ctuary was dedicated to Tezcatlipoca, who, they believed, had created
the earth and watched over it. He was represented as a young man, and
his image of polished black stone was garnished with gold plates and
ornaments, among which was a shield burnished like a mirror, in which he
was supposed to see reflected all the doings of the world; and before
this shrine also lay five hearts in a golden platter. From the horrors
of this place the Spaniards gladly escaped into the open air, and Cortes
said, turning to Montezuma, 'I do not understand how a great and wise
prince like you can put faith in such evil spirits as these idols. If
you will but permit us to erect here the true cross, and place the
images of the Blessed Virgin and her Son in your sanctuaries, you will
soon see how your false gods will shrink before them.' Montezuma was
greatly shocked at this speech. 'These,' said he, 'are the gods who have
led the Aztecs on to victory since they were a nation, and who send us
the seed time and harvest. Had I thought you would have offered them
this outrage I would not have admitted you into their presence.' Cortes
then took his leave, expressing concern for having wounded the feelings
of the emperor, who remained to expiate, if possible, the crime of
having exposed the shrines of his gods to such profanation by the
strangers. On descending into the court the Spaniards took a leisurely
survey of the other buildings in the enclosure; there were several other
teocallis, but much smaller ones, in which the Spaniards saw implements
of sacrifice and many other horrors. And there was also a great mound
with a timber framework upon its summit, upon which were strung hundreds
of thousands of skulls--those of the victims who had been sacrificed.
Schools, granaries, gardens, and fountains filled up the remainder of
the enclosed space, which seemed a complete city in itself, containing a
mixture of barbarism and civilisation altogether characteristic of the
Aztec nation. The next day the Spaniards asked permission to convert one
of the halls in their palace into a chapel where they might hold the
services of their church. The request was granted, and while the work
was in progress some of them discovered what seemed to be a door
recently plastered over. As there was a rumour that Montezuma kept the
treasures of his father in this palace, they did not scruple to gratify
their curiosity by removing the plaster and forcing open the door whic