tuality, as no prince on earth was ever more respected, or better obeyed.

Montezuma had, both within and without the city, a great number of pleasure houses, each of which was fitted up in a different manner, and calculated for some particular amusement. These houses were built of solid materials, and in a style of grandeur and magnificence, suitable to so rich a prince; and there are but few in Spain equal to them. One of the least splendid, had a superb garden belonging to it, with a terrace of jasper beautifully wrought. This house could accommodate with ease, two monarchs and all their suite. It had ten reservoirs of fresh and of salt water, for the purpose of keeping various kinds of aquatic birds, according to their different modes of living in a state of freedom. This water could be changed at pleasure by means of sluices, and three hundred men were constantly employed in taking care of the birds, and in raising their young.— Each piece of water had a corridor, which led to the terrace, where Montezuma used to amuse himself in walking. A distinct quarter of the same house, contained apartments in which were men, women and children, whose skin, hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were, from their birth, perfectly white.

Another very handsome house had a large court paved in the manner of our churches, containing a great number of small houses, or boxes, nine feet long and six feet high, for keeping different kinds of birds of prey, which were fed with fowls; they were so constructed as to allow the birds to go out into the open air, or shelter themselves from the rain at pleasure. This menagerie had also several lower halls, filled with large wooden cages for lions, tigers, leopards, cats and weasels of various kinds, which were fed upon such kinds of food as best suited their natural inclinations.

Another house contained human monsters of all descriptions, as dwarfs, hunchbacks, and men of singular shapes. Here every species of deformity had its particular quarter allotted to it.

Montezuma was every morning attended by upwards of six hundred caciques, or nobles, whose suit filled all the court yards of the palace, and even the large street which it terminated. When dinner was served up for the prince it was at the same time for

*The following more detailed account of Montezuma's mode of living is given by B. Diaz, p. 139–140.

"His cooks had upwards of thirty different ways of dressing meats, and they had earthen vessels so contrived as to keep them hot always; for the table of Montezuma himself, above three hundred dishes were dressed, and for his guards, above a thousand. Before dinner, Montezuma would sometimes go and inspect the preparations, and his officers would point out to him which were the best, and explained of what birds and flesh they were composed; and of those he would eat. But this was more for amusement than any thing else. It is said, that at times the flesh of young children was dressed for him; but the ordinary meats were domestic fowls, pheasants, geese, partridges, quails, venison, Indian hogs, pigeons, hares,

the whole court, and each attendant or servant had his allowance also given him. Eating and drinking rooms were kept open for all who wished to regale themselves. No less than four hundred different dishes were prepared at each meal, and to supply this unmatched profusion, all the productions of the earth and water

and rabbits, with many other animals and birds peculiar to the country. This is certain, that after Cortes had spoken to him, relative to the dressing human flesh, it was not practised in his palace. At his meals, in the cold weather, a number of torches of the bark of a wood which makes no smoke, and has an aromatic smell, were lighted, and, that they should not throw too much heat, screens, ornamented with gold, and painted with figures of idols, were placed before them. Montezuma was seated on a low throne, or chair, at a table proportioned to the height of his seat. The table was covered with white cloths and napkins, and four beautiful women presented him with water for his hands, in vessels which they call xicales, with other vessels under them, like plates, to catch the water; they also presented him with towels. Then, two other women brought small cakes of bread, and when the king began to eat, a large screen of gilt wood was placed before him, so that people during that time should not see him. The women having retired to a little distance, four ancient lords stood by the throne, to whom Montezuma, from time to time, spoke, or addressed questions: and as a mark of particular favour, gave to each of them a plate of that which he was eating. He was served on earthenware of Cholula, red and black. While the king was at table, no one of his guards, or in the vicinity of his apartment, dared for their lives make any noise. Fruit of all the kinds that the country produced, was laid before him; he eat very little; but from time to time, a liquor prepared from cocoa, and of a stimulative or corroborative quality, as we were told, was presented to him in golden cups. We could not at that time see if he drank it or not, but I observed a number of jars, above fifty, brought in, filled with foaming chocolate, of which he took some, which the women presented to him. At different intervals, during the time of dinner, there entered certain Indians, humpbacked, very deformed, and ugly, who played tricks of buffoonery, and others, who they said were jesters. There was also a company of singers and dancers, who afforded Montezuma much entertainment. To these he ordered the vases of chocolate to be distributed. The four female attendants then took away the cloths, and again, with much respect, presented him with water to wash his hands. During the time Montezuma was at dinner, two very beautiful women were busily employed making small cakes, with eggs and other things mixed therein. These were delicately white, and when made, they presented them to him on plates covered with napkins. Also another kind of bread was brought to him in long loaves, and plates of cakes resembling wafers. After he had dined, they presented to him three little canes, highly ornamented, containing liquid amber, mixed with an herb they call tobacco; and when he had sufficiently viewed and heard the singers, dancers, and buffoons, he took a little of the smoke of one of these canes, and then laid himself down to sleep; and thus his principal meal concluded. After this was over, all his guards and domestics sat down to dinner, and, as near as I could judge, above a thousand plates of those eatables that I have mentioned were laid before them, with vessels of foaming chocolate, and fruit in an immense quantity. For his women, and various inferior servants, his establishment was of a prodigious expense; and we were astonished, amidst such a profusion, at the vast regularity that prevailed."

