212 HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



which they twifted as many times round the tree as there 

 were revolutions to be made by the fliers. Thefe ropes 

 were drawn through four holes, made in the middle of 

 the four planks of which the frame confuted. The 

 four principal flyers difguifed like eagles, herons, and 

 other birds, mounted the tree with great agiiity, by 

 means of a rope which was laced about it from the 

 ground up to the frame ; from the frame they mounted 

 one at a time fucceflively upon the cylinder, and having 

 danced there a little, they tied themfelves round with 

 the ends of the ropes, which were drawn through the 

 holes of the frame, and launching with a fpring from 

 it, began their flight with their wings expanded. The 

 action of their bodies put the frame and the cylinder in 

 motion; the frame by its revolutions gradually untwifted 

 the cords by which the flyers fwung; fo that as the 

 ropes lengthened, they made fo much the greater cir- 

 cles in their flight. Whilft thefe four were flying, a 

 fifth danced upon the cylinder, beating a little drum, or 

 waving a flag, without the fmallefl apprehenfion of the 

 danger he was in of being precipitated from fuch a 

 height. The others who were upon the frame (there 

 having been ten or twelve perfons generally who mount- 

 ed) as foon as they faw the flyers in their laft revolu- 

 tion, precipitated themfelves by the fame ropes, in order 

 to reach the ground at the fame time amidfl: the accla- 

 mations of the populace. Thofe who precipitated them- 

 felves in this manner by the ropes, that they might make 

 a (till greater difplay of their agility, frequently pafled 

 from one rope to another, at that part where, on ac- 

 count of the little diflance between them, it was pofli- 

 ble for them to do fo. 



The 



