Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/239

Rh These signs soon afterwards made their appearance, and came as a mighty comet or a blazing star, and continued for a whole year around.

The great temple Cue, King Montezuma's palace, in the city of Mexico, took fire and burned to the ground. How it took fire no one knew, and no one knows to the present day.

The water which was thrown on the temple Cue to quench it burnt like brim-stone, and at the same time of this fire there appeared in the sky three fiery heads at noon-day, and out of a long tail shot sparks of fire to the earth. These signs from above made the people tremble and rush from one place to another. Even King Montezuma, who did not believe in these signs and reports, began to think that there must be some truth in these reports, and began to get alarmed and prepared for the emergency.

Thus, the great prince, Montezuma, who, by his valor and good success in the wars, had, in a few years of his reign (before Cortez came), subdued the better part of a hundred cities and towns to his dominion, and in the height of his glory he was foretold of his downfall, which proved true.

Chulula (before Cortez's time) was governed by a Mayor, Councilmen and a Chief Priest, for they never went upon the least design before they had first been at their devotion, in which the office of the Priest was only to perform the idols four times in twenty-four hours, viz.:—In the morning, at noon, after sunset, and at midnight; at which times none were allowed to be absent. After this they used their prisoners in a most horrid manner; for instance, in their temples stood a round stage of stone, to the top of which they ascended by a square scaffold supported by pillars, behind which appeared thousands of men and women's heads, and among them the prisoners that were to be offered for sacrifice, who were stark naked and guarded by several armed men. Several feet from the steps which led to the top of the scaffold, stood a pyramidical stone (called by the Indians Quancicalla), and behind it stood two round chapels, covered on the top like a mattress. Each had four holes in a large gate, in which sat a horrid representation (Chackalmua), worshipped by six priests. One of them was called Papas, whose, office was to pluck out the hearts of these prisoners. After going through numerous other signs, such as drawing blood out of their tongues, lips, ears, breasts, knees and palms of their hands, which they threw into the