Page:Mexican Archæology.djvu/151

Rh the king have been described at length by Seler, and consisted chiefly of mantles decorated with embroidery and feathers, feather back-devices, lip-plugs and necklaces of particular patterns, and the like, many of them being divine insignia or costumes adopted from other tribes by right of conquest. The list is too formidable to be included here, but two are worthy of mention. One ornament worn by royalty and high officials at festivals consisted of a band twined round the hair, to each end of which a large bunch of feathers was attached; this is shown in Fig. 17, a, where it is worn by the Tlacochcalcatl. Diaz mentions an ornament of particular interest in the words "Montecuzoma took from his arm and wrist the sign and seal of Uitzilopochtli, which was only done when he gave an important and weighty command which was to be carried out at once." Unfortunately nothing more is known of this interesting bracelet. The most distinguishing sign of royalty was a diadem of turquoise mosaic, rising to a peak in the front, rather after the fashion of a mitre. This was known as the xiuhuitzolli, and a plainer pattern was worn by the highest rank of judges.

At the time of the conquest there were several independent states in the neighbourhood of Mexico, of which the most important were Michoacan, Quauhtitlan, Tlaxcala, Uexotzinco, Cholula and Meztitlan; the sovereigns of which held positions very similar to