were laid under contribution. The various dishes were all brought in at the same time, and, to prevent them from growing cold, each plate and sauce pan was furnished with a chafing dish.* The hall in which Montezuma eat was very large, magnificently furnished and covered with carpets. He sat at one end of it in a small leathern arm-chair of admirable workmanship, and was attended by a nobleman whose particular office it was to help him, and who stood by and gave directions to the officers in waiting to bring whatever was wanted. At the other end of the room were five or six old nobles whom Montezuma had served out of the same dish

es with himself. Water was constantly brought to wash his hands both before and after eating, and the napkin which he made use of never appeared a second time, neither did the plates, saucepans or chafing dishes. He changed his dress regularly four times a-day and the same garments were never worn by him but once. The nobility who came to visit him, entered his apartment barefooted, and whenever any one of them approached him, he inclined his body and cast his eyes down. In addressing him they raised their heads, without looking him in the face, which was done through respect; I say, through respect, because some of the caciques reproved my men for disrespect towards me, in not inclining themselves, and in looking me in the face whilst speaking.

When Montezuma went out, which was but seldom, those who accompanied him, or met him, turned their faces away without looking at him, and those who were not inclined to walk before him, prostrated themselves until he had passed.† On these occasions he was preceded and announced by a cacique, who carried three long slender wands.

The ceremonies employed in the service of this monarch were so numerous, that it would require a very retentive memory to detail them, and indeed more time than I have is requisite to give a complete description of those that I recollect, for it is a fact that no prince in the world ever carried pomp and luxury to such a height.

* The Spaniards beheld with surprise, at the table of Montezuma, the custom of keeping fire, in winter, under the plates that were on the table, where it was placed in silver chafing dishes. We have since learned to do the same thing. Lettere Americane.

"The great

The person of Montezuma is thus described by B. Biaz: Montezuma was at this time aged about forty years, of good stature, well proportioned, and thin; his complexion was much fairer than that of the Indians; he wore his hair short, just covering his ears, with very little beard, well arranged, thin and black. His face was rather long, with a pleasant countenance, and good eyes; gravity and good humour were blended together when he spoke. He was very delicate and clean in his person, bathing himself every evening. He had a number of mistresses, of the first families, and two princesses, his lawful wives; when he visited them, it was with such secrecy, that none could know it, except his own servants."

I shall continue at Mexico long enough to take every necessary measure for the advancement of your majesty's interest; to pacify the different provinces; to reduce to subjection the cities and fortresses that are of most importance; to discover the mines, and to learn the state of the country thoroughly. In this research Montezuma and the principal inhabitants will aid me with as much willingness as if they had always been the liege subjects of your majesty.

