214 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



which is totally different from the defcription of Tor- 

 queinada. It is probable, that there were varieties of 

 the fame game. The idols placed upon the walls were 

 thofe of the gods of game, of whofe names we are igno- 

 rant ; but fufpect the name of one of them to have been 

 Omacat!) the God of Rejoicings. The ball was made of 

 ule, or elaftic gum, three or four inches in diameter, 

 which, although heavier, rebounds more than thofe made 

 of air. They played in parties, two againft two, or 

 three again*! three. The players were entirely naked 

 except the maxtlatl, or large bandage, about their middle. 

 It was an effential condition of the game not to touch 

 the bail, unlefs it was with the joint of the thigh, or the 

 arm, or elbow, and whoever touched it with his hand or 

 foot, or any other part of the body, loft: one of the game. 

 They player who made the ball reach the oppofite wall, 

 or made it rebound from it, gained a point. Poor peo- 

 ple played for ears of maize, or if they had nothing elfe 

 they played for the price of their liberty ; others flaked 

 a certain number of dreffes of cotton ; and rich perfons 

 played for articles of gold, precious feathers, and jewels. 

 There were in the fpace between the players two large 

 (tones, refembling in figure our mill-ftones, each of which 

 had a hole in the middle, a little larger than the bail. 

 Whoever ftruck the ball through this hole, which was 

 extremely uncommon, was not only vi&or in the game, 

 but according to the eftablimed lav/, became the pro- 

 prietor of the dreffes of all thofe who were prefent, 

 and fuch a feat was celebrated as an immortal deed. 



This game was in high eilimation with the Mexicans, 

 and the other nations of that kingdom, and much prac- 

 tifed, as is to be concluded from the furprifing number 

 of balls which the cities of Tochtepec, Otatitlan, and 



other 



