Page:The Native Races of the Pacific States, volume 2.djvu/155

Rh matter at this period. Afterward, the duty of electing the king of Mexico devolved upon four or five of the chief men of the empire. The kings of Tezcuco and Tlacopan were also electors, but with merely an honorary rank ; they ratified the decision of the others, but probably took no direct part in the election, al- though their influence and wishes doubtless carried great weight with the council. As soon as the new king had been chosen, the body of electors was dis- solved, and others were appointed in their place, whose duties also terminated with their first electoral vote.