HISTORY OF MEXICO. 285 



feathers; of feveral excellent works of feathers, embel- 

 liflied with many little figures of gold ; and a vifor full 

 of gold in daft, as Cortes defired, valued at fifteen hun- 

 dred fequins : but the mod valuable things of the whole 

 were two wheels, the one of gold, the other of filver ; 

 that of gold, reprefenting, as we have faid already, the 

 Mexican century, had the image of the fun engraved in 

 the middle, round which were different figures in bafs 

 relief. The circumference of it was thirty palms of To- 

 ledo, and the value of it ten thoufand fequins (p). The 

 one of filver, in which the Mexican year was reprefent- 

 ed, was ftill larger, with a moon in the middle, fur- 

 rounded alfo with figures in bafs relief. The Spaniards 

 were not lefs amazed than pleafed with the view of fuch 

 riches. (i This prefent," added the ambaffador, ad- 

 drefling himfelf to Cortes, " my fovereign fends for you 

 " and your companions ; as for your king, he will in 

 " a fhort time fend fome jewels of ineflimable value. 

 " In the mean while, you may remain upon this fhore 

 " as long as it may be agreeable, to repofe after the 

 " fatigues of fo long a voyage, and to provide your- 

 cc felves with neceflaries to return to your native coun- 

 " try. If you defire any other thing of this country 

 " for your fovereign, it (hall be given you immediately; 

 " but with refpect to your demand of vifiting our court, 

 " I am charged to diffuade you from fo difficult and 

 " hazardous a journey, as the way to it lies through 

 cc uninhabited defarts, and the countries of enemies." 

 Cortes received the prefent with the moft particular ex- 

 preflions of gratitude for the royal beneficence, and 



made 



(/>) There is a great difference among authors refpecting the value of the 

 plate; but we give more faith to Bernai Diaz who knew it well, than to one 

 who was to have his fliare in the prefent from Montezuma. 



