z8o 



*A M E%1 C A. 



Chap. V. 



Their Edu- 

 cation of 

 Youth. 



Their man- 

 ner cf Dai*; 

 cing. 



Weapon much us'd amongft the Mevcans. The next m Degree were the Vacate- 

 catl, or Man-cleavers , Efauahuacatl, or SkU-jhcddcrs , Tfallancaau,, or Lords of SUcK- 

 nefs, Without all which the Kingdurft not take any Bufinefs .n hand. High and 

 leffer Courts of Judicatory, where Matters of Life and Death were try d, were in 

 moll Cities- and other Courts alfo for petty Quarrels, Controverfies, and the 

 like The Collectors brought their Revenues to the Court every Moneth. The 

 chief thins which preferr'd both Rich and Poor to Places of Honor, confided in 

 Valour and heroick Exploits. Their Arms were chiefly fliarp pieces of Flint made 

 fall to a Stick, with which they could at one Blow chop off a Horfes Head. They 

 alfo us'd Pikes, Clubs, and Lances, and fometimes Slings : For defenfive Armour, 

 they had Helmets and Shields, made of Tygers, Leopards, and Lyons Skins. They 

 always fell upon their Enemies unawares, their Defign being generally to take 

 Prifoners rather than to kill them j for they rcferv'd them for Offerings to there 

 Idols. Mutec^uma made feveral Commanders over his Armies, giving them a 

 Power one above the other, which were to be diftinguifli'd by feveral Marks , for 

 thechiefeft ty'd the Hair on the top of their Heads with a red String, betwixt 

 which ftuck a brave Plume of Feathers ; at the end whereof hung as many Taffels 

 as they had done noble Exploits. To this Order belong'd alfo the King, who wore 

 one of the fame Marks, with which King Mutec^uma and his Son ftandCarv'don a 

 Rock. The Jyulas, or The Order of the Eagle, con lifted of valiant Men. The Grey 

 Knights were of lefs Quality, and wore Collars which reach'd up to their Ears, 

 the lower part of their Body being naked. Pcrfons of greater Dignity, when going 

 to the War, were Arm'd from Head to Foot : Which Order was alio permitted to 

 wearCottdh-Clothes, and Shoes richly embroider'd with Gold and Silver; they 

 us'd painted Veffels, and had Lodgings provided for them at Court. 



Moreover, it is worthy ofobfervation, what great care the Mexicans took in the 

 bringing up of their Children; to which purpofe they had Schools near to their 

 Temples, in which Youth was taught to Sing, Dance, Morality, Obedience, and 

 alfo Martial Difcipline. Children of noble Extract had Learned Men for their 

 Tutors. Their Punifliments for Tranfgreflions were very fevere, the Matters for. 

 cing their Scholars to Fall and Watch, carry great Burthens of Provifions to the 

 Army, and be in the midft of Engagements. Others, whofe Fancy led them to a 

 holy Life, willingly embrae'd the Services of the Temple. 



Their manner of Dancing in New Spain was very ftrange and differing ; they us'd 

 pretty Inftruments, and Songs which contain'd antique Paffages, according to the 

 Times ; they in their Motions imitated Shepherds, Fiflier-men, Plowmen, Hun. 

 ters, and the like : Sometimes they Danc'd in Mafcarades, with a Man on their 

 Shoulders, making the fame Motion with his Hands in the Air, as the other with 

 his Feet on the Ground. They had alfo Tumblers and Dancers on the Ropes, 

 which Ihew'd ftrange Tricks on an erefted Pole. But above all Dances, the Mttotes 

 was the chief, which was generally Danc'd in the King's Palace, or inner Court of 

 the Temple ; in the middle of which they plac'd a great Drum and a hollow Tub 

 on a large Image ; round about which the moll eminent Perfons made a Ring, Sang 

 fweetly, and Danc'd leifurely, when on a fudden two that are more nimble, 

 with divers Motions came into the midft of them, and Danc'd txaftly after the 

 found of the Drum and hollow Tub, which was fecended with the noife of Flutes 

 and Pipes. 



CHAP. 



