230 W. P. Blake on the Chalchihuitl of the Mexicans. 
How this is accomplished, I could not ascertain. T'wo or three 
Indians, only, go to the locality at one time, and while there they 
live in the cave or recess in the face of the cliff. At one side of 
this there was a litter of cedar boughs, and on the other, a great 
accumulation of ashes, the residue of camp-fires. more pic 
turesque abode can hardly be imagined. The entrance fronts 
upon, and overlooks, the ancient excavation, with its crags and 
forest of pines; the broad sloping plain or plateau of Santa Fé 
stretches out to the north, with the lofty peaks of the Rocky 
- Mountain chain rising above it. On the west and southwest the 
country is open towards the Rio Grande, the monotony of the 
broad plains being relieved by the Sandia or Albuquerque 
mountains, 
On my return from New Mexico I became curious to know 
whether any mention of the ancient excavation or of the chal- 
chihuitl was made by the early historians or travellers in Mex: 
ico. Iwas much gratified to tind that the mineral is mentioned 
by Bernal Diaz, the companion of Cortes, and others. Bernal 
huitls intended for the Spanish Sovereign. These, the ambassa 
ors said, were each worth. more than a load of gold.* 
remarks that they were a species of green stone of uncommon 
value, which were held in higher estimation among the Indians 
han the smaragdus [emerald] with the Spaniards. 
‘orquemada makes frequent mention of chalchihuitl and Te- 
garded it as a species of emerald. He states that the Mexicans 
gave the name Chalchihuitl to Cortes, intending thus to show 
their respect for him as a captain of great valor, “for Chalchi- 
huitl is of the color of the emerald, and emeralds were held 10 
at esteem.”+ Offerings of this stone were mad by 
ndians in the temple of the goddess Matlalcueye,} and it was 
their custom to place a fragment in the mouths of the | 
guished chiefs who died. 'Torquemada, in recording this fact, 
ae ape of the Conquest of Mexico, by Bernal Diaz, Lockhart’s translation, ¥ol- 
4, p. 3 
Pp. 9. 
+ Torquemada, Monarchia Indiana, ii, p. 435. ‘ 
| Ibid, p. 288. § Ibid, Ae 521, Ibid, i, p. 48% 
¢ 
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