The Slave Sculptor — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

86 THE SLAVE SCULPTOR. The woman removed the ligaments, and bathed his wrists, while he related to her the circumstances of his capture and what he had suffered. 7 She immediately provided him with food and drink, and in a week he was wholly recovered. During this time, he had not seen any except Mother Ytzcoatl, who had charge of the teocalli, kept the sanctuary clean, and waited upon the victims designed for sac- rifice, There were at least fifty cells beneath this temple, which could be entered through a long, intricate from the side of a moun- tain, or from the teocalli itself. e cells were devoted exclusive- ly to the use of persons intended for sacrifice. It was customary for the priest to buy slaves of wandering tribes, or elsewhere, as_cir- ~ cumstances might offer. The unfortunate victims were then taken to these cells, where they sometimes were kept for years before being offered to the idols. During this time, they enjoyed all the luxuries of life, except their freedom. When once they were placed in these stalls — so to speak — they never left them until takra to the sac- rificial block, there to be butchered like dumb brutes. Maxtla did not remain in the cell, during the week that he had been in the loeality, but was with his old nurse and f “end, Mother Ytzcoatl. They had much to relate, As soon, however, as practi- cable, he was apxious to return, for he knew that Ma:ina would be uneasy at his long absence. mn every thing was prepared for him to make a successful eas cape, his deliverer requested him to accompany her as she furnished the captives with food. He consented readily, for he had a curiosity to see the variety of subjects for sacrifice. H aving provided them selves with a torch, they left Mother Ytzcoatl’s private apartments, and entered a long, wide hall, with a row of small cells or <* cages,” on either side. These cells had a heavy outside door, and a inside grate. The former was generally open, while the latter was never moved, except when the victim was being placed in, or taken out. There were fifty of these cages — twenty-five on a side, and nearly every one held a prisoner. Some were playing, some singing, and some sleeping; while others were weeping, moaning, and exhibiting the most heart-rending grief, in view of the fate to which had been doomed; yet so perfectly accustomed to these scenes had old attendant become, that she was indifferent alike to rejoicing or These cells were, many of them, well furnished with articles of comfort, and ventilated by means of large pipes that extended to the teocalli above. The last one they visited was somewhat different from the others, inasmuch as it had no grated door. into this apartment, and beheld a woman crouched in one corner. Her head was bowed iu her lap, and she did not take any notice of them. coml{clbooks.com