286 . HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



The other houfe appropriated to the wild animals, 

 had a large and handfome court, with a chequered pave- 

 ment, and was divided into various apartments. One of 

 them contained all the birds of prey, from the royal ea- 

 gle to the keftrel, and many individuals of every fpecies. 

 Thefe birds were diflributed, according to their fpecies, 

 in various fubterraneous chambers, which were more 

 than feven feet deep, and upwards of feventeen in length 

 and breadth. The half of every chamber was covered 

 with flat ftones : and flakes were fixed in the wall, on 

 which they might fleep, and be defended from rain. 

 The other half of the chamber was only covered with a 

 lattice, through which they enjoyed the light of the fun. 

 For the fupport of thefe birds, were killed, daily, near 

 five hundred turkeys. In the fame houfe were many 

 lov/ halls filled with a great number of ftrong wooden 

 cages, in which, lions, tigers, wolves, coyotoo, and wild 

 cats were confined, and all other kinds of wild beads, 

 which were fed upon deer, rabbits, hares, techichis, and 

 other animals, and the inteftines of human facrifices. 



The king of Mexico not only kept all the fpecies of 

 animals, which other princes do for (late, but hkewife 

 fuch as by nature feemed exempted from flavery, namely, 

 crocodiles, and ferpents. The ferpents were kept in 

 large cailcs or vefi^els j the crocodiles in ponds, which 

 were walled round. There were alfo, various ponds for 

 fifh, two of which, that are remaining and flill beautiful, 

 we have feen in the palace of Chapol tepee, two miles 

 from Mexico. 



Montezuma, who was not fatisfied with having every 

 fort of animal in his palace, aifo colle£led there all irre- 

 gularly formed men, who either from the colour of their 

 hair, or of their il^in, or fome other deformity in their 



perfons. 



