Languages of the Natives.
Since the Spaniards have conquer’d Tabasco, they have forc’d the Inhabitants to observe their Laws and Customs. They speak three sorts of Languages, amongst which that most us’d, call’d Chontal, is copious of Words. The second, Zoques, is spoken on the Mountains which divide Chiapa and Tabasco. The Mexican Tongue was first brought thither by the Garrisons which Muteczuma plac’d there in the Forts Zimatlan and Xicalango, and is the most spoken, in regard it hath not onely its Accents, but is also of great use, partly because it is understood in most places of America, and partly because the Priests have made Songs in that Tongue, with which the Tabascans are much delighted.
The chief City Nostra Sennora de la Vittoria, already mention’d in Jucatan, was so call’d by Ferdinand Cortesius, from the great Victory which he obtain’d over the Indians when he march’d first towards Mexico.
Thus far of the Description of the several Parts and Divisions of New Spain, differing in Customs and Languages, though most of them have some affinity with the Mexicans, who by force of Arms had made a way to the supream Empire. All of them acknowledge a Creator, but have no Name to express the Word God. But besides the Creator of the World they have made to themselves Gods of many other Creatures; amongst which are the Sun, Moon, Stars, and the Manes of the Deceased, the care of whose Burial they committed to the Priests, which was sometimes in the Fields, sometimes in their Houses; others carried their dead Bodies to the Mountains, some buried them in Temples; and as they either burnt or buried the Body, so they buried or burnt their Clothes and Riches with them, especially of Persons of Quality, whilst those that accompanied the Corps sung a mournful Song; after which they Feasted. The Heirs of Noble-men that had been at the Funeral put themselves all into Mourning. A Person, after he is dead, is stretch’d out upon the Floor, where he lies till all his Friends come to Present and Complement him, as if living: But at the death of an eminent Person they not onely bring him Presents, but proffer him his Slaves, Steward, Butlers, Dwarfs, and Houshold Priest, (all which a Lord must keep) that they may serve him in the other World. The Priests which perform’d the Funeral Ceremonies, walk’d before the Corps with the Image of the Idol which the Deceased had appropriated to himself, (for every Lord, according to the greatness of his Quality, bore the Name and Apparel of some Idol or another;) other Priests beat on Drums, play’d on Pipes and singing Dirges, perfum’d the Way with Myrrh, whilest the Servants and Relations made a doleful cry; a Herauld also carried the Coat of Arms and Trophies of the Deceased, artificially painted on Cloth; at last they pyl’d sweet Wood about the Corps, which being lighted, and the Body burnt to Ashes, a Priest in a frightful Dress, Vizarded with a gaping Mouth, long Teeth, and fiery Eyes, came on a sudden, and with a long Stick stirr’d the Ashes about, and gathering it in an Urn, buried the same with the fore-mention’d things.
The Idols in New Spain are represented in terrible Figures, to which they Offer humane Sacrifices.
The Priests, divided into higher or lower Orders, acknowledge a supream Head, which they call Papas. Each Idol had a peculiar sort of Priests: Those that serv’d Viztlipuzli, obtain’d their Places by Inheritance; but others were chose by the Commonalty, unless they had been bred Priests from their Infancy.
Cloysters dedicated to the ancient Mexican Religion.
The Mexican Cloysters in the time of Heathenism were generally built in the chiefest Temples, in a great Piazza, or square Court, where for the most part two Monastical Houses stood one against another, the one inhabited by a Fraternity of Recluses, and the other by a Sisterhood; which last being Maids of twelve or thirteen years of age, call’d The Penitential Daughters, swept the Temple, prepar’d Meat for the Idols and Priests, which was plentifully supply’d from the Alms and Offerings that were daily brought in to the Priests, consisting of little Cakes made like Hands and Feet, besides other strange Meats, which being set before the Idols, was soon after taken away again, and eaten up by the Priests: They were under a Governess, who employ’d them in making Embroideries to adorn the Temple; and sometimes rose up with the Priests at Mid-night, and play’d on Pipes, perfum’d the Temple, and scourg’d themselves till the Blood ran down their Backs, besmearing their Faces therewith, and leaving it on a whole year; then going into a large Chamber, where a Cistern stood for that purpose, they wash’d it off again; after which, if they committed the least uncleanness, they were put to a most miserable Death; which was judg’d upon seeing a Rat run through the Nuns Chamber, or a Batt flying by it, or finding any piece of Cloth gnaw’n by a Mouse or Rat; for they suppose that the fore-mention’d Creatures dare not come into a hallow’d place, unless defil’d. In this recluse manner they were onely confin’d to live a year, which being expir’d, they had free leave to Marry.
The House opposite to the Nuns in the same square place of the Temple, was inhabited by Youths of eighteen and twenty years of age, whose Heads were shaven like Monks, and pleited Tufts hung from the Crown down to their Backs; they liv’d also mean and chaste, kept the Priests Clothes and Perfuming-Vessels, carried Wood for Offerings, and kept always burning Lamps before Viztlipuztli’s Altar. Amongst them were also Boys of a less Age, whose Office was to gather Flowers and Herbs to strow the Temple with, to sharpen the Priests Lances, which they Let themselves Blood with every Night in the Legs, and carry them Water. These Youths, Cloth’d in Nets, fell on their Faces on the Ground when they met with a Woman, and went four and four, or six and six together to beg Alms, and by turns watch’d the fore-mention’d Fire; in the Morning they drew Blood out of their Thighs, with which they anointed their Temples down to their Ears, and when the Blood look’d black, wash’d it off again in a consecrated Bath, which their strict and severe Life endur’d a whole Year.