268 



paring the cylindric block of porphyry found in 

 the great square of Mexico, with those oblong- 

 stones, on which the victim was thrown when 

 the topiltzin approached, armed with a knife of 

 obsidian, we easily conceive, that these two ob- 

 jects offer no resemblance either in matter or in 

 form. 



It is easy, on the contrary, to recognise, in 

 the description which ocular witnesses have given 

 of the temalacatl, the stone on which the pri- 

 soner destined for sacrifice fought, that of which 

 Mr. Dupe has sketched the relief. The un- 

 known author of the work published by Ramu- 

 sio, under the title of Relatione cVun Gentiluomo 

 di Fernando Cortez, expressly says, that the te- 

 malacatl had the form of a mill-stone, was three 

 feet thick, had figures sculptured round it, and 

 was large enough to serve for a combat between 

 two persons. This cylindrical stone was placed 

 on a platform raised three metres in height. 

 The prisoners most distinguished for their cou- 

 rage or their rank were reserved for the sacrifice 

 of the gladiators. Placed on the temalacatl, 

 surrounded by an immense crowd of spectators, 

 they were to fight six Mexican warriors in suc- 

 cession ; if they were fortunate enough to con- 

 quer them, their liberty was granted them, and 

 they were permitted to return to their own coun- 

 try ; if, on the contrary, the prisoner sunk under 

 the strokes of one of his adversaries, a priest, 



