The trades were not carried on in the ordinary way, but each particular mechanical pursuit was localized in some suitable portion of the city and placed under the supervision of a chief; and, it may be added, had its tutelary god and attendant celebrations.
Their merchants, who were usually very wealthy, might better be termed merchant traders. They were itinerant in character, and did a transient business, moving through the country at the head of a caravan, composed of tamanes (burden-bearers) and an adequate guard for protection. They visited the larger cities to be present at the weekly fairs, market days, which were conducted on a colossal scale in the great square, the city's tianguez. On these occasions, which occurred regularly once a week (a week in the chronological reckoning of the Anahuacans consisted of five days), every branch of industry was represented separately in suitably arranged booths; and both great and small, from far and near, were present to buy or sell, or more frequently to exchange their produce and wares for needed articles of consumption.
Here was an individual who talked persuasively of the superior finish and beauty of his jewelry—it was not necessary to speak of its genuineness, for spurious goods were presumably unknown to the natives; a condition which no doubt existed, because of the unlimited supply of genuine raw material, and, we may add further, owing to the severe penalties prescribed for fraudulent impositions on the people. Another no less glib talker exploited in appealing voice, and flourished his flaunted featherwork before the eyes of the swarming multitude, all of whom delighted in this beautiful but expensive luxury. Others—dealers in sacred images and silver and earthenware, makers of furnishings and apparel, and last, but not least, the farmer, with his products of the soil, all bent on gathering in the cash, which consisted of quills of gold dust, Ts of tin, and bags of cacao, a kind of money which precluded the possibility of hoarding, leading us to conclude that no misers had a place among the Anahuacans. Blessed money, that gave no encouragement to the avaricious!
The tzin, to while away some of his unemployed time, which was beginning to hang heavily on his hands, had come upon Tezcot's tianguez, and stood silently observing the peculiarities and movements of the people, gathered there from all the country around, many of whom, like himself, were present out of curiosity, though the purpose of nearly all, an army in numbers, appeared to be to trade, buy, or sell.
While thus occupied in contemplating the wonders of the great fair and its heterogeneous patrons, his attention was attracted by a pulling at his mantle. Turning quickly to learn the cause, he stood face to face with Oza, the prince's attendant.
"Oza!" he exclaimed. "Do I dream, or is it indeed you?"
"You do not dream, good master Euet. It is Oza."
"How is it, man, that you are here, and where is your master?" quickly inquired the tzin, somewhat apprehensive.
"I would have much to tell you to answer your question," said Oza in reply; and looking around upon the crowd, he added: "The people might hear."
"True, Oza. We will find a more suitable place to talk. But you look tired and hungry. Have you had anything to eat to-day?"