Chap. V. *A M ET^I C A. z y 9 



where, after it had flood a little while, the Servants went up and fetch'd it down 

 whilft the Youths and Maids went to their feveral Cloyilers. 



Much after the fame manner, and with fuch like brutifh Ceremonies, not worth 

 mentioning, was alfo celebrated the Feaft of Quet^atcoalt. 



In the inner part of the Temple flood a Stage, on which upon Feflival Days the 

 People Adted Drolls ; in which they fometimes feign'd themfelves deaf, blind, 

 lame, and the like, and begg'd to be cur'd of their Idols . fometimes were drefs'd 

 like Serpents, Adders, Crocodiles, or other ravenous Beafts, in which poftures 

 they fought one with another. 



Thofe Feafts were all kept on certain times, according to the Mexican Alma- CcmpuutH 

 nack, in which the Year was divided into eight Moneths, and each Moneth into mof1 s ft thc t 

 forty five Days,which together made three hundred and fixty : The five remaining 

 Days, to compleat the Year, they kept apart, on which all Affairs whatfoever were 

 laid afide, as Selling, Buying, Offerings, <src. nothing clfe being thought on but 

 Feafting one another for the paffing away of the time. The firft Day of their Year 

 was on the twenty fixth of February. Each Moneth had a peculiar Name and Sicm, 

 Moreover, they divided the Year into four parts by as many Reprcfcntatlons, vi^. a 

 Houfe, a Rabbet, a Cane, and a Flint to ftrike Fire with j and Figur'd it out by 

 a Wheel with four Spikes jutting out round about it, coloured green, red, blue, and 

 yellow, and in the middle thereof a Sun ; each Spike fignifi'd thirteen years, 

 wherefore it had thirteen Divifions, diftinguifh'd by the four fore-mention'd Re- 

 prefentations : At each Divifion of the Wheel they fet down what remarkable 

 things fliould happen that year by certain Characters ; as, a Man in red Apparel 

 typifi'd that Year when Ferdinand Qortefw, clad in Red, conquer'd Mexico. When 

 the Wheel was fill'd with fifty two years Prognostication, then on the laft Night 

 they broke all their Pots and VelTels in pieces, and blew out their Candles, becaufe 

 they believ'd, that at the end of the laid fifty two years the World would beat an 

 end,and therefore they had no need of Houfhold fluff, or ought elfe : But fo foon as 

 the Day appear'd again ,they play'd on Pipes,Trumpcts, and Drums,rejoycing that 

 God had deferr'd the deftrudtion of the World fifty two years longer ; then they 

 bought new Utenfilsand Candles, and made folemn Proceflions. 



Concerning the Art of Writing amongft the Inhabitants of New Spain, Jofepb Art*fwri : 

 Acojla tells us,That fome old Books, containing ancient PafTages, the Courfe of the '**' 

 Heavens, nature of Beafts and Plants, were found mjucatan, according to the Re- 

 lation of a Learned bidian, but were all burnt by Command of a SpaniJ}? Bifhop, be- 

 caufe he fuppos'd them to be full of Matter touching the Black Art. Their Hifto- 

 ries they defcrib'd with the Reprefentations of the Things. Rhetorick and Poetry 

 the Children were taught by Rote in the Schools, fo that they never forgot what 

 they had once learnt ; But at prefent they ufe Spanijh Letters or Characters. 



Moreover, the Government of Mexico hath ever been kept in a good Order, the Ancie,lt Go- 

 King's Power being exactly limited, that nothing might be loft of the common 

 Priviledges. The fourth King Icoatb made Earls, who next to the Lords of Te^cuco 

 and Tacuba y had right to the Crown i which was like a Mitre turn'd up behind,and 

 rifing before with a Point. According as they increased in Power, fo they ad vane'd 

 in Royal Dignity 5 in which Mutec^uma the Second exceeded all others : And to 

 manifeft his fplendor, his Houfe for all forts of Creatures, and many other things, 

 might ferve for a fufficient teflimony : for in it he kept Sea-Fifh in fait Water, 

 River-Fifh in frefli Water, and all manner of Beafts in peculiar places : The Birds 

 were kept in great Aviaries, furrounded with golden Rails. Next to the Kings fol- 

 lowed four Earls call'd Jtlacobecalcatl, which fignifies Crimes of tbeTlvone Laimces,* 



Weapon 



