HUKTING AMONG THE ANCIENT MEXICANS. 



15 



was pitched upon as the scene of these grand hunting-matches. 

 Here they, chose the place best adapted for setting a number of 

 snares and- nets. The wood was enclosed by some thousands of 

 hunters, forming a circle of six, seven or eight miles, according te 

 the "number of animals they intended to take. Fire was then set 

 to the grass in a great number of places, and a terrible noise made 

 with drums, horns, shouting, and whisth'ng. The hunters gradu- 

 ally contracted their circle, continuing the noise until the game 

 were enclosed in a very small space. They were then killed or 

 taken in snares, or with the hands of the hunters. The numbei 

 of animals taken or destroyed on these occasions, was so great, 

 that the first Spanish Viceroy of Mexico would not believe it with- 

 out making the experiment himself. 



The place chosen for his hunting-match was a great plain in 

 the country of the Otomies, lying between the villages of Xilotepec 

 and S. Giovani del Rio ; the Indians being ordered to proceed* 

 according to their usual customs. The Viceroy, attended by a 

 vast retinue of Spaniards, repaired to the place appointed, where 



AN OTOMIE HUNTER. 



accommodations were prepared for then, in houses of wood, erected 

 i >r the purpose. A circle of more than fifteen miles was formed 

 by eleven thousand Otomies, who started such a quantity of game 



