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Show ' • 372 BOOK VII, ~ S E C T, XXVI. Forrifica· tiom, • . lf I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. particularly on that memorable night when they were defeated, and obliged to retreat from the capital. When an enemy, whom they had qnce conquered, attempted to [ave himfclf by flight, they hamftring him to prcv~ nt his efcapc. When th~ {\:andard of the army was taken by the enemy, or their general fell, they all fled, nor was it pof1ible then by any human art to rally or 'recall them. When the battle was over, the viCl:ors celebrated the viCl:ory with great rejoicings, and rewarded the officers and foldiers who had made [orne prifoners. When the king of Mexico in perfon, took an enemy prifoner, emba(lics came from all the provinces of the kingdom to congratulate him upon the occafion, and to offer him fome prefent. This prifoner was clothed witli the fineil: habits, adorned with jewels, and car~ied in a litter to the capital, where th~ citizens came out to meet h_im, with mufic and loud acclamations. \Vhen the day of the facri. fice arrived, the king having failed the day before, according ·to the cufiom of owners of prifoners, they carried tlie royal prifoner, adorned wirh the enfigns of the fun, to the altar for common facri.fices, where he w.1s f1crificcd by tbe high-prieil:. The prieft fprinklcd his blood towards· the four principal windsJ and fent a vcffel full of the fame to the king, who ordered it to be iprinkled on all the idols within the inclofure of the greater temple, as a token of thanks for the vidory obtained over the enemies of the fiate. · They hung up the head i11 fome very lofty phce, and after the fkin of the body was dried, •-they . filled it with cotton, and hung it up in the royal palace, in memory of the glorious deed ; in which circumftance however, their adulation to him was confpicuous. When any city was to be befieged, the greatefi aoxiety of the citizens was to fccure their children, their women, flnd fick perfons; for which purpofe they fent them off, at an early opportunity, to another city, or to the mountains. Thus they faved tho le defen celefs individuals f~om the fury of the enemy, and obviated an unnccdlary con{\: unption· of proviiions. 1:. or the defence of places they made ufe of various kinds of fortifi· cations, fnch as wJlls, and ramparts, with their breafi:-works, pal iiadoes, ditches, and in(renchments. Concerning the city of ~1auhque- . s chollan, ' • ' ' ' |