Chap. V. A M ERIC A. 



The Priefts, divided into higher or lower Orders, acknowledge a fuprcam 

 Head, which chey call Tapa*. Each Idol had a peculiar forr of Priefts : Thole chat 

 [crv'dFi.sflipuzji y obtain'd their Places by Inheritance; but others were, chofe by 

 the Commonalty, unlefs they had been bred Priefh from their Infancy. 



The Mexican Cloyfters in the time of Heath emfm were generally built in the 

 chiefeft Temples, in % a great Pia^a, or fcjuare Court, where for the raoft part 

 two Monaftical Houles ftood one againft another, the one inhabited by a Fra- 

 ternity of Reclufes, and the other by a Sifterhood ; which laft being Maids of 

 twelve or thirteen years of age, call'd The .Penitential Daughters, fwept the Temple, 

 prepaid Meat for the Idols and Priefts, which was plentifully fupply'd from the 

 Alms and Offerings that were daily brought in to the Priefts, confiding of little 

 Cakes made like Hands and Feet, befides other ftrange Meats, which being fet be* 

 fore the Idols, was loon after taken away again,and eaten tip by the Priefts : They 

 were under a Governefs, who employed them in making Embroideries to adorn 

 the Temple ; and fometimes xofe up with the Priefts at Mid-night, and play'd on 

 Pipes, perfum'd the Temple, and fcourg'd themfclves till the Blood ran down 

 their Backs, befmearing their Faces therewith, and leaving it on a whole year ; 

 then going into a large Chamber, where a Ciftem ftood for that purpoie, they 

 wafh'd it oifagain ; after which, if they committed the lead uncleannefs, they were 

 put to a moft miferable Death; which was judgd upon feeing a Rat run through 

 the Nuns Chamber, or a Batt flying by it, or finding any piece of Cloth gnaw'n 

 by a Moufe or Rat ; for they fuppofe that the fore=mcntion'd Creatures dare not 

 come into a hallow'd place, unlefs defiTd. In this reclufe manner they were onely 

 confin'd to live a year, which being expired, they had free leave to Marry. 



The Houfe oppofitc to the Nuns in the fame fquare place of the Temple, was 

 inhabited by Youths of eighteen and twenty years of age, whofe Heads were 

 fhaven like Monks, and pleited Tufts hung from the Crown down to their 

 Backs ; they liv'd alio mean and chafte, kept the Priefts Clothes and Perfuming- 

 VelTels, carried Wood for Offerings, and kept always burning Lamps before Viz{li- 

 pu^tWs Altar. Amongft them were alfo Boys of a lefs Age, whofe Office was to 

 gather Flowers and Herbs to ftrow the Temple with, to fharpen the Priefts Lan- 

 ces, which they Let themfelves Blood wich every Night in the Legs, and carry 

 them -Water. Thefe Youths, Cloth'd in Nets, fell on their Faces on the Ground 

 when they met with a Woman, and went four and four, or fix and C\z together to 

 beg Alms, and by turns watch'd the fore-mention'd Fire ; in the Morning they 

 drew Blood out of their Thighs, with which they anointed their Temples down 

 to their Ears, and when the Bloo'd looked black, wafh'd it offagain in a confccratcd 

 Bath, which their ftricl: and fevere Life endur'd a whole Year, 



The particular Religion of the Mexicans, compos'd of cruel daughters and 

 butcheries of Men, reign'd a long time againft the minds of the other Indians that 

 were u»der their Dominion, everyone beginning more to abhor the cruel flaying 

 of living People, and tearing out the Hearts of Men for Offerings; and the rather, 

 becaufe they were fore'd to fetch them out of their Enemies Countrey with the ha- 

 zard of their own Lives, infomuch that they were ready long before to hare em- 

 braced another Doctrine, if any other Teacher had but appear'd amongft them ; 

 which was the chief reafon why they fo eafily receiv'd the ^oman Religion ; for 

 when Qortefius had coricjuer'd the City Mexico, the Mechoacan Agents entreated him 

 to fend them Teachers to prefcribe them Laws, according to which they might 

 live, becaufe their Idolatry, which had long opprefs'd them, was not to be furTer'd 

 any longer, becaufe of the Cruelties which were required of them in the perfor- 

 mance thereof. E e z Their 



*7* 



Cloyfters de- 

 dicated to the 

 ancient M* 

 xi$an Reli- 

 gion. 



Mixietn Re- 

 ligion ab- 

 horr'd by the 

 neighboring 

 People, 



