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ORDINANCES AND STATESMANSHIP OF CORTÉS.

ferent plantations with live-stock and plants, notably in the newly acquired valley of Oajaca.[1] He also introduced novelties in the form of machinery, such as water-wheels, whereby the labors of grinding and other tiresome and slow operations were lightened for the women. The establishment of the first mill at Mexico was celebrated with great rejoicings.[2] The natives took readily to the novelties, both in products and implements, though some of the nobles sneered at anything that tended to raise the lower classes from abject toil and limited indulgence.

Cortés did much to ameliorate the condition of the masses, and to temper vices among the richer part of the community. Hours for labor were prescribed to check abuse, and observation of the sabbath was enjoined. 'Trade and labor were forbidden during the hours of divine service, and attendance at mass was made compulsory on Sundays and certain holidays.[3]

Efforts were made to suppress the mania for gambling, which was increasing with accumulating wealth, and with the life of comparative indolence following as a reaction upon the tragic incidents of the conquest. Cortés was himself passionately fond of the vice, and though recognizing its evil, he winked at disregard of

  1. He refers to Matlaltzinco as his stock-raising place; round Coyuhuacan were several farms, and at Rinconada de Izcalpau, sugar plantations. Memorial, in Id., xii. 279. His plantations grew more numerous in time, and mulberry-trees were planted at Yauhtepec, Tetecla, and other places; at Matalango were cattle stations, at Tlaltizapan horses were bred, and sugar mills rose at Quauhnahuac and Coyuhuacan.
  2. En esta ocasion fue quando dixo un Indio anciano, burlando de la inuencio: Que hazia holgazanes á los hombres, y muy iguales; pues no se sabia quien era Señor, ó criado. Y añadia: que los ignorantes nacieron para seruir, y los sabios para mandar, y holgar.' Gonzalez Davila, Teatro Ecles., 1. 8. The first time mills are mentioned in the Libro de Cabildo is on Feb. 4, 1525, when to Rodrigo de Paz, as representant of Cortés, land was granted to erect mills on the rivers of Tacubaya, Tacuba, and Cuyoacan. The next land grant made to the same effect was to Diego Ramirez on Dec. 15, 1525, when he was allowed to build a mill near Chapultepec. Afterward the number increased, judgiug from the different grauts of laud made later for the same purpose. Libro de Cabildo, MS., Feb. 7, 1525, Dec. 15, 1525.
  3. 'Eutren en ella antes que se comienze el Evangelio, y estén en ella hasta quel Padre diga Ite Misa est y heche la bendicion; so pena de medio peso de oro.' The settlers must be present in their towns at least during Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost; a deputy will answer for other times. Ordenanza, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., xxvi. 179-83.