36 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE. 



were mixed with the cacao ; it was a 

 vulgar food, endurable only by the com- 

 mon people. 



" Not to leave too incomplete this sketch 

 of various antiquities, often examined, but 

 still obscure, I must touch upon the still 

 less familiar subject of American ceramics, 

 which will not be the least curious para- 

 graph. The Mexicans had vases specially 

 set apart for beverages of the most varied 

 description, which were served at their fes- 

 tivals, from the ordinary pulque to the most 

 delicate octli. There were among them, 

 without doubt, chocolate pots of great 

 value. The historian of King Tezozomoc 

 leaver us no doubt on this subject. He 

 names, it is true, a series of ornamented 

 vases without making us acquainted with 

 their special use ; but he is much more ex- 

 plicit when he speaks of a cup, ready made 

 by nature, but which the goldsmith's art 

 had covered with the most elegant orna- 

 ments. Thanks to him, we know that 



