Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/185

Rh case in other languages, but their peculiarities often depend on the manner of forming the plural number; sometimes the first syllable is doubled for this purpose as "miztli" plural "mimiztin;" and occasionally the repetition occurs in the middle of a word, as "ich-pochtli," plural "ichpopochtin." Words of this strangely comprehensive formation, have been found to include even thirty and two-and-thirty letters. "Amatlacuilolitquitcatlaxtlahuilli," signifying, "The-reward-given-to-the-messenger-who-carries-a-paper-on-which-is-painted-tidings." This is a single, undivided word, and contains thirty-three letters—the former example, given above, being composed of no fewer than twenty-seven.

The subject of the Aztec, or Nahuatl, religion, their gods, and the practice of offering human sacrifices, have been briefly described in a former chapter; but a more minute account of the principal temples and idols formerly existing, compiled from several ancient authorities, may not be inappropriate.

The great temple of Teocalli, or Mexith (from which the city of Mexico derived its name), was at first a humble cabin built of mud and hardened clay; but by the