The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo Vol. 2

1/25/22, 8:50 PM The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Memoirs of the Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo written by himself, containing a true an…
choristers, the chasuble andthe full canonicals of a priest, mostly of velvet damask or silk,
andof various colours and manufacture. The flags which hang to thecrosses are of silk, and
richly ornamented with gold and pearls. Thefuneral crosses are covered with satin, and bear
the figure of a death'shead and cross bones; the funeral palls, in some townships, are also
more or less splendid. The churches are likewise provided with a setof bells, have a regular
band of choristers, besides flutes, dulcimers, clarions, and sackbuts, and some have even
organs. I do believe thereare more large and small trumpets in the province of Guatimala,
whereI am writing this, than in my native country Old Castile. It is indeedwonderful, and
we cannot thank God too much for it, to behold theIndians assisting in the celebration of
the holy mass, which they particularlydo in those places where the Franciscan friars or the
Brothersof Charity officiate at the altar.
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It was also a great blessing for the Indians that the monks taughtthem to say their prayers in
their own language, and frequently to repeat them. The monks have altogether so
accustomed them to reverenceeverything relating to religion, that they never pass by any
altar or cross without falling down on their knees and repeating aPater Noster or an Ave
Maria. We also taught the Indians to makewax lights for the holy service, for, previous to
our arrival, they madeno manner of use of their wax. We taught them to be so obedientand
respectful to the monks and priests, that whenever one of thesereligious men approach a
township the bells are rung, and the inhabitantsgo out to meet him with wax-lights in their
hands; and theyalways give him a hospitable reception. On the day of CorpusChristi, the
birth of Mary, and on other saint-days, when we are accustomedto form processions, the
inhabitants of the districts surrounding Guatimala likewise march out in procession with
crucifixes,lighted candles, and carry about their tutelar saint splendidly dressedup, all the
time chanting hymns, accompanied by the sound of flutes and trumpets. The inhabitants
have also learnt the different tradeswhich are carried on in Spain, in a highly praiseworthy
manner. They have regular workshops with all kinds of instruments, and earn a good
livelihood by their industry; the gold and silver workers are particularlyexpert, as well in
the smelting as in the hammering of thesemetals. The lapidaries and painters are also very
clever, and the sculptorsproduce astonishing works of art with their emeralds and fine steel
instruments. Among others, they sculpture the figure of our Saviourthe Lord Jesus Christ,
with all the expression of his suffering, in so exquisite a manner, that unless we had
witnessed it with our own eyeswe could not have thought Indians capable of doing it. If I
mightoffer an opinion, I think, that neither the celebrated Apelles of ancienttimes, nor the
great masters of our days, Berruguete [61] and MichaelAngelo, nor even the more modern
artist of Burgos, who is said to bea real Apelles, could produce such beautiful works of art
with their fine pencils, as the celebrated Indian masters, Andreas de Aquino, Juan de la
Cruz, and Crespello, with their emeralds. Besides this, thesons of the more distinguished
chiefs of the country are well instructed in our grammar, and the most reverend the
archbishop of Mexico seesthat this is strictly attended to. Several of these young men are
notonly able to read and write, but even compose whole books of choralsongs. Numbers of
Indians are also employed in weaving silks, satins,and taffetas. They manufacture all kinds
of coarse woollen stuffs and mantles; there are also cloth manufacturers, wool-combers,
fullers, hat-makers, and soap-makers, as good as those of Segovia and Cuenca; but they
have not been able as yet to learn glass-blowing and the apothecaries'trade; however, they
are so expert in all arts that no doubt they will soon master these also; though there are
among them surgeons and herbarists. They are very expert at juggling, perform puppetshows,
and play on the guitar. Of agriculture they understoodsomething before our arrival,
but now also they attend to the breedingof all kinds of cattle. They plough with oxen, sow
maise, bake biscuits,and have everywhere planted Spanish fruit trees, so that theyalready
draw considerable profit from them. As the fruit of the peachtree is not wholesome, and the
plantain tree throws too much shadow,they continually keep cutting them down, and plant
in their stead quince,apple, and pear trees, which, in their estimation are of greater value.
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