The Mexicans were assuredly an extraordinary people, and were acquainted with many arts unknown to more civilized nations; they cast metals, made pictures in feather work, dyed their cloths with beautiful and permanent colours, fabricated mirrors of a stone called itzli, as well as razors of the same substance, cut and polished gems, and made a strong and lasting cement for their architectural purposes, cultivated their land, and knew the uses of the cochineal insect, which they bred; manufactured cotton cloth, and hewed wood into means, &c. with instruments of copper.