For the first, we have spoken so much already of the general plenty of all things in the Kingdom of New-Spain, that pertain to this part of pleasure, that it is not to be doubted: And for the second this may be some instance, viz. that it is no extraordinary matter to see an Hat-band or Role all of Diamonds, in some ordinary Gentlemans Hat; and of Pearl among the common Citizens and Tradesmen. The Coaches (which most Gentlemen keep) almost cover’d with Gold and Silver, richly beset with Precious Stones, and within ordinarily lin’d with Cloth of Gold, or the best China Silk that can be gotten; of which Coaches, in time of year, at the Alameda, as they call it, which is, as it were, The Hide-Park of Mexico, and a place made of purpose for recreation and delight, a Man shall observe not seldom, above a thousand or two thousand Coaches, full of Ladies and Gallants coming thither onely to take the Air, and their Pleasure, both the one and the other attended with a numerous Train of Servants and Mulattoes of both Sexes. In la Plateria, which is but onely one Street in Mexico, nigh to the Vice-Roy’s Palace, in less than half an hours space: with the turn of an Eye, you may see Millions of Wealth in Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones, in the Goldsmiths and Jewellers Shops thereabouts. In a word, there is nothing hinders Mexico from being the most absolute City in the World for delight and bravery, but onely two Inconveniences to which it is subject: The one is the danger of the Lake, with the Infalls whereof it may seem to be almost continually threatned, and in the Year 1629. did actually suffer a very great calamity, the Waters breaking through the Banks, and drowning a great part of the City, with the destruction of much People, and the loss of all their Goods intirely, through the avarice (as is suppos’d) of the Vice-Roy that then was, and some other of the King’s Officers, who diverted the Money that should have been employ’d for the fortifying and repairing of the Banks, to their own proper uses: The other is from the nature of the Soil and Ground it self on which it standeth; which is found to have a tincture of Sal Nitre in it, somewhat strong; and the Winds partly from the Lake it self, and partly from the Hills about it, raising the Dust of this Earth constantly every Evening, for many Moneths of the Year together, so violently, that the Air is even darkned therewith for some time: The Inhabitants are much annoy’d by it, and made subject to divers Hypocondriacal Pains and Infirmities, and sometimes kill’d with it, especially such as either cannot, or care not much to avoid it.
The City lieth about sixty Leagues, or a hundred and fifty Miles distant from the Atlantick or North Sea, from whence by the Port of St. John d’Ullua, or Vera Crux, (which are the usual Landing-places) there is a fair and easie March to Mexico, by the Cities of Xalabar, Perotta, Puebla de los Angelos, and Tlascalla, all of them open and unfortifi’d Places, (as likewise Mexico it self) and the Countrey round about very rich and well accommodated with all things.
City Chulula.
The next City of note in ancient times was Chulula, which being built in a fruitful Plain, had above twenty thousand Dwelling-houses, and as many more Banquetting-houses. The number of the Temples and Turrets were equal with that of the days in the Year: The Government thereof belong’d to a Mayor and six Aldermen, and one chief Priest; for they never went upon the least Design before they had been at their Devotion; in which the Priest’s Office was onely to perfume the Idols four times in twenty four hours, viz. in the Morning, at Noon, after Sun-set, and at Midnight; at which times none durst be absent, but they us’d also a cruel Exercise on themselves, and one much more cruel on others, for on usual Feast-days they abstain’d from Meat, Drink, and Sleep, scourg’d their Bodies with knotted Cords after a miserable manner, evacuated their Seed, that so they might curb all fleshly Desires, and met every Night in a spacious place, where sitting down they wounded themselves with Lances in their Legs and Arms, so long till the Blood gush’d out of the same; which gathering in a Cup, they anointed their Temples therewith, and dipt the Lances in the same, and then hung them up before the Temple in Bundles of Straw. Of these were a great number, and the more, because they never us’d their Lances but once. But on these Days, which were Consecrated to the Idol Tezcatlipuca, every one besides the Priests wore a new Rope made of the Hemp Mangey, of a Fathom long, and a thick Knot at the end, with which they beat themselves so miserably on their Backs, as if they intended to have broken them: After which the Priests stay’d five days in the Temple, in which they us’d the like cruelty, eating scarce once in twenty four hours.
Their Prisoners they us’d after a most horrid manner, viz. in their Temples stood a round Stage of Stone; to the top of which they ascended by a Square Scaffold, supported by twenty eight Pillars; behind which appear’d thousands of Mens Heads, and amongst them the Prisoners that were to be Offer’d sat stark naked, and guarded by several Armed Men; three Foot from the Steps which led up to the top of the Scaffold, stood a pyramidical Stone, (by the Indians call’d Quauxicalli) and behind it two round Chappels, cover’d on the top like Mitres, each had four Holes in a large Gate, in which sat a horrid Representation, worshipp’d by six Priests call’d Chackalmua, whereof one call’d Papas, or Topilzin, whose Office was to pluck out the Hearts of the Prisoners, being in greatest esteem, wore a red Mantle about his Body, not unlike a long Coat, with broad Fringe, which trail’d after him upon the Ground, and also a Crown of green and yellow Plumes on his Head; his Ears and under Lip were likewise adorn’d with Precious Stones: The other five appear’d in like manner with their Hands and Faces painted red, but having Leathern Fascia’s about their Heads, and white Coats stitch’d with Black on their Bodies, they might easily be distinguish’d from the Topilzin; who on a sudden ran down the Stairs to the Prisoners, and shew’d each of them an Image, (saying, This is your God) made of Bledo Paste, Maiz and Honey, green Beads for Eyes, and Grains of Maiz for Teeth: whereupon the Prisoners were led up, and laid with their Backs on the sharp Stone Quauxicalli; then the five Priests took hold of their Leggs, Arms and Head, put woodden Collars about the Sufferer’s Necks, whilst the Topilzin shew’d Reverence to the Idol; which done, with a sharp Stone he cut open the Breasts of the Prisoners, who in a deplorable condition lay on the pyramidical Stone, and pulling their Hearts out of their Bodies, shew’d the same reeking to the Sun, and at last threw them toward the Idol, and the dead Bodies down the Stairs, where some appointed for that purpose carried the same away; but every one taking his own Prisoner, and roasting and boyling him, serv’d him up to his Friends as a great Dainty.
This kind of Murdering was not onely us’d amongst the Mexicans, but also by all the other neighboring Indians, and especially in the City Chulula, which (as we have said before) signifies The Sanctity of all the Gods: for in this Town six thousand Children were yearly Offer’d.
The Citizens hereof us’d to drive a great Trade, especially in Cochinele.
Their Habits were several; for Persons of Note wore Cotton Coats, about the Edges of which hung Feathers and pieces of Cony-skins: the meaner sort went in Nequons, or a sort of Linnen Coats made of the hairy Leaves of the Tree Maguey.
3. The City Tezuco, full of handsom Streets and fair Houses, is built near the salt Mexican Lake, yet hath no want of fresh Water, with which it is supply’d by Gutters from the Mountains under Ground, according to Anthony Herrera, it twice exceedeth in bigness the famous City Sivill in Spain.
4. Quitlavaca, by the Spaniards call’d Venezuela, (because it is, like Venice, surrounded with Water, and divided into several Isles,) boasted formerly above two thousand Families: From the Town a Cawsey of twenty Foot broad, and half a League long, leads through the Lake to the Main Continent.