52 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



ico was a green ftone (probably jafper) convex above, 

 and about three feet high, and as many broad, and 

 more than five feet long. The ufual minifters of the 

 facrifice were fix priefts, the chief of whom was the 

 Topiltzin, whofe dignity was pre-eminent and heredita- 

 ry ; but at every facrifice he affumed the name of that 

 god to whom it was made. For the performance of 

 this function, he was clothed in a red habit, fimilar in 

 make to the fcapulary of the moderns, fringed with 

 cotton ; on his head he wore a crown of green and yel- 

 low feathers, at his ears hung golden ear-rings and 

 gfeen jewels, (perhaps emeralds), and at his under-lip 

 a pendant of turquoife. The other five minifters were 

 drefifed in white habits of the fame make, but embroi- 

 dered with black ; their hair was wrapped up, their 

 heads were bound with leathern thongs, their fore- 

 heads armed with little fliields of paper painted of va- 

 rious colours, and their bodies dyed all over black. 

 Thefe barbarous minifters carried the victim entirely 

 naked to the upper area of the temple, and after hav- 

 ing pointed out to the byftanders the idol to whom the 

 facrifice was made, that they might pay their adoration 

 to it, extended him upon the altar ; four priefts held 

 his legs and arms, and another kept his head firm with 

 a wooden inftrument made in form of a coiled ferpent, 

 which was put about his neck ; and on account of the 

 altar being convex, the body of the victim lay arched, 

 the bread and belly being raifed up and totally prevent- 

 ed from the leaft movement. The inhuman Topiltzin 

 then approached, and with a cutting knife made of 

 flint, dexteroufly opened his breaft and tore out his 

 heart, which, while yet palpitating, he offered to the 

 fun, and afterwards threw it at the feet of the idol ; 



then 



