Influence of the Commoners -- Oppression by Nobles -- Deprived of Office by Montezuma II. -- Classes of Slaves -- Penal Slaves -- Voluntary Slavery -- Slave Market at Azcapuzalco -- Punishment and Privileges of Slaves -- Division of Lands -- Crown Lands -- Lands of the Nobles -- Municipal Property -- Property of the Temples -- Tenure of Lands in Zapotecapan, Miztecapan, Michoacan, Tlascala, Cholula, and Huexotzinco -- Similarity to Feudal System of Europe -- System of Taxation -- Municipal Taxes -- Lice Tribute -- Tribute from Conquered Provinces -- Revenue Officers -- Injustice of Montezuma II. 216 CHAPTER VII. EDUCATION, MARRIAGE, CONCUBINAGE, CHILDBIRTH, AND BAPTISM. Education of the Nahua Youth -- Manner of Punishment -- Marriage Preliminaries -- Nuptial Ceremony -- Observance after Marriage -- Mazatec, Otomí, Chichimec, and Toltec Marriages -- Divorce -- Concubinage -- Ceremonies Preliminary to Childbirth -- Treatment of Pregnant Women -- Proceedings of Midwife -- Superstitions with regard to Women who Died in Childbed -- Abortion -- Baptism -- Speeches of Midwife -- Naming of Children -- Baptism among the Tlascaltecs, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs -- Circumcision and Scarification of Infants 240 CHAPTER VIII. NAHUA FEASTS AND AMUSEMENTS. Excessive Fondness for Feasts -- Manner of Giving Feasts -- Serving the Meal -- Professional Jesters -- Parting Presents to Guests -- Royal Banquets -- Tobacco Smoking -- Public Dances -- Manner of Singing and Dancing -- The Neteteliztli -- The Drama among the Nahuas -- Music and Musical Instruments -- Nahua Poetry -- Acrobatic Feats -- The Netololiztli, or 'Bird Dance' -- Professional Runners -- The Game of Tlactli -- Games of Chance -- The Patoliztli, or 'Bean Game' -- Totoloque, Montezuma's Favorite Game 283 CHAPTER IX. PUBLIC FESTIVALS. Frequent Occurrence of Religious Feasts -- Human Sacrifices -- Feasts of the Fourth Year -- Monthly Festivals -- Sacrifice of Children -- Feast of Xipe -- Manner of Sacrifice -- Feasts of Camaxtli, of the Flower Dealers, of Centeotl, of Tezcatlipoca, and of Huitzilopochtli -- Festival of the Salt Makers -- The Sacrifice by Fire -- Feast of the Dead -- The Coming of the Gods -- The Footprints on the Mat -- Hunting Feast -- The Month of Love -- Hard Times -- Nahua Lupercalia -- Feasts of the Sun, of the Winter Solstice -- Harvest and Eight-Year Festivals -- The Binding of the Sheaf 302 CHAPTER X. FOOD OF THE NAHUA NATIONS.