( 499 ) 



the renowned Apelles, or the modern ones named Michael Angelo and 

 Berruguete, and another a native of Burgos who is in great fame, being 

 as they fay a fecond Apelles, could not with their fubtlc pencils equal 

 the works which are done by three Mexican artifts nam.ed Andres de 

 Aquino, Juan de la Cruz, and El Crefpillo. In addition to all thefe 

 things, the fons of the chiefs ufed to be grammarians, and were learn- 

 ing very well, until they were forbidden by the holy fynod, under an 

 order of the moft reverend archbifliop of Mexico, but many of them 

 are now, notwithftanding, literate. They are alfo weavers of filk, 

 fluffs, and cloths, and manufa(5lurers thereof, through all the various 

 ftages. They have alfo learned to be hatters and foap boilers. Two 

 trades only could never be acquired by them j one is, that of making 

 glafs, the other that of the apothecary ; but this is not owing to any 

 defedl of natural genius, for they are furgeons, and herbalifts, jugglers, 

 and makers of puppets, and of violins. Tillers of land they were be- 

 fore our arrival; and now they rear flock, and break bullocks, and 

 plow, fow wheat, manure, reap, fell, and make bread and bifcuit. 

 They have planted their lands and inheritances with the fruit trees of 

 Old Spain, and fell the fruit, cutting down the unwholefome peach 

 trees, and overfliading plantains, to make room fgr quince, apple, and 

 pear trees, which they hold in high eflimation. We have taught them 

 alfo laws and juftice, and in confequence, they every year eled: their 

 ordinary alcaldes, regidors, notaries, alguazils, fifcals, and major do- 

 mes. They have their halls of common council, with bailifl's, where 

 they meet two days in the week, judging, and fentencing, and for 

 feme oflences punifliing and whipping ; but for murder and higher 

 crimes, they refer them to the governors, if there is no court of royal 

 audience, 



I have further been told by perfons well informed upon the fubjed:, 

 that in Tlafcala, Tezcuco, Cholula, Guaxocingo, Tepeaca, and other 

 great cities, when the natives go to council, gilt maces are borne before 

 the governors and alcaldes, as is done before the viceroys, and they do 



Sss 2 juftice 



