228 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



wonderful art, formerly pra&ifed by the Toltecas, the 

 invention of which they afcribed to the god Ouetzal- 

 coatl, has been entirely loft by the debafement of the 

 Indians, and the indolent neglect of the Spaniards. We 

 are doubtful if there are any remains of thofe curious 

 works; at leaft we apprehend, it would be more eafy 

 to find fome in the cabinets of Europe than in ail New 

 Spain. Covetoufnefs to profit by the materials rauft un- 

 queftionably have conquered all defire to preferve them 

 as curiofities. 



The Mexicans alfo wrought with the hammer, but in 

 an inferior manner, and not at all to be compared wirh 

 the goldfmiths of Europe; for they had no other inftru- 

 ments to beat metals than ftones. However it is well 

 known, that they wrought copper well, and that the 

 Spaniards were much pleafed with their axes and pikes. 

 The Mexican founders and goldfmiths formed a refpecl:- 

 able body of people. They rendered particular wor- 

 fhip to their protecting god Xipe 9 and in honour of him 

 held a great feftival in the fecond month, at which hu- 

 man victims were facrificed. 



Nothing, however, was more highly valued by the 

 Mexicans than their mofaic works, which were made of 

 the mod delicate and beautiful feathers of birds. They 

 raifed for this purpofe various fpecies of birds of fine 

 plumage with which that country abounds, not only in 

 the palaces of the king, where, as we have already ob- 

 ferved, there were all forts of animals, but likewife in 

 private houfes, and at certain feafons they carried off 

 their feathers to make ufe of them on this kind of work, 

 or to fell them at market. They fet a high value on 

 the feathers of thofe wonderful little birds which they 

 call Huitzitzilin, and the Spaniards Pica/lores, on ac- 

 count 



