HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



287 



perfoiis, were oddities of their fpecies. A humour this, 

 however, not unattended with beneficial confequences, 

 as it gave maintenance to a number of miferable obje^ls, 

 and delivered them from the inhuman infults of their 

 other fellows-creatures. 



All his palaces were furrounded with beautiful gar- 

 dens, where there was every kind of beautiful flower, 

 odoriferous herb, and medicinal plant. He had, likewife, 

 woods inclofed with walls, and furniflied with variety of 

 game, in which he frequently fported. One of thofe 

 woods was upon an ifland in the lake, known at prefent, 

 among the Spaniards, by the name of Pinon. 



Of all thefe palaces, gardens, and woods, there is 

 now remaining the wood of Chapoltepec only, which the 

 Spanifh viceroys have preferved for their pleafure. All 

 the others were deftroyed by the conquerors. They 

 laid in ruins the mofl magnificent buildings of antiquity, 

 fometimes from an indifcreet zeal for religion, fometimes 

 in revenge, or to make ufe of the materials. They ne- 

 glefled the cultivation of the royal gardens, cut down 

 the woods, and reduced that country to fuch a ftate, the 

 magnificence of its former kings could not now find be- 

 lief, were it not confirmed by the teftimony of thofe who 

 were the caufes of its annihilation. 



Not only the palaces, but all the other places of plea- 

 fure, were kept in exquifite order and neatnefs, even 

 thofe which were feldom or never viCted ; as there was 

 nothing in which he took more pride than the cleanlinefs 

 of his own perfon, and of every thing elfe which was his. 

 He bathed regularly every day, and had baths, therefore, 

 in all his palaces. Every day he wore four drelTes; and 

 that which he once put oiF, he never after ufed again : 

 thefe were referved as largelTes for the nobles who ferved 



him. 



