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CHAP. IX. Larger Relations of things most remarkeable obserued by the Spaniards at their first comming: Cholollas holies; Popocatepecs ashes. Mutezumas multiforme mag∣nificence and maiestie. Mexican Citie and Temple, with other antiquities gathered out of the Third part of the Historie of Francis Lopez * 1.1 de Gomara.
[ 10]CHololla is a Citie as Tlaxcallan, and hath but one person who is Gouernour and generall Captaine, chosen by the consent of all the Citizens. It is a Citie of twenty thousand housholds within the wals, and in the suburbs as much more. It sheweth outwards very beautifull, and full of Towers, for there are as many Temples as dayes in the yeare, and euery Temple hath his Tower. Our men counted foure hundred Towers. The men and women are of good disposition, well fauoured, and very wittie. The women are Goldsmiths and also Caruers, the men are war∣riers, and light fellowes, and good Maisters for any purpose: they goe better apparelled then a∣ny other Indians yet seene. They weare for their vpper garment, cloakes like vnto Moriscos, but [ 20] after another sort. All the Countrey round about them is fruitfull and errable ground, well wa∣tered, and so full of people, that there is no waste ground, in respect whereof, there are some poore which begge from doore to doore. The Spaniards had not seene any beggers in that Coun∣trey before they came thither.
Chololla is a Citie of most deuotion and religion in all India, it is called the Sanctuary, or ho∣ly place among the Indians, and thither they trauelled from many places farre distant in Pilgri∣mage, and for this cause there were so many Temples. Their Cathedrall Temple was the best and highest of all the New Spaine, with a hundred and twenty steps vp vnto it, The greatest I∣doll of all their gods was called Quezalcouately, God of the Aire, who was (say they) the foun∣der of their Citie, being a Virgin of holy life, and great penance. He instituted fasting, and [ 30] drawing of bloud out of their eares and tongues, and left a precept, that they should sacrifice but onely Quailes, Doues, and other foule. He neuer ware but one garment of Cotten, which was white, narrow, and long, and vpon that a mantle beset with certaine red crosses. They haue cer∣taine greene Stones which were his, and those they keepe for relickes. One of them is like an Apes head. Here they abode twenty dayes, and in this meane while there came so many to buy and sell, that it was a wonder to see. And one of the things that was to be seene in those faires, was the earthen vessell, which was exceeding curious and fine.
The hill called Popocatepec.
[ 40] THere is a hill eight leagues from Chololla, called Popocatepec, which is to say, a hill of smoake, for many times it casteth out smoake and fire. Cortes sent thither ten Spaniards, with ma∣ny Indians, to carry their victuall, and to guide them in the way. The ascending vp was very troublesome, and full of craggie rocks, They approached so nigh the top, that they heard such a terrible noise which proceeded from thence, that they durst not goe vnto it, for the ground did tremble and shake, and great quantity of ashes which disturbed the way: but yet two of them who seemed to be most hardie, and desirous to see strange things, went vp to the top, be∣cause they would not returne with a sleeuelesse answer, and that they might not be accounted cowards, leauing their fellowes behinde them, proceeding forwards. The Indians said, what meane these men? for as yet neuer mortall man tooke such a iourney in hand.
These two valiant fellowes passed through the Desart of Ashes, and at length came vnder a [ 50] great smoake very thicke, and standing there a while, the darkenesse vanished partly away, and then appeared the vulcan and concauity, which was about halfe a league in compasse, out of the which the ayre came abounding, with a great noise, very shrill, and whistling, in such sort that the whole hill did tremble. It was to be compared vnto an Ouen where Glasse is made. The smoake and heate was so great, that they could not abide it, and of force were constrained to returne by the way that they had ascended: but they were not gone farre, when the vulcan be∣gan to lash out flames of fire, ashes, and imbers, yea and at the last, stones of burning fire: and if they had not chansed to finde a Rocke, where vnder they shadowed themselues, vndoubtedly they had there beene burned. When with good tokens they were returned where they left [ 60] their fellowes, the other Indians kissed their garments as an honour due vnto gods. They presen∣ted vnto them such things as they had, and wondred much at their fact.
The simple Indians thought, that that place was an infernall place,* 1.2 where all such as gouer∣ned not well, or vsed tyrannie in their offices, were punished when they died, and also beleeued, that after their purgation, they passed into glory. This Vulcan is like vnto the Vulcan of Sicilia,