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Show H l s· T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. Amongfl: the private games of the Mexicans; the moll: common and flOOJ( VI,, moil: efteemed was one refembling football. The place where they played 'w " eJ at it, which they called Tlachco, was, according to the de[cription given u's by Torquemada, a plain fquare fpace of ground, about eighteen perches in length, and proportionably broad, enclofed within four walls, which were thicker below than above, and the fide walls were built higher than the other , and well whitened and poli!hed. They were crowned all round with battlements, and on the lower wall il:ood two idols, which they placed there at midnight with difterent fuperil:i-tious ceremonies, and before they ever playt:d in it the place was blclfed by the priefts, with other forms of the fame nature. Thus Torquemada defcribes it; but in four or more paintings which we have [een, the draught of this game reprefents it fuch as we have given it in our figures, which is to~ally different from the defcription of Torquemada. It is probable, that there were varieties of the fc'lme game. The idols placed upon the walls wer~ thofe of the gods of game, of \vhofe names we are ignorant; but (ufpetl:: the name of one of them to have been Omacatl, the God .of Rejoicings. The ball was mad~: of ule, or elail:ic gum, three or four inches in diameter, which,- al• though heavier, rebounds more than thofe made of air. They .played in parties, two againft two, or three againft three. The players were entirely naked except the maxtlatl, or large b1ndage, about their middle. It was an elfential condition of the game not to touch the ball, unlefs · it was with the joint of the thigh, or the arm, or elbow, and whoever touched it with his hand or foot, or any other part of the body, loft one of the game. The player who made the ball reach the oppofite wall, or made it rebound from it, gained a point. Poor pcopl~ played for ears of maize, or if they had nothing clfe they played for the price of their liberty; others ftakcd a certain number of drelfes of <:otton; and rich perfons played for articles of gold, precious feathers, .and jewels. There were in the fpacc between the players two large ftones, .refemb·ling in figure our 1a1ill-fiones, each of which had a hole in the middle, a little larger than the ball. Whoever !huck the b:\Il ~through this hole, which was extremely uncommon, was not only viCtor in the game, but according to the efl:ablifhed law, became the F f f 2 pro- I |