SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. 



135 



tious stones, nor death of gold, nor the best 

 silkes of China to enrich them. And to the 

 gallantry of their horses, the pride of some 

 adde the cost of bridles and shooes of silver : 

 — the streets of Christendome must not com- 

 pare with those in breadth and cleannesse, 

 but especially in the riches of the shops 

 which doe adorn them. Above all, the gold- 

 smiths' shops and workes are to be admired. 

 The Indians, and the people of China that 

 have been made Christians, and every yeere 

 come thither, have now perfected the Spa- 

 niards in those trades. The Viceroy who 

 went thither in the yeere 1625 caused a 

 popingay to be made of silver, gold, and 

 pretious stone, with the perfect colour of 

 the popingay's feathers (a bird bigger than 

 a pheasant), with such exquisite art and per- 

 fection, to present unto the King of Spain, 

 that it was prized to be in riches and work- 

 manship halfe a million of duckats. There 