I had been occupied about six months, from the eighth of last November in pacifying the country, and early in May every thing was tranquil in Mexico; I had also sent a considerable number of Spaniards into the several provinces and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the ships with the answer to my first despatches, in order that they might take charge of the gold, silver, precious stones, and other treasures which I had received for your majesty, when I was informed by some of Montezuma's subjects on the sea-coast, that they had discovered from the mountains of St. Martins in the bay of St. John, eighteen ships at sea standing in for the land. At the same time an inhabitant of Cuba, brought me a letter, from the Spaniard whom I had stationed on the coast to look out for ships, informing me that a single ship had that day appeared off the harbour of St. John, which he believed to be the same that I had sent to Spain; but that on its arrival he would forward me a particular account. Not to miss the messenger, I sent off two Spaniards by two different roads, and gave them directions to proceed to the harbour and learn the number of ships that had arrived, from whence they came, and what they had brought; and to acquaint me as soon as possible.

I likewise despatched an express to Vera Cruz, to obtain information, and one to the officer whom I had detached with a hundred and fifty men to form an establishment at the port of Quacucalco, ordering him not to proceed farther, as I had received information of the arrival of some ships.

I was fifteen days without receiving the least intelligence from any quarter, when some Indians arrived and informed me that the ships had entered the harbour of St. John, and had landed eight hundred infantry and eighty cavalry, with twelve pieces of cannon; that these men had forcibly detained the Spaniard, and the messengers, who had charged them to acquaint me with it.

On this information I resolved to send my chaplain, a friar of the order of Mercy, with a letter from myself and one from the alcaydes of Vera Cruz, to the commander of the ships in St. John's, acquainting them with all that had occurred, the conquest and peaceable subjection of the empire of Mexico to your majesty's authority, and that the late sovereign, Montezuma, was my prisoner in his own capital, where I had collected a great treasure or your majesty, to whom I had despatched a particular account of every thing. I requested them as a favour, to inform me who

they were, if they were the subjects of your majesty and had come by your orders to form an establishment where they were, or if they intended to proceed farther, or return; and I offered to furnish them with every necessary as far as was in my power. That if they were not the subjects of my king I would notwithstanding assist them all I could, provided they would leave the country, but that if, on the contrary, they advanced into it, I should march with all my force against them, and treat them as enemies.

Five days after, twenty Spaniards from Vera Cruz came to Mexico, bringing with them a priest and two soldiers whom they had taken; they confirmed the arrival of the fleet at St. John's, and the landing of the army, which had been sent from Cuba by Diego Velasquez, and was commanded by Pamphilo de Narvaez; that it consisted of eighty horse and eight hundred foot, of which eighty were fusileers, and one hundred and twenty archers, and was furnished with several pieces of cannon: that Narvaez styled himself captain general and lieutenant of Velasquez, who, he pretended was governor of the country, and was furnished with instructions from the emperor. They further added, that Narvaez had detained my messengers and the Spaniard whom I had posted on the coast; that he had gained all the information he could respecting the city which I had founded, the number of men I had left there, the detachments sent by me to Qualcacalco and Tuchitebeque: that he had also procured descriptions of all the fortified places, which I had taken or obtained by pacific means, particularly Mexico, where I had found so much wealth.

This priest and his companions had been sent to Vera Cruz, by Narvaez to persuade the inhabitants to join him and to excite an insurrection against me. Upwards of an hundred letters were sent me which had been written to them by Narvaez and his partisans, holding forth to them the most flattering promises if they complied with the proposals of the messengers, and threatening them, in case of refusal with the vengeance of Velasquez.

About the same time arrived a Spaniard from Quacucalco, who brought me letters from his commander, Juan Velasquez de Leon, containing nearly similar information. They were accompanied by a letter to Don Juan from Narvaez in the name of Diego Velasquez, in which he says "that having been informed that I kept him at Quacucalco, contrary to his inclinations, he had but to join him, in doing which he would only act as was his duty to his relations and faithful friends. Don Juan, as became an officer faithful to the service of his king, not only refused complying with the propositions of Narvaez, but, after despatching the messengers, hastened to join me with his men.

On examining the emissaries of Narvaez, I learned that his army had been raised for the express purpose of fighting me, and that he had orders to proceed against me and my friends with the utmost rigour, for having dared to send an account of my con