{ >39 ) 



and alfo, that they did not enter the gate dircdly, but took a circuit in 

 going towards it. 



His cooks had upwards of thirty different ways of dreiling meats, 

 and they had earthen veffels fo contrived as to keep them always hot. 

 For the table of Montezuma himfelf, above three hundred (.lifhes were 

 dreffed, and for his guards, above a thoufand. Before dinner, Mon- 

 tezuma would fometimes go out and infped: the preparations, and his 

 officers would point out to him which were the bell:, and explained of 

 what birds and flefh they were compofed ; and of thofe he would eat. 

 But this was more for amufement than any thing elfe. It is faid that 

 at times the flefh of young children was dreffed for him; but the ordi- 

 nary meats were, domeftic fowls, pheafants, geefe, partridges, quails, 

 venifon, Indian hogs, pigeons, hares, and rabbits, with many other 

 animals and birds peculiar to the country. This is certain ; that after 

 Cortes had fpoken to him relative to the drefiing human flefli, it was 

 not praftifed in his palace. At his meals, in the cold weather, a 

 number of torches of the bark of a wood which makes no fmoke and 

 has an aromatic fmell, were lighted, and that they fhould not throw 

 too much heat, fcreens, ornamented with gold, and painted with 

 figures of idols, were placed before them. Montezuma was feated on 

 a low throne, or chair, at a table proportioned to the height of liis feat. 

 The table was covered with white cloths and napkins, and four beau- 

 tiful women prefented him with water for his hands, in veffels which 

 they call Xicales, with other veffels under them like plates, to catch the 

 water; they alfo prefented him with towels. Then, two other women 

 brought fmall cakes of bread, and when the king began to eat, a large 

 fcrcen of wood, gilt, was placed before him, fo that people Ihould not 

 during that time fee him. The women having retired to a little diftance, 

 four ancient lords ftood by the throne, to whom Montezuma from time 

 to time fpoke or addreffed queftions, and as a mark of particular favor, 

 gave to each of them a plate of that which he was eating. I was told 

 that thefe old lords, who were his near relations, were alfo counfcllors 

 and judges. The plates which Montezuma prefented to them, they 



T 2 received 



