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Show ' . B 0 0 l( VII. 'J'he j>olitical and military Goverm~ent of t,~e ~exicmzs, t/J(zt. is, tb~ 1 ings, Lords, Elecfor·s, Amba()adors, D tgwttes, and Mag!flrates; the Judges, Laws, and Pzmijlmzents; the Military Force; Agn'culture, Chtzce, Fijbing, and Commerce; the .Games; the Drtjs, Food, and Hozifbold Fumiture; the Language, Poetry, Mz!ftc, and Dandng; Medicine, Hijlory, and Painting; Sculpture, Mqjcu·~.· WorJ..s, and Cajling qf Metals; ArcbiteCfm-e? and otber Arts of tbat Nation. nooK vn. IN the public as well as private ceconomy of the Mexicans, the ~ traces which remain of their political difcerntnent, of th ir zeal for , juflice, and love of the public good, would meet {vith. lit tle credit, were they not confirmed both by the , evidence of their 1 aintings, and the attefiations of many faithful and impartial authors, who were eyewitneffes of a great part of that which tl1cy have written. Thofc who are we~k enough to imagine they can know the ancient .Mexicans in their defcendants, or from the nations of Canada and Louifiana, will be apt to confider the account we arc to give of their rd1nement, their laws, and their arts,' as fables inven~ by the Spaniards. But that we may not violate the laws of hifiory, nor the fidelity due to the public, we !hall candidly fet forth all that which we have found to be authentic, without any apprehenfion of cenfure. S1cT. I. F.ducntion of the Mexican youth. The education of youth, which is the chief fupport of a fiatc. and which bell: unfolds the charaCter of every nation, was arnongfl: the Mexicans of fo judicious a nature :ts to be of itfclf fu 01cicnt to retort the fupercilious contempt of certain critics upon themfelves, who believe the CtJ!pire of reafon to be circumfcribcd to the boundaries of Europe. In whatever we fay on this fubjeet we !hall be guided by the paintings of thofe nations, and their bell: informed hifl:orians. Nothing, fays F. AcGfia, has furprifed me more, or appeared more worthy of memory and praife, than the care and method which the 9 Mexicans H I :s T ·o R Y 0 F ~ .E X l C 0. . ' Mexicans ohferve~ in .the tuition of youth. It would be ditlicult, in~ eed, .to find a nat10n that l~as beil:owed more attention on a point fo 1m pot tan t to every fiate. It IS true, they mixed fu perfl:i tion with their precepts ; but the zeal th~y manifeil:ed for the education of their children, u~braids t!1e negl~gence of our modern fathers of families; and ~any o~ the lefions wh1ch they taught to their youth might ferve as mfiruchon to ours. All the Mexican children, even thofe of the royal family, were fuckled by their own parents. If the mother was prevented fro~ doing this by ficknefs, ihe did not employ a nurfe tilt ihe wa.s well mformed both of her condition in life, and the quality of her mtlk. They were accufiomed from infancy to endure hunger, heat, and cold. ~hen tl_1ey attained five years of.age, they were either confign~d t~ the pt:Iefis, 111 order that they might be brought up in the femmanes, wh1ch was the general praCtice with the children of nobles, and even with thofe. of the kings themfelves ; or if they were to be ~ducated at ~orne, the1r parents began at that period to intl:ruCt the~ m the worfhrp of their g~ds,. and to teach them the forms by wh1ch they were to pray and Implore their proteCtion. They were led frequently to the temple, that they might become attached to religio~ 1. An abhorrence .of vice, a modefiy of behaviour, refpeCt to fupenors, and love of fatigue, were firongly inculcated. They were even made to fleep upon a mat; and were given no more food than the neceffitics of life required, nor any other clothing than that which decencv demanded. When they arrived at a certain age, they were inil:rueted j;1 the ufe of arms, and if their parents belonged to the army, they were led t~ the .wars along with them, that they might learn the military art., and to.bamG1 fear from their minds, by habituating themfelves to danger. If ~heir parents were huibandffien, or artifis, they taught their children thetr own profeffion. Girls were learned to fpin and weave, and ob liged to bat~efi·equentl!, that they might be always healthy and cleanly, and the umverfal rnax1m was to keep the young of both [exes conil: antly employed. . On~ of the precepts moll: warmly inculcated to youth was, truth 1? the1r words; and whenever a lie was detefreJ, the lip of the delmqucnt :'as pricked with the thorns of the aloe. They tied the feet of gu·ls who were too fond of walking abroad. The fon, who VoL. I. U u was BOOK VII . |