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INDIAN SPORTS, 305 



any existed, and where there were none I have not 

 attempted to give any. At Chichen all the principal 

 buildings have names ; this is called an Eglesia, or 

 Church, of the antiguos, which was begun, but not 

 finished, and the great open walls present not a bad 

 idea of one of their gigantic churches before the 

 roof is put on ; but as we have already one Eglesia, 

 and there is historical authority which, in my opin- 

 ion, shows clearly the object and uses of this extra- 

 ordinary structure, I shall call it, as occasion requires, 

 the Gymnasium or Tennis-court. 



In the account of the diversions of Montezuma^ 

 given by Herrera, we have the following : 



" The King took much Delight in seeing Sport 

 at Ball, which the Spaniards have since prohibited, 

 because of the Mischief that often hapned at it; 

 and was by them call'd Tlachtli, being like our Ten- 

 nis. The Ball was made of the Gum of a Tree that 

 grows in hot Countries, which, having Holes made 

 in it, distils great white Drops, that soon harden, 

 and, being work'd and moulded together, turn as 

 black as Pitch.* The Balls made thereof, tho' hard 

 and heavy to the Hand, did bound and fly as well 

 as our Foot-balls, there being no need to blow them ; 

 nor did they use Chaces, but vy'd to drive the ad- 

 verse Party that is to hit the Wall, the others were 

 to make good, or strike it over. They struck it 

 with any Part of their Body, as it hapned, or 

 they could most conveniently ; and sometimes he 



* Undoubtedly caoutchouc, or India-rubber. 



Vol. IL— a a 



