. The myths of Mexico and Peru. highest culture and artistic refinement, and the ill-fated Montezuma was an example of the true type ofNahua sovereign. The council of the monarch wascomposed of the electors and other personages of im-portance in the realm. It undertook the governmentof the provinces, the financial affairs of the country, andother matters of national import. The nobility held allthe highest military, judicial, and ecclesiastical each city and province judges were delegated whoexercised criminal and civil jurisdiction, and whoseopinion superseded even that of the Crow
. The myths of Mexico and Peru. highest culture and artistic refinement, and the ill-fated Montezuma was an example of the true type ofNahua sovereign. The council of the monarch wascomposed of the electors and other personages of im-portance in the realm. It undertook the governmentof the provinces, the financial affairs of the country, andother matters of national import. The nobility held allthe highest military, judicial, and ecclesiastical each city and province judges were delegated whoexercised criminal and civil jurisdiction, and whoseopinion superseded even that of the Crown cases were settled by lesser officials, and a stillinferior grade of officers acted as a species of police inthe supervision of families. Domestic Life The domestic life of the Nahua was a peculiar admix-ture of simplicity and display. The mass of the peopleled a life of strenuous labour in the fields, and inthe cities they wrought hard at many trades, amongwhich may be specified building, metal-working, making44. The Aztec Calendar Stone See page 38 Photo C. B. Waite, Mexico 44 A MYSTERIOUS TOLTEC BOOK robes and other articles of bright featherwork andquilted suits of armour, jewellery, and small of flowers, fruit, fish, and vegetables swarmedin the markets. The use of tobacco was general amongthe men of all classes. At banquets the women attended,although they were seated at separate tables. The enter-tainments of the upper class were marked by muchmagnificence, and the variety of dishes was consider-able, including venison, turkey, many smaller birds,fish, a profusion of vegetables, and pastry, accompaniedby sauces of delicate flavour. These were served indishes of gold and silver. Pulque, a fermented drinkbrewed from the agave, was the universal was indulged in usually on ceremonialoccasions, and was surrounded by such refinements ofthe table as served only to render it the more repulsivein the eyes of Europeans. It has been
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectindianso, booksubjectindiansofmexico
