HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



39 



The number of temples throughout the whole Mex- 

 ican empire was very great. Torquemada thought there 

 might be above forty thoufand ; but I am perfuaded 

 they would far exceed that number, if we ftiould take 

 the leiTer ones into the account ; for there is not an in- 

 habited place without one temple, nor any place of any 

 extent without a considerable number. 



The architecture of the great temples was for the moft 

 part the fame with that of the great temple of Mexico j 

 but there were many likewife of a different ftru&ure. 

 Many confifted of a fmgle body in the form of a pyramid, 

 with a ftair-cafe ; others of ordinary bodies, with fimilar 

 ftair-cafes, as appears in the fubjoined plate, which is 

 copied from one publiflied by Didaco Valades in his 

 Christian Rhetoric 



The fuperftition of thofe people not contented with 

 fuch a great number of temples in their cities, villages, 

 and hamlets, erected many altars upon the tops of the 

 hills, in the woods, and in the flreets, not only for the 

 purpofe of encouraging the idolatrous worfliip of tra- 

 vellers, but for the celebration of certain facrifices to 

 the gods of mountains and other ruftic deities. 



The revenues of the great temple of Mexico, like 

 thofe of the other temples of the court and the em- 

 pire, were very large. Each temple had its own lands 

 and polTeffions, and even its own peafants to cultivate 

 them. Thence was drawn ail that was necelfary for 

 the maintenance of the priefts, together with the wood 

 which was confumed in great quantities in the temples. 



The 



(«) Didaco Valades Francifcano, after having been employed many years in 

 the converlion of the Mexicans, came to Rome, where he was made procurator- 

 general of his order. A little time after he publifhed his learned and valuable 

 work in Latin, intitled, Rhetorica Chrijliana, dedicated to pope Gregory the 

 Xlllth, adorned with many reprefentations of Mexican antiquities. 



