But Tocci, they say, had also a Son much inclin’d to Hunting, whose Image they carry, attended by a thousand People, with the sound of Horns and Trumpets, to an Arbor on a high Mountain; which being made of green Leaves pleited, had in the middle an Altar, on which they set the Idol, whilst the Multitude surrounded the Foot of the Mountain, and set all the Bushes about the same on Fire; which done, they shouted and hollow’d, and play’d on several Instruments; which frighting the wild Beasts that lay shelter’d in the Woods, made them run to the top of the Mountain, where they were more and more inclos’d by the People, insomuch that many of them were slain for an Offering before Tocci’s Son’s Altar; which done, they carried the Idol back to his Temple, and the People made Merry with the slain Venison.
Description of Tezcatlipuca’s Image.
As great Reverence they shew’d to Tezcatlipuca, because (as they said) he pardon’d their Sins. This Idol was made of a black shining Stone, richly Apparell’d, having Golden Ear-rings; in his undermost Lip a Silver Sheath, in which stuck sometimes a green, and sometimes a blue Plume of Feathers; his Hair was ty’d with an embroider’d String, at the end of which hung a Golden Ear, whereon Smoak was Painted, signifying the Prayers of oppress’d Sinners; moreover, the String hung full of Pearls, and about the Neck in a String hung a Jewel; on his Breast, as also on his Navel, a green Stone; in his left Hand he held a Fan made of a Gold Plate, in which stuck many colour’d Feathers: this Plate glittering like Glass, was in stead of a Mirrour for Tezcatlipuca, to observe all worldly Transactions in the same: and to punish Criminals, he held four Darts in his right Hand. His Feast they kept once in four years.
This Idol also had the Command of Hunger, Drought, Famine, and pestilential Distempers; wherefore he had quite another shape, sat on a Stool behind a red Curtain embroider’d with dead Mens Bones and Sculls; his Body Coal black, his Head stuck full of Quails Feathers, a Quiver with four Arrows in his left, and a Rod in his right Hand, which made the Image seem very terrible.
The Idol Quetzalcoalt, being their Guardian over the Merchants, was plac’d in a high Temple, being shap’d like a Man, his Face onely excepted; for that resembled a Bird’s Head, with a red Bill full of Teeth, a Comb, and a long Tongue; on the hind-part of his Head stood a Mitre, and about his Legs Silk Garters beset with Pearls.
CHAP. IX.
Cibola, Tontonteac, and Nova Granada.
Though the Province of Zuny above-mention’d in the Chapter of New Mexico, in the Voyage of Espejus, be there otherwise call’d, and appear to be the same with Cibola, yet we find it not treated of by any as part of New Mexico, but by some as a distinct Province, by others as a part of California largely taken; for besides that California, properly so call’d, hath formerly been taken rather for a Peninsula than an Island, and still affords to some an Argument of question, whether it be one or the other. The whole extent of the Province generally so term’d, hath been reputed to comprehend the suppos’d Peninsula it self, Cibola, Quivira, and Nova Albion; but since, according to the best Maps and Discoveries, there seems little doubt to be made, that California, strictly taken, is a perfect Island: and since upon that Consideration we have reserved it to be describ’d amongst the Islands of Northern America, we also consequently judge it most requisite to consider those Countreys apart that were included in the extended California.
Situation, Temperature, and Productions of Cibola.
Cibola lieth Southward of Quivira, betwixt it and New Gallicia, to the North and East: on the West it hath Mar Vermiglio, or the Bay of California. The Air of the Province is indifferently temperate, especially if compar’d to the sharp Frosts and Colds of Quivira. The Countrey is for the most part level and plain, as Quivira is, having but few Trees in it, except here and there some Woods of Cedars, which yet do abundantly supply the Natives both with Timber and Fewel. The Ground affords plenty of Maiz, and some small white Pease, of both which they usually make Bread. There is great store of Venison, and a kind of Sheep (as they say, and as it should seem by their Fleece) as big as some little Horses or Oxen, some of their Horns weighing forty or fifty Pound: But perhaps by some mistake of Authors, this Beast may be no other than Taurus Mexicanus, elsewhere describ’d, whose Hair is extreamly thick and shaggy, and of which they make Cloth as of Wool, as hath been said. There are also Lyons, Bears, and Tygers in this Province, in such numbers, that the People of the Countrey are not a little troubled with them, and would gladly destroy them if they knew how. The People are generally well Limb’d, tall of Stature, and seem to be a little more Ingenious than their Neighbors of Quivira; yet they go naked many of them, onely cover’d with Mantles made of Skins, which are many times painted, and that with such Curiosity and Art, as do sufficiently argue, that neither themselves nor their Neighbors of Quivira, from whom they have them in Traffick, do make them, but that they are the Merchandise and Commodity of some other Nations, perhaps of Cathay or China, who, by the North-West Seas, do Trade with the Maritime Parts, and People of Quivira.