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to give to Cortes, together with ten loads of fine fluffs, which he 

 divided between Cortes and his captains, and to every foldier he gave 

 two collars of gold, each worth ten crowns, and two loads of mantles. 

 The gold amounted in value to upwards of a thoufand crowns ; and he 

 gave it with an affability, and indifference, which made him appear a 

 truly magnificent prince. It being now paft midday,- Cortes took his 

 leave, obferving that it was his Majefty's hour of dinner, and that he 

 heaped obligations upon us ; to which Montezuma replied, that on the 

 contrary we had obliged him. We then retired, imprefled with re- 

 fped: for the great Montezuma, from his princely manners and 

 liberality. 



The great Montezuma was at this time aged about forty years, of 

 good flat u re, well proportioned, and thin; his complexion was much 

 fairer than that of the Indians ; he wore his hair fhort, juft covering 

 his ears, with very little beard, well arranged, thin, and black. His 

 face was rather long, with a pleafant countenance, and good eyes ; 

 gravity and good humour were blended together when he fpoke. He 

 was very delicate and clean in his perfon, bathing himfelf every evening. 

 He had a number of miftreffes, of the firff families, and two princefles 

 his lawful wives: when he vifited them, it was with fuch fecrecy, that 

 none could know it except his own fervants. He was clear of all fuf- 

 picion of unnatural vices. The clothes which he wore one day, he did 

 not put on for four days after. He had two hundred of his nobility as 

 a guard, in apartments adjoining his own. Of thefe, certain perfons 

 only, could fpeak to him, and when they went to wait upon him they 

 took off" their rich mantles, and put on others of lefs ornament, but 

 clean. They entered his apartment barefooted, their eyes fixed on the 

 ground, and making three inclinations of the body as they approached 

 him. In addrefling the king they faid, *' Lord, my lord, great lord." 

 When they had finifhed he difmifled them with a few words, and they~ 

 retired, with their faces towards him, and their feyes fixed upon the 

 ground. I alfo obferved, that when great men came from a diffance 

 about bufincfs, they entered his palace barefooted, and in a plain habit; 



and 



