Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/543

Rh for amounts not exceeding fifteen thousand maravedís. Audiencias could extend the levy to two hundred pesos, but anything above this amount required royal sanction. Lands and certain other property were leased at auction, and the rents intrusted to depositarios, whose books were usually inspected by an oidor. Drafts for ordinary expenses were issued by magistrates and council. The city had eight cuartel districts, five of which were administered judicially by the five alcaldes del crimen of the audiencia, and the remaining three by the alcaldes ordinaries and the corregidor, subject to whom were four petty ward alcaldes in each district, created in later times. There existed also a special patrol, and lighted streets, although the latter feature was secured only until a comparatively recent date, and after many efforts.

About the same time, 1790, fire-engines were made for the public offices, and regulations issued for the guidance of the people called to assist at fires, with premiums for the first leaders of gangs who obeyed the bell signals of the watchmen in the church towers. Before this the neighbors hurried pell-mell to the scene, and friars and clergy came with images and relics, some of which were even cast into the fire with a view to awe the flames into submission. Among this crowd of psalm-singers and frantic helpers, thieves found good opportunities while pretending to render aid,