186 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



of them mould be fet at liberty, which was accordingly 

 done; notwithflanding the number of animals taken 

 would be altogether incredible, if the circumftance had 

 not been publicly known and attefled by many, and 

 among others by a witnefs worthy of the highefl credit 

 (r). They killed more than fix hundred deer and wild 

 goats, upward of a hundred cojotes, and a furprifing' 

 number of hares, rabbits, and other quadrupeds. The 

 plain ftill retains the Spanifh name Cazadero, or place of 

 the chace, which was then given it. 



Befides the ufual method of pra&ifing the chace, they 

 had other particular devices for catching particular kinds 

 of animals. In order to catch young apes, they made a 

 fmall fire in the woods, and put among the burning coals 

 a particular kind of ftone which they called Cacalotetl y 

 (raven, or black (tone), which burfls with a loud noife 

 when it is well heated. They covered the fire with 

 earth, andfprinkled around it a lictle maize. The apes, 

 allured by the grain, affembled about it with their young, 

 and while they were peaceably eating, the (lone burfl: ; 

 the old apes fled away in terror leaving their young be- 

 hind them ; the hunters, who were on the watch, then 

 feized them before their dams could return to carry 

 them off. 



The method alfo which they had, and ftill ufe, to 

 catch ducks, is artful and curious. The lakes of the 

 Mexican vale, as well as others of the kingdom, are fre- 

 quented by a prodigious multitude of ducks, geefe, and 

 other aquatic birds. The Mexicans left fome empty 

 gourds to float upon the water, where thofe birds refort- 

 ed, that they might be accuftomed to fee and approach 

 them without fear. The bird-catcher went into the 

 water fo deep as to hide his body, and covered his head 



with 



(r) P. Toribio di Benaventi, or Motolinia. 



