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Thefe priefts v(^ere dreffed in long black mantles like (lieets with 

 hoods refembling thofe of our canons hanging to the fhoulders, their 

 robes reached to the feet, and they had a fmaller hood like the domi- 

 nicans. Their long hair was matted together with clotted blood; with 

 fome it reached to the waift, and with others to the feet, their ears 

 were torn and cut, and they fmelt horribly, as it were of fulphur, and 

 putrid flefh. They were faid to be all of noble families, and they were 

 addid:ed to the evil pradtice of the country. On certain days they fafted r 

 I have feen them make food of the feeds or kernels of the cotton plant,, 

 what elfe they might have ufed at other times I cannot fay. 



Cortes then harangued the people, faying that now we were really 

 brothers, Montezuma fliould no longer opprefs them, and he would 

 plax:e them under the protedtion of the great Lady whom we adore, the 

 mother of Chrift, with many other good and holy reafons and argu- 

 ments, which could not be better exprelfed by any one, and all which 

 the people liftened to with great attention. He then caufed a number 

 of Indian mafons to be colle<5ted, with lime, which abounded' in that 

 place, and had the walls cleared of blood, and new plaiftered. He alfo 

 conflrudled an altar which he hung round with rich mantles, and 

 adorned with wreaths of rofes. The temple being thus purified and 

 cleaned, he commanded four priefts to cut off their hair, and change their 

 black garments for white ones, and entrufted them with the care of the 

 altar, and he placed an old foldier named Juan de Torres de Cordova, 

 who was lame, as a hermit to refide in the temple. He alfo planted a 

 crofs againft a column of timber, and on the next day mafs was faid 

 there by F. Bart, de Olmedo. We likewife taught the natives to make 

 candles of wax, and they were enjoined to keep them always burning, 

 before the holy altar. 



The principal perfons of this and the neighbouring, diftricfts at- 

 tended at divine fervice, and the eight ladies were at this time baptized 

 and inftruded in our holy faith. The niece of the fat cacique was 

 named Donna Catalina; flie was as ugly as poflible, but the general re- 

 ceived 



