Also important, as being an artistic production, is the granite vase (p7.
43, fig. S) which was dug up on the Mosquito coast,, and which is of decided Mexican workmanship, for its ornamentations are exactly like those of the ruins of Mitla. The images of animals (pL 43, 4, 6, 7) found at different places in Central America, and which served as bound ary-marks, are of inferior workmanship. In them we may recognize guardian spirits, who were frequently worshipped in Mexico in the guise of animals.
In other respects the religion of the Mexicans resembled the religions of the other American peoples : they had one invisible supreme God, who was the first cause of all things, and who was, in some regions, worshipped quite monotheistically. The sun was also worshipped, being confounded with the Supreme Being, and the natives of Managua (on Lake Nicaragua), gave the name of " sun " to the snake image, three feet in diameter (pl. 43, fig. 3, right), which was associated with other rock-painted hiero glyphics, now partially destroyed, but depicted on Plate 43 (fig-. 3, left). Besides these chief gods there were innumerable others, some of which seemed to be deified human beings, others to have been received from immigrant or conquered peoples.
The Mexicans had likewise lower deities, demigods and domestic divinities, and a quantity of mythological traditions, flood-legends, myths about the creation, and various kinds of superstitions; their prayers were offered in a crouching posture (pl. 42, fry. 4), and were uttered with great feeling; and their ethical rules, which were applied in education, and which were frequently based on ancient written traditions, have about them an air of elevated morality. Chastity was generally prevalent. One law of their religion required each individual to confess his sins to the priest, and if then he did not falsify to the all-seeing God, he was forgiven and cleansed. Nevertheless, the refinement of this conception and many others of a similar character failed to exclude from their religious rites the most barbarous sacrifices.
beings were sacrificed on all important occasions, the nourishment of the gods being supposed to consist of the blood and heart (seat of the soul) of man. However, in general only flowers, fruits, incense, and part of their food were offered. The temple-structures, in
which the skulls of the sacrificial victims were preserved, were very exten sive, all of them fortified and enclosing a number of buildings, taverns, dwellings, warehouses, etc. The real Ieocalli (house of the gods) was sit uated in the courtyard. Plate 42 (fig. i) represents one without temple-sur roundings, as was frequently the case. Chapels with idols were quite nu merous; the images, as a rule, were absurd, but figures of a finer order have occasionally been found 41, fig. 12; Al. 42, 4; pi. 43, fig-. 6). The chapels were situated on pyramids, as were also the altars of sacri fice, such as is seen in the centre of the four pyramids 42, fig. i). The priests, who were very influential, formed a separate class of various degrees. Priestesses, and especially temple-servants, etc., were numerous; there were also very severe religious orders and the priests practised strict asceticism. The belief in an eternal life, and in reward and punishment in the Hereafter, prevailed everywhere, and accordingly the interment of the dead—which were generally buried, though sometimes cremated—was solemn.
Industrial and Intellectual seen in all this the high degree of development attained by the Mexicans, we shall find a similar stage of progress in their industrial and intellectual acquirements. Their works in metal, their textile fabrics, and their commerce had reached a considerable advancement, and their well-developed chronology deserves especial attention. Other American tribes calculated time accord ing to the moon and the sun, but the Mexicans had a complete calendar, zodiac, etc. They also had paper made of cactus-fibres, and the use of hieroglyphics was general. Besides, they kept public records, of which we give a small specimen on Plate 42 (fig. 2) relating to the founding of Tenochtitlan (Mexico). The coat of arms of the city, visible in the centre, is an eagle on a cactus; for, according to an ancient prophecy, the wanderings of the Aztecs were to cease where an eagle should settle on a cactus. The ten heads signify the ten founders of the city ; the sign under the cactus, the weapons of subjugation; the plants and cross-bars, the fertility and irrigation of the country.