Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/218

182 was imprisoned. In our quarters his household still surrounded him and he bathed daily as was his wont in his own palace. He himself showed not the least anger at his confinement. Twenty of his chief counsellors always stayed with him. He collected tribute, settled disputes, and attended to affairs of state as before. The visiting caciques waited on him and, no matter how great the cacique, paid him the same veneration as before, taking off their fine garments, putting on those of hennequen and coming barefoot before him. Nor did they enter at the chief gate, but by a side door and approaching with their customary three prostrations and down-cast eyes and their "Lord, my Lord, my great Lord," by means of pictures drawn and painted on hennequen cloths they told him of their suit or other difficulty about which they wished to consult him, with thin sticks pointing to the different objects drawn to explain the nature of the suit and what they wanted. Two elders who were distinguished caciques stood on these occasions near Montezuma and when they had understood the pleas, they told Montezuma the arguments and the monarch in a few words pronounced his judgment. With three deep bows, and without uttering a syllable or turning their backs, the parties to the suit then retired, and once out of the presence of Montezuma put on their rich garments and went strolling through Mexico.