Hijlorie of the Indies, lib, 7, 4.97 



notable deedes of the Mexicaincs, whereby ween^y 

 know the time and the difpofition that the high God 

 wpuldechoofc , to fend vntothefe Nations the light 

 of the Gofpel of lefus Chrift his only fonneour Lord, 

 vvhotne Ibefeech to fecond our fmall labour, that it 

 may be to the glory of his Divine greatnes 5 and fome 

 profite to theie people , to whome hee hath imparted 

 the lawc of his holy gofpel. 



of the iintient Inhabit ants of New Spaine, a-ndkow tht 

 Navatlacas came thither. CHAP. 2. 



antientand firft Inhabitants of thofe provinces, 

 which wee call Ne\y Spaine, were men very barba 

 rous and ftvage, which lived onely by hunting, for this 

 reafon they were called chichimeca*. They did neither 

 fbwe nor till the ground, neither lived they together; 

 for all their exercife was to hunt, wherein they were 

 very expert. They lived in the rougheft partes of the 

 mountainesbeaftlike, without any pollicie , and they 

 went all naked. They hunted wilde beads, hares,con- 

 nies, weezlcs,tnowles, wilde cattes,and birdes- yea vn- 

 cleane beads, asfnakes, lizards, locufts and wgrmes, 

 whereon they fed, with fbme hearbs and rootcs. They 

 flept in the mountaincs,in caves and in bu(hes,and the 

 wives likewift went a hunting with their husbandes, 

 leaving their yoong children in a little panier of reeds, 

 tied to the boughs of a tree, which defired not to fuck 

 vntill they were returned from hunting. They had no 

 fuperiors , nor did acknowledge or worQiip any gods, 

 neyther had de any manner of ceremonies or religion. 

 There is yet to this day in New Spaine of this kindc 

 ofpcople, which live by their bowcs and arrowes , the 



K k 2 which 



