248 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



They alfo ufed the quills of the Huitztlacuatzin, or Mexi- 

 can porcupine, which are thick, and have a fmall hole at 

 their points. 



Among the means which the Mexicans employed for 

 the prefervation of health, that of the bath was very 

 frequent. They bathed themfelves extremely often, 

 even many times in the fame day in the natural water of 

 rivers, lakes, ditches, and ponds. Experience has taught 

 the Spaniards the advantages of bathing, in that climate, 

 and particularly in the hot countries. 



The Mexicans, and other nations of Anahuac, made 

 little lefs frequent ufe of the bath Temazcalli. Although 

 in all its circumftanees it is deferving of particular men- 

 tion in the hiflory of Mexico, none of the hiftorians of 

 that kingdom have defcribed it, attending more fre- 

 quently to defcriptions and accounts of lefs importance, 

 fo much that if fome of thofe baths had not been ftill 

 preferved, the memory of them muft have totally pe- 

 rifhed. 



The lemazcalli) or Mexican vapour-bath, is ufually 

 built of raw bricks. The form of it is fimilar to that of 

 ovens for baking bread ; but with this difference, that 

 the pavement of the Temazcalli is a little convex, and 

 lower than the furface of the earth, whereas that of mod 

 ovens is plain, and a little elevated for the accommoda- 

 tion of the baker. Its greatell: diameter is about eight 

 feet, and its greateft height fix. The entrance, like 

 the mouth of an oven, is wide enough to allow a man to 

 creep eafily in. In the place oppofite to the entrance 

 there is a furnace of ftone or raw bricks, with its mouth 

 outwards to receive the fire, and a hole above it to carry 

 off the fmoke. The part which unites the furnace to the 

 bath, and which is about two feet and a half fquare, is 



fliut 



