfull, with great store of musicke,, trumpets, 

 and drummes, vntill they came to the Temple, where they 

 placed their idoll with great reverence and solemnitie. 

 They presently went to prepare their venison, wherewith 

 they made a banquet to all the people ; and after dinner 



