OCR Text |
Show BOOK VII. .. S P. C T. LV Ill . l.ilt of the raretics Cent by Cot tcs to Charles V. I I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. Of the G1me leaves of the moun tain -palm, and alfo of thofe of the izhuatl, another fpecies of pal m, th y made extremely fine mats of different colours. They made others more conrfe of the rufhes which grew in abundance in the ·lake. Of the thread of the maguci they made alfo ropes, fhoes, and other things. They dre!fed the fk ins of animals tolerably well, both of quadruped ~ and birds, leaving upon fome of them the hair or plumage, according to the ufe which they propofed to ·m1ke of them. Lafl:ly, to convey fomc idea of the tafl:e of the Mexicans in arts, we have thought proper to tnanfcribe here the lifl: of the firil: things which Cortes fen t from Mexico to Charles V. a few days after he arrived in that country ( z). Two wheels, ten hands in diameter, one of gold with the image of the fun, and the other of filver with the image of the moon upon it; both formed of plates of thofe metals, with difte rent figures of animals and other things in ba!fo relieve, fini{hed with great ingenuity and art ( a). A gold necklace, compofed of [even pieces, with a hu11dred and eighty- three fmall emeralds fet in it, and two hundred and thirty-two gems fi.milar to fmall rubies, from which hung twenty-feven little bells of gold, and fame pearls. Another necklace of four pieces of gold, with one hundred and two red gems like fmall rubies, one hundred and feventy-two emeralds, and ten fine pearls fet in it, with twenty-fix little bells of gold. A headpiece of wood covered with gold, and adorned with gems, from which hung twenty-five little bells of gold; inil:ead of a plume it had a green bird with eyes, beak, and feet of gold. A bracelet of gold. A little rod like a fceptre, with two rings of gold at its extremities, fet with pearls. Four tridents,. adorned with feathers of various colours, with pearl poiRts tied with gold thread. (z) This lifr is taken from the hi!lory of Gomara, then living in Spain, fome things only ornl.ttcd which were of little importance to be mentioned. (at The<"wheel of gold was unqueftionably the figure of their century, and that of lilvcr t~e figure of their ye:tr, according to what Gom:ua fays, but he did not know it with cert: unty. Several . . • H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. Several !hoes of the !kin of the deer, fewed with gold th~·ead, the foles of which were made of blue and white .ll:one of Itztli, extremely thin (b). A f11ield of wood and leather, with little belis hanging to it, and covered with plates of gold in the middle, on which was cut the image of the god of war between four heads of a lion, a tyger, an eagle, and an owl, reprefented alive with their hair and feathers. . Several dre.!fed fkins of quadrupeds and birds with their plumage and hair. Twenty-four curious and beautiful fhields of gol~, of feathers, and very fmall pearls, and other four of feathers and filver only. Four fillies, two ducks, and fome other birds of cafi: gold. Two fea-fhells of gold, and a large crocodile girt with threads of gold. A large mirror adorned with gold, and many finall mirrors. Several mitres and crowns of feathers and gold, ornamented with pearls and gems. Several large plumes of beautiful feathers of various colours, fretted with gold and fmall pearls. Several fans of gold and feathers mixed together ; others of feathers only, of different forms and fizes, but all moil: rich and elegant. A variety of cotton mantles, fome all white, others chequered with white and black, · or red, green, yellow, and blue; on the outfi.de rough like a fhaggy cloth, and within without colour or .nap. A number of under waifl:coats, handkerchiefs, counterpanes, tapef, tries, and carpets of cotton. All thofe articles were, according to Gomara, more valuable for the workmanfhip than the materia.ls. '!'he colours, he fays, qf the cotton, were e><t remely j t'ne, and thofe qf the feathers natural. '!'heir ·works of cojl metal, are not to be comprehended by ou1· goldjiniths. This prefent, which was a part of that which Montezuma made to Cor tes, a few days after he had difembarked at Chalchiuhcuectm, was fent by Cortes to Ch~rles V. in July I 519, and this was the firil: gold and the firft . (o) Gomat·a does 110t exprefs tjtat the fol cs were made of the ftone Itztli, but it is to be un• derfiood from his account, VoL. I. I i i filver 425 BOOK Vlf. " ,.., ... |