This page has been validated.
Conquest of Mexico
| page | |
| 367. | Under the supervision of certain aged females. Just as the Emperor used to identify himself in outward appearance with certain gods, so here his wives have to some extent identified themselves with goddesses such as Chalchiutlicue of the tasselled cape and stepped nose-jewel. See the statues of Chalchiutlicue in the British Museum. A Mexican hairless dog peers round from behind the old nurse, who is scrutinising a feather-work fan, a present, I dare say, to the Chalchiutlicue girl from the Emperor. See Gesammelte Abhandlungen. Seler, p. 322, and the Codex Vaticanus A, p. 89 (Kingsborough). |
| 368. | The Emperor drank chocolate (or more correctly chocolatl). On his left arm he wears the maconcatl. See Mexican Archæology, Joyce, pp. 113, 155; Ramirez (Charnay), p. 89; and the Codex Duran, p. 18. |
| 369. | Dessert. |
| 370. | Music. See the Codices Magliabecchiano, p. 82, and Borbonicus, p. 4. |
| 372. | After meals the Emperor's dancers danced before him. See the Codices Borgia, pp. 62, 64, and Vaticanus B, p. 52. |
| 382. | Taking Cortés by the hand, Montezuma pointed out the localities of the neighbourhood, Cortes meanwhile reconnoitring the scene, no doubt, from a purely tactical point of view. |
| 390. | Montezuma turned from it with a shudder. The embroidered cloak, the tilmatli, does in fact, I found, give to a squatting figure precisely that odd abbreviated look that in the Codices might perhaps be mistaken for careless or inefficient draughtsmanship. For the posture of the head-bearer, see the Codex Borgia, p. 72. |
| 392. | Cortés was heard pacing his apartment to and fro. |
| 394. | Arrest of the Emperor Montezuma. See the Codex Vaticanus A, p. 86 (Kingsborough), and one of the large Panuco figures in the British Museum. Cortés has on the necklace composed of "golden crabs" that was given him by the Emperor at their second meeting. See Diaz, Maudslay, Vol. II. p. 43. The maconcatl, delivered to Cortés only a moment ago, can be seen protruding beyond his right arm. |
| 400. | Montezuma was speechless under the infliction of this last insult. Of the men detailed for this unpleasing job (see Cortés second despatch, dated Oct. 30, 1520) two at least are lacking in enthusiasm, for Montezuma was rather popular amongst the troops. Diaz (Maudslay, Vol. II. p. 60) relates how they always took off their caps to him, and has even put it on record (Vol. II. p. 107) that he once kissed the hands of the royal captive, who on this occasion stands resplendent in the plumage of the Bird-Snake, Quetzalcoatl. See the green image of that god in the British Museum. |
| 402. | The burning of Quauhpopoca. See Ixtlilxochitl, p. 227. |
| 412. | The Prince Cacama endeavoured to rouse the Emperor. |
| 414. | When arrested the Prince Cacama abated nothing of his proud and lofty bearing. |
xvi